Dodgers draft LHP John Rooney in the 3rd round, No. 104 overall

The Dodgers with their first pick on Tuesday selected Hofstra left-handed pitcher John Rooney with their third-round pick, No. 104 overall in the 2018 MLB Draft.

Rooney was 8-2 with a 1.23 ERA in 13 starts for Hofstra as a junior, with 108 strikeouts and 27 walks in 95 innings. He was named a second-team All-American by Baseball America and was the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2018.

“You dream your whole life to play for a big-league organization and to get that chance to play the game you love on the professional level,” Rooney told Gregg Sarra at New York Newsday. “I’m that guy from a small upstate area that Hofstra believed could compete in Division I. And having the opportunity to learn from a great pitching coach for the last three years really helped me develop into a prospect.”

The 6’5 Rooney was ranked the No. 175 prospect in the draft by David Hood, praising his good slider and athletic delivery, but noting his best fit might be as a relief pitcher.

Baseball America ranked Rooney the 144th prospect in the draft, and noted he had a 93 mph fastball and above-average slider. MLB.com tabbed him 181st.

The allotted slot value for the No. 104 pick is $538,800.