Drafting, developing and the World Series.

When you hear a general manager (like Ned Colletti) or a President, Baseball Operations (like Andrew Friedman) or a President/CEO (like Stan Kasten) tout the importance of drafting and developing, it’s not just hot air.

The Dodgers drafted and/or developed eight of the men on their 2014 postseason roster: Pedro Baez, Carlos Frias, Dee Gordon, Scott Elbert, A.J. Ellis, Kenley Jansen, Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw. They were also the first MLB team to sign Hyun-Jin Ryu and Yasiel Puig following their time in South Korea and Cuba, respectively.

So, let’s call it 10.

The Royals and Giants both have 13:

Giants Royals World Series

Since neither team is a large-market franchise, you wouldn’t expect them to have signed a majority of their players as major-league free agents. But it’s an object lesson in what the Dodgers are striving to be, in contrast to what they are today.

Game 1 of the World Series begins at 5 p.m. tonight on Fox.

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.