Dodgers Draft High School Pitcher J.T. Ginn in First Round

The 2018 MLB draft is underway and the Dodgers have made their first pick. With the 30th pick overall, Los Angeles selected right-handed pitcher JT Ginn out of Brandon High School in Brandon, Mississippi.

With the 30th pick of the 2018 #MLBDraft, the @Dodgers select @brandonhsbasbll RHP J.T. Ginn: https://t.co/I4XB50hdHx pic.twitter.com/fZ9IFyMSFs

— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) June 5, 2018

The 6-foot-2, 199 lb Senior is ranked 33rd among draft prospects by MLB.com. Ginn has a fastball velocity ranging from the mid to upper 90’s. It was clocked as high as 99 mph this last spring. He also has a slider and a changeup in his current arsenal.

Ginn is a slugger as well. He belted 16 home runs last year, good enough for second among high schoolers. This probably had little influence on the Dodgers draft decision as Ginn is seen to be valued for his arm.

Ginn is a little older than the rest of the high schoolers in this draft class. He turned 19 on May 20th, which some may count as a point against the righty. It has also been suggested that he is actually a bit shorter than his listed 6’2″ though it is unclear why.

Draft Analysis

Los Angeles is picking last in every round of the draft, their reward for having the best record in the Major Leagues in 2017. They have a draft bonus pool of about $5.3 million, the collective amount they’ll be allowed offer draftees as signing bonuses. Ginn is the first of 10 picks the Dodgers will make in the 2018 draft. He may have been an under slot selection, meaning the Dodgers would be hoping to be free to offer a larger bonus to a later pick. Ginn has committed to play at Mississippi State so the Dodgers signing him at all is still in question.

The Dodgers next selection will be the 68th overall pick.