Dodgers select RHP Clayton Beeter with the 66th pick of the MLB Draft

The Dodgers took their third consecutive college pitcher, selecting right-hander Clayton Beeter out of Texas Tech with their Competitive Balance Round B selection, the 66th overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft on Thursday.

Los Angeles acquired this draft pick in February from the Twins in the trade that sent Kenta Maeda to Minnesota and brought Brusdar Graterol to the Dodgers.

A redshirt sophomore, Beeter had a 2.14 ERA in four starts this season for Texas Tech, with 33 strikeouts against four walks in 21 innings. In 2019 he pitched exclusively in relief, striking out 40 and walking 20 in 20⅔ innings.

Beeter had Tommy John surgery in October 2017, and discussed the ensuing few years with Don Williams of the Brownwood Bulletin this week:

“Tommy John rehab is a pretty rigorous process,” he said, “and it’s something every day as far as arm care and strength. Thankfully, I got to travel with the team that year, so while everybody else is getting ready for games, I’m just worried about my rehab and strength training.”

Beeter as rated the 58th best-prospect in the draft by Baseball America, ranked 22nd by ESPN, 51st by MLB.com, 19th by FanGraphs, and ranked 38th by Keith Law at The Athletic.

Law wrote, “Beeter might have the best single pitch in the draft in his curveball, an absolute yellow hammer with spin, bite and depth, a pitch he can land for strikes and use to get swings and misses.”

This pick has a recommended bonus slot value of $1,003,300. The deadline to sign draft picks this year was extended from July 10 to Aug. 1, allowing more time to coordinate physical exams in the middle of a pandemic.