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The Dodgers drafted their third Vanderbilt pitcher in the last two years, selecting right-hander Jordan Sheffield with their third selection in the 2016 MLB Draft, No. 36 overall.
This is the pick the Dodgers received as compensation for failing to sign Louisville pitcher Kyle Funkhouser in 2015, their No. 35 overall pick.
In 2015, the Dodgers took Sheffield's former college teammates Walker Buehler in the first round, and then selected Phil Pfeiffer in the third round.
Sheffield had a 3.01 ERA in 16 starts as a redshirt sophomore in 2016, with 113 strikeouts and 40 walks in 101⅔ innings. He was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award.
Sheffield was ranked as the 28th-best draft prospect by our own David Hood, was No. 23 on the Baseball America Top 500, and ranked 19th on the MLB Pipeline top 200 draft prospects.
"Sheffield has always had a fine fastball, consistently in the mid-90s and with enough movement to draw 70 grades. He also has a very good change-up and has made good strides developing his curveball this spring; both secondary pitches now rate as above-average. His mechanics are reportedly cleaner and more consistent this year," wrote John Sickels at Minor League Ball. "His strikeout rate has spiked sharply, going from 8.25 K/9 last year to 11.08 this spring, with the improved secondaries the main reason. Even better, he's cut his walk rate in half, going from 6.45 last season to 3.31."
Sheffield was previously drafted in 2013 by the Red Sox in the 13th round, but did not sign. He is the younger brother of Indians left-handed pitcher Justus Sheffield, who was picked with the 31st overall selection in 2014.
Dodgers scout Marty Lamb scouted Sheffield.
The No. 36 pick has an allotted slot value of $1,791,000.
Twitter: @jordan_sheff