True Blue LA - J.D. Underwood, 2013 5th round draft pickWhere The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2013-06-14T08:06:37-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/41941212013-06-14T08:06:37-07:002013-06-14T08:06:37-07:00Dodgers sign 5th-round RHP J.D. Underwood
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<p>With Underwood, the Dodgers have reached agreement with their top six draft picks and eight of their top 10 selections.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> have agreed to terms with their fifth-round draft pick, right-handed pitcher J.D. Underwood from Palm Beach State community college, <a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/highschoolbuzz/2013/06/13/baseball-notes-j-d-underwood-signs-with-los-angeles-dodgers-new-districts-released/">per Matt Porter at the Palm Beach Post</a>. Underwood, who was committed to attend the University of Miami in the fall, reportedly signed for over the slot bonus amount of $306,200 for the No. 154 overall pick.</p>
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<b>More</b>: <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/6/7/4407056/jd-underwood-mlb-draft-2013-dodgers-5th-round" target="new">Dodgers draft Underwood in 5th round</a>
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<p>Underwood, the son of former major league pitcher Tom Underwood, was 8-2 with a 1.66 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 92⅓ innings in 2013. The 20-year-old, 6'2, 215-pound right-hander left Palm Beach State to the Florida JUCO state championship and was named FCSAA Pitcher of the Year.</p>
<p>Here is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbs12.com/sports/stories/vid_402.shtml">video of Underwood from WPEC 12 TV in Florida reacting to getting drafted</a>.</p>
<p>Underwood's father passed away from cancer in 2010, but is still a big influence on his son. As Porter noted in February, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.prod.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/sports/college-baseball/indelible-influence-palm-beach-state-star-jd-under/nWSw6/">the Underwoods practiced tough love</a>:</p>
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<p>"Even the day he died, I saw him and the last words he said to me – I was crying, and he goes, ‘Why the hell are you crying?’ He was like that. Don’t look down on me. I’m always going to be here."</p>
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<div style="position: absolute; top: -1999px; left: -1988px;">"Even the day he died, I saw him and the last words he said to me – I was crying, and he goes, ‘Why the hell are you crying?’ He was like that. Don’t look down on me. I’m always going to be here." - See more at: http://www.prod.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/sports/college-baseball/indelible-influence-palm-beach-state-star-jd-under/nWSw6/#sthash.E83IGITo.dpuf</div>
<p>With Underwood in the fold, the Dodgers have reached agreement with their top six picks and eight of their top 10 selections. Only eighth round shortstop Brandon Trinwon and 10th round pitcher Nick Keener have yet to sign, though it sounds like Trinkwon has made up his mind.</p>
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<p>Just had a Brandon Trinkwon sighting, Dodgers hat and all. Stoked that Dodgers will pay for four more quarters at UCSB when he needs it.</p>
— CLAS Academic Skills (@ucsbclas) <a href="https://twitter.com/ucsbclas/statuses/345295681256312832">June 13, 2013</a>
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https://www.truebluela.com/mlb-draft/2013/6/14/4429976/mlb-draft-2013-jd-underwood-contract-dodgersEric Stephen2013-06-10T12:00:08-07:002013-06-10T12:00:08-07:00Dodgers & bloodlines in the draft
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<img alt="The Dodgers took RHP Greg Harris Jr., son of the former Expos pitcher, in the 17th round" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VTi9jO_TkFOOVOpE_Dlqj5YqM1Y=/8x0:1093x723/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/14531669/greg-harris-expos-getty.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>The Dodgers took RHP Greg Harris Jr., son of the former Expos pitcher, in the 17th round | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>A look at 2013 MLB Draft picks by the Dodgers with ties to baseball, as well as picks by other teams tied to the Dodgers.</p> <p id="yLmpW4">Many major league teams like to draft players with major league bloodlines, and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> are no different. Here is a look at the players picked by the Dodgers in the 2013 MLB Draft who grew up in and around the game:</p>
<ul id="p3G7bb"> <li> <strong>Cody Bellinger</strong>, the son of former big league infielder <strong>Clay Bellinger</strong>, a high school first baseman from Arizona was picked in the fourth round, 124th overall. Bellinger has reportedly already agreed to terms with the Dodgers.<br> </li> <li> <strong>J.D. Underwood</strong>, the son of former major league pitcher <strong>Tom Underwood</strong>, a junior college right-handed pitcher from Florida was taken in the fifth round, 154th overall</li> <li> <strong>RHP Nick Keener</strong>, the 10th round pick out of Mansfield in Pennsylvania, is the son of <strong>Stephen Keener</strong>, the president and CEO of Little League International.</li> <li>In the 12th round the Dodgers took BYU third baseman <strong>Adam Law</strong>, son of former major league infielder <strong>Vance Law</strong> and grandson of 1960 Cy Young Award winner <strong>Vernon Law</strong>.<br> </li> <li>In the 17th round the Dodgers took <strong>RHP Greg Harris Jr.</strong> out of Los Alamitos High. Harris is the son of former big league pitcher <strong>Greg Harris</strong>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON199509280.shtml">who pitched with both his right and left hand in his penultimate major league game in 1995</a>. The normally right-handed Harris walked Hal Morris as a left-handed pitcher, then got Eddie Taubensee to ground out.</li> <li>The Dodgers in the 19th round drafted Florida high school shortstop <strong>Blake Hennessey</strong>, son of Dodgers area scout <strong>Scott Hennessey</strong>, credited with finding first round pick Chris Anderson, 16th round pick RHP Peter Miller and 39th round pick Jake Sidwell, a high school catcher.<br> </li> <li>The Dodgers in the 20th round drafted Holy Cross third baseman <strong>Michael Ahmed</strong>, brother of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a> prospect <strong><span>Nick Ahmed</span></strong>.</li> <li>High school third baseman <strong>Andrew McWilliam</strong> is the son of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a> scout <strong>Tim McWilliam</strong>.<br> </li> <li>In the 33rd round the Dodgers took Pacific outfielder <strong>Tyger Pederson</strong>, the older brother of Dodgers prospect <strong><span>Joc Pederson</span></strong> and son of former Dodgers outfielder <strong>Stu Pederson</strong>. The Pedersons, it appears, had some fun when it came to baby naming.<br> </li> <li> <strong>Dillon Moyer</strong>, the shortstop taken in the 38th round out of the great school UC San Diego, is the son of former and possible future pitcher <strong><span>Jamie Moyer</span></strong>.<br> </li> <li> <strong>Jake Sidwell</strong>, the high school catcher taken in the 39th round, is the son of Dodgers scout <strong>Rob Sidwell</strong>, who was credited with finding the 5th rounder Underwood.<br> </li> </ul>
<p id="lhX8kD">In addition to the Dodgers' bloodlines picks, here are some picks by other teams with ties to the Dodgers:</p>
<ul id="YqTsW1"> <li> <strong>J.P. Crawford</strong>, a distant cousin of outfielder <strong><span>Carl Crawford</span></strong>, was taken by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> in the first round, 16th overall.</li> <li> <strong>Chad Wallach</strong>, son of third base coach and former third baseman <strong>Tim Wallach</strong>, was drafted by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> in the fifth round, 142nd overall. The Dodgers drafted Wallach in the 43rd round in 2010, but he did not sign. The Dodgers have drafted all three of Wallach's sons; they still have <strong><span>Matt Wallach</span></strong> in the system, while <strong>Brett Wallach</strong> is still in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> system after getting traded for <span>Ted Lilly</span>.<br> </li> <li> <strong>Ricky Knapp</strong>, son of Dodgers pitching coordinator <strong>Richard Knapp</strong>, was selected by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> in the eighth round.</li> <li> <strong>Jordan Sheffield</strong>, nephew of former outfielder <strong><span>Gary Sheffield</span></strong>, was taken by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> in the 13th round.</li> <li> <strong>Cal Quantrill</strong>, son of former relief pitcher <strong>Paul Quantrill</strong>, was drafted by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> in the 26th round.<br> </li> </ul>
https://www.truebluela.com/mlb-draft/2013/6/10/4414880/2013-mlb-draft-dodgers-bloodlinesEric Stephen2013-06-07T12:17:12-07:002013-06-07T12:17:12-07:00Dodgers select RHP J.D. Underwood in 5th round
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<figcaption>Mike Stobe</figcaption>
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<p>The 20-year-old, 6'2, 215-pound pitcher was a two-way player at Palm Beach State junior college in Florida.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> in the fifth round of the 2013 MLB Draft on Friday selected junior college right-handed pitcher J.D. Underwood with the No. 154 overall pick. Underwood, like fourth round pick Cody Bellinger, is the Dodgers' second straight bloodlines pick, as he is the son of former major leaguer Tim Underwood.</p>
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<b>Dodgers picks</b>: <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/6/6/4404020/mlb-draft-2013-results-dodgers-chris-anderson-first-round" target="new">RHP Chris Anderson</a> <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/6/6/4404732/2013-mlb-draft-dodgers-results-tom-windle-minnesota" target="new">LHP Tom Windle</a> <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/6/7/4406696/2013-mlb-draft-dodgers-brandon-dixon-3rd-round" target="new">3B Brandon Dixon</a> <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/6/7/4406876/2013-mlb-draft-dodgers-clay-bellinger-4th-round">1B Cody Bellinger</a>
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<p>Underwood helped <a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/highschoolbuzz/2013/05/14/j-d-underwood-pitches-palm-beach-state-to-junior-college-state-title/">lead Palm Beach State to the junior college state title in Florida in May</a>, and was committed to transfer to the University of Miami.</p>
<p>He was a two-way player in college, also playing first base, but he seems headed for the mound.</p>
<p><span class="vitals" style="top: 6px;"><span class="commentsspan">"He has a feel for three at-least average pitches with his fastball, curveball and changeup," </span></span><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2013/drafttracker.jsp">said Jonathan Mayo at MLB.com</a><span class="vitals" style="top: 6px;"><span class="commentsspan">. "He tops out at around 92 mph, but goes right after hitters and gets high marks for his makeup, with an upside of a mid-to-back of the rotation type starter."</span></span></p>
<p>His father Tom passed away in 2010, but J.D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/sports/college-baseball/indelible-influence-palm-beach-state-star-jd-under/nWSw6/">got a massive tattoo on his side in his father's honor</a>, that says "Winners always win without their best stuff."</p>
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<p>Congratulations to @<a href="https://twitter.com/canesbaseball">canesbaseball</a> signee J.D. Underwood, selected by the @<a href="https://twitter.com/dodgers">dodgers</a> in the fifth round (#154 overall): <a href="http://t.co/Bd96kP4i3l" title="http://twitter.com/hurricanesports/status/343082784786636802/photo/1">twitter.com/hurricanesport…</a></p>— Miami Hurricanes (@hurricanesports) <a href="https://twitter.com/hurricanesports/status/343082784786636802">June 7, 2013</a>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2013/6/7/4407056/jd-underwood-mlb-draft-2013-dodgers-5th-roundEric Stephen