Another day, another college pitcher linked to the Dodgers in a mock draft. In the latest iteration at Baseball America, Carlos Collazo projects Auburn right-hander Tanner Burns to the Dodgers in the first round, with the 29th overall selection.
Other college pitchers attached to the Dodgers in national mock drafts include Miami righty Slade Cecconi, Bryce Jarvis out of Duke, NC State lefty Nick Swiney, and Florida State right-hander C.J. Van Eyk.
“Burns doesn’t have the stuff that [2015 draftee Walker] Buehler did coming out of college, but his performance is exceptional and he’s a safe bet to start,” Collazo wrote.
Dodgers vice president of amateur scouting Billy Gasparino said last month of the 2020 draft, “The college pitching group and the high school hitting group are really strong. It’s a strong draft overall.”
Burns, a 6-foot right-hander, had a 2.86 ERA in three years at Auburn, with 210 strikeouts and 67 walks in 188⅔ innings. He was a preseason All-American by multiple outlets before his junior season, and in the truncated campaign posted a 2.32 ERA in four starts, with 32 strikeouts in 22⅓ innings.
Burns’ highest draft ranking is 16th by Keith Law at The Athletic, who pointed out, “he’s taken over as staff ace after Casey Mize was the first overall pick in 2018.”
Baseball America rated Burns the 26th-best prospect in the draft, MLB.com had him 28th, and BUrns was slated 67th by FanGraphs.
The one Auburn player drafted by the Dodgers to reach the majors was Joe Beckwith, picked in the second round in 1977. Beckwith pitched seven seasons in the majors, almost exclusively in relief, including five years with the Dodgers.
The recommended slot value for the Dodgers’ first-round pick, 29th overall, is $2,424,600. The MLB Draft will be televised by MLB Network and ESPN/ESPN2 on June 10-11.