Dodgers Team NewsEditorials

2015 MLB Draft: Dodgers Get Value Early, Take Risks Late On First Day

Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

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Josh Sborz, Virginia



Sborz has had an interesting path during his college career. He came out of the bullpen as a freshman, then moved to the rotation as a sophomore, only to return to the pen as a junior. The change in roles continued this year, as he briefly joined the rotation late in the spring before returning to closer as Virginia headed to the postseason.

He’s been dominant throughout his career, posting an ERA of 2.36 overall, with a 1.95 mark this spring. Sborz starts off with a fastball that sits 93-95 out of the bullpen and touches the high 90s. He compliments it with a slider that’s a swing-and-miss pitch when it’s on. He also has a changeup, though he rarely needs to use it in relief.

There’s some concern about Sborz’ arm action that leads some scouts to assume he’ll be a reliever in pro ball, though Gasparino says he’ll have a chance to start with the Dodgers. If all else fails, Sborz could be used as a fast-moving bullpen arm that could arrive in Los Angeles before long.

Summary

It appears the Dodgers went safe in the first round, then took some risks in the second. Buehler and Funkhouser were both excellent value picks, as each pitcher was expected to be off the board when the club picked.

Hansen’s risk surrounds his college commitment, though it appears the Dodgers did their homework and found he was signable in the second round. And Sborz could be a steal in the second if his arm and stuff hold up in the rotation.

Overall, this was a strong first effort from the new front office, giving the organization four promising players to inject into a resurgent farm system.

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