MLB mock draft: Dodgers projected to pick Jordan Walker, Georgia high school third baseman

The MLB Draft starts today, so folks are getting their final mock drafts in. Keith Law at The Athletic in his latest projection has the Dodgers taking Jordan Walker, a third baseman from Decatur High School in Georgia, in the first round.

“Walker is probably going somewhere in the Nos. 25-35 range, which should be enough to dissuade him from going to Duke,” Law wrote.

Duke coach Chris Pollard sung Walker’s praises in announcing he was part of their 2020 recruiting class, saying, “He’s one of the best high school defenders that I have ever scouted and the best high school third baseman that I have ever scouted. Additionally, he has really elite bat-to-barrel skills and he’s has plus arm strength, which is evident by the fact that he’s a really accomplished two-way player.”

MLB.com’s scouting report on Walker notes, “The odds of him becoming a Blue Devil decreased, however, when he established himself as the top corner-infield prospect in the 2020 high school class.”

Walker’s draft prospect rankings:

• The Athletic: No. 29
• MLB.com: No. 33
• Baseball America: No. 34
• FanGraphs: No. 41
• ESPN: No. 42

The last high school position player the Dodgers drafted in the first round was Gavin Lux in 2016.

Other mock drafts released today link the Dodgers we’ve already profiled. Miami right-hander Slade Cecconi was projected to the Dodgers by both Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo at MLB.com, and Illinois high school shortstop Ed Howard was mocked to the Dodgers by Carlos Collazo at Baseball America. Arizona high school infielder Carson Tucker was projected to the Dodgers by Kiley McDaniel at ESPN.

The Dodgers pick 29th overall in the first round, a pick that comes with a recommended slot value of $2,424,600. The MLB Draft begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. PT, televised by MLB Network and ESPN.