The Dodgers’ pitcher-heavy draft (non-)strategy is about to be put into action.
The advanced Rookie-level Ogden Raptors begin play tonight. Their roster includes 12 players recently chosen in the June draft: infielder Willie Calhoun (4th round), pitcher Tommy Bergjans (8th), pitcher Kevin Brown (9th), outfielder Logan Landon (10th), catcher Matt Beaty (12th), catcher Jake Hensen (21st), pitcher Andrew Istler (23rd), pitcher Cameron Palmer (24th), pitcher Rob McDonnell (25th), pitcher Marcus Crescentini (26th), pitcher Ivan Vieitez (27th) and shortstop Nick Dean (32nd).
Also on the Raptors’ roster: pitcher Wesley Helsabeck, whom the Dodgers signed as an undrafted free agent.
Of note: Beaty was listed as a catcher when he was drafted, but is listed as an infielder on the Raptors’ roster.
Several more 2015 draftees will begin play with the Rookie-level AZL Dodgers, whose season begins Saturday.
The Dodgers used 25 of their 42 picks on pitchers. Amateur scouting director Billy Gasparino said he was “shocked” the way it turned out, because “we tried to target hitters this year. We went and scouted them a lot, both on the high school and college end.”