In today’s article we’re gonna cover picks 9-13. More power potential in terms of arms, and more speed in terms of position players. The Dodgers never miss when finding prospects that have the perfect tools to succeed in their system.
Aidan Foeller
Aidan Foeller is a 6’3 Right Handed pitcher who comes to the Dodgers via Southern Illinois, and is a pitcher that creates a lot of “swing and miss”.
He had 105 Ks this past season and ranked top-30 nationally in Ks/9 at 12.17. which led the MVC, and he has the frame and tools to keep adding. Per the Southern Illinioan, “He recorded 12 or more strikeouts on five different occasions and held opponents to a .249 batting average against.”
He made 15 starts, and, coming into his last outing in the MVC Tournament, he had averaged over 6 innings an outing in his last 7 outings, so not only can he miss bats, he has the ability to add length as well.
His pick is one of projection because he checks the boxes very well in terms of potential. He has length, great extension, and the ability to spin the ball, and when he executes he gathers a ton of strikeouts.
When pitchers enter the Dodgers system, they have the opportunity to earn a PHD in sequencing and execution to go alongside maximizing their mix. It’s why guys like this, who have the raw tools readily available, can excel very quickly, and there is no reason why that won’t happen to Foeller.
Cody Morse
Morse is a 6’6 LHP out of Weatherford College who was committed to furthering his career at OU, but was drafted by the Dodgers in the 12th Round. As an Oklahoma native, although I am far from a fan of OU, I can tell you that, if Skip Johnson wants you, you can pitch.
That’s all I need to know, because Skip Johnson is one of the best pitching coaches in the game, at any level.
Fastball was low 90’s this past Spring, to pair with a good backdoor slider that has very sharp breaking action. 3/4 slot, which gives his slider a “natural” sweeping motion, and also gives a “crossfire” feel to his “glove side” locations to his FBs.
His 3/4 slot, especially at 6’6, suggests the potential to be very difficult on lefties, especially if he throws a sinker to pair.
The Dodgers have started throwing sinkers to same-arm hitters to command the inner half, and cutters to opposites to command the outer half, and his natural “cut” should play well to gain that effect.
He has the frame to grow, no question, and a lot of “projectability”.
Mike Villani
Villani is a 6’2 RHP pitcher out of Long Beach State who has a good fastball/slider combo. His fastball has “sinker” tendencies with quite a bit of “arm side” run, which is something the Dodgers will use to command the inner half of the plate against righties.
His 4 Seam straightens out on “glove side” locations (outside to righties), but has added tail when started center or on “arm side” of the plate. That’s a great combo because it should allow him to be fairly pin-pointed to locations of safety to righties (outer half), but, then, also use movement to get the ball inside and on the hands.
His delivery creates “easy power” in the sense that he creates good velo numbers in what appears to be far from maximum effort with his release. That creates a complicated “perceived velocity” for hitters as does movement moving in.
Those factors of deception helped Villani record a batting average against of just .185 this past season & a K/9 ratio of 10.44.
Bruce Kuntz covered him as a broadcaster at Long Beach State and believes he will be a reliever in the Dodgers system.
Will Gagnon
Gagnon is a 6’1 Right Handed pitcher out of Reedley College, and then, also, Reedley High School, which is a touch over 3 Hours North of L.A.
According to his Twitter account, he features a fastball at 93-95, a slider at 79-82, a cutter at 86-88, and a curveball at 74-76.
He appears to hide the ball very well and already uses a cutter to lefties, which will play well in the Dodgers system. The layering in the change of speeds between his 4 offerings is of interest and will be fun to see how it gets incorporated and sequenced in the Dodgers system.
He is committed to UCLA, so signing him is far from a done deal, especially considering the amount of NIL money being given these days.
Gagnon recorded 27 at-bats in the 2022-23 season but did not have any at-bats this past season, so one would have to assume that playing a position is a thing of the past.
He posted ERAs of 4.65 and 3.69 in his 2 years at Reedley, but then also posted a K/9 last year of 16.43 in 53.2 innings.
Erik Parker
Parker is an 18-year-old shortstop prospect who is committed to playing for Georgia, so another situation where getting him signed is far from a done deal.
Parker is 6’0 and can play multiple positions, and we all know that versatility is something the Dodgers heavily value. He is also another middle infielder who has a lot of speed, which, again, hopefully, is a sign of offensive shifts within the organization.
His swing is very smooth and very nice. Moves through the ball well, keeps everything very compact, tall(er) back side and has good lift in the front. He has the type of “easy” swing that has the potential to be very line drive oriented, but with Home Run capabilities on the front side of the swing, mainly on inside pitches.
Smooth footwork, has obviously been taught fairly elite glove work and how to judge hops and move through the ball.
He has quite a bit of room to fill out his frame, so moving through a Minor League system would provide him that opportunity, while also gaining reps. At the end of that process, with his speed and smooth mechanics, there is no telling what the ceiling might look like.
