True Blue LA - 2015 Dodgers 7th-round draft pick, RHP Andrew SopkoWhere The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2015-06-17T17:10:42-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/85192342015-06-17T17:10:42-07:002015-06-17T17:10:42-07:00Dodgers sign 7th-rounder Andrew Sopko
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<figcaption><a href='http://www.gozags.com'>Photo: Mike Wootton | Gonzaga Athletics</a></figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> on Wednesday announced the signing of seventh-round selection Andrew Sopko, a right-handed pitcher taken by the Dodgers with the No. 222 overall pick in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">2015 MLB Draft</a>.</p>
<p>The Dodgers also made official on Wednesday <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2015/6/15/8784407/mitch-hansen-contract-dodgers-2015-mlb-draft">the signing of outfielder Mitch Hansen</a>, the club's second-round pick out of Plano High School in Texas. This makes 26 of 42 draft picks signed by the Dodgers, including six of their 12 picks in the first 10 rounds.</p>
<p>Sopko was 7-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 14 starts as a junior for Gonzaga in 2015. He struck out 78 and walked 29 in 88⅔ innings, and earned All-WCC Honorable Mention honors. He was ranked No. 237 in <a data-ref-index="9" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft-preview/">the Baseball America top 500</a> before the draft.</p>
<p>Sopko signed for $147,500 <a target="_blank" href="http://m.mlb.com/news/article/130246508/2015-draft-signing-and-bonus-tracker">per MLB Pipeline</a>, $31,100 below <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2015/6/9/8750441/mlb-draft-2015-tracker-dodgers-picks">the allotted slot amount of $178,600</a>.</p>
<p>The Dodgers also signed below-slot deals for eighth-round pick Tommy Bergjans ($17,500; slot was $167,000) and 10th-round pick Logan Landon ($2,500; slot was $149,700), <a target="_blank" href="http://m.mlb.com/news/article/130246508/2015-draft-signing-and-bonus-tracker">per MLB Pipeline</a>.</p>
<p>Based on the bonuses we know, which now is only four of the six top 12 picks, the Dodgers are $320,200 under slot. Couple that with the $389,084 the Dodgers can go over without losing a 2016 first-round draft pick ($1 less than five percent of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2015/6/9/8750441/mlb-draft-2015-tracker-dodgers-picks">their $7,781,700 total bonus pool</a>), the Dodgers have an additional $709,284 they can potentially use to sign Walker Buehler and Kyle Funkhouser, their first two picks, plus 11th-round high school pitcher Imani Abdullah out of San Diego.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/6/17/8800531/andrew-sopko-contract-dodgers-mlb-draft-2015Eric Stephen2015-06-09T19:08:19-07:002015-06-09T19:08:19-07:00Andrew Sopko draft profile
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<img alt="Andrew Spoko struck out 78 batters in 88 2/3 innings in 2015." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FTJyjoL16_I1mOmBA6SJRA-TYkU=/302x217:2630x1769/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46506914/andrew-sopko-far-mike-wootton-gonzaga-athletics-2015-draft.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Andrew Spoko struck out 78 batters in 88 2/3 innings in 2015. | <a href='http://www.gozags.com'>Photo: Mike Wootton | Gonzaga Athletics</a></figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- Including <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2015/6/9/8754405/andrew-sopko-mlb-draft-results-2015-dodgers-7th-round" target="new">their selection of Gonzaga right-hander Andrew Sopko in the seventh round of the 2015 MLB Draft</a>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> drafted seven college pitchers in their first 12 picks.</p>
<p><b>What he’s good at right now</b>: Sopko has feel for spin on his solid average slider and has reached 94 mph on his fastball. He has a simple delivery that he repeats well and has decent command.</p>
<p><b>What he can be good at in the future</b>: He’s fairly tapped out as a starter, but he could see the grades of both his fastball and slider move up a tick if he moves to the bullpen.</p>
<p><b>What does he need to work on</b>: His stuff is fairly hittable, so he’ll have to work to improve his pitch sequencing and improve his command to keep his fastball away from trouble.</p>
<p><b>Carry tool</b>: Sopko’s best path to the majors could be relief, and his solid average slider might tick up in the bullpen and become his go-to pitch.</p>
<p><b>Biggest weakness</b>: Sopko’s ceiling and overall stuff profile could meet its match in the upper minors. He may have to move to relief, and middle relief is likely his best bet.</p>
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<h4>Andrew Sopko</h4>
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vf-oUKp1HZs" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><span><b>Selection</b>: 7th round, 222nd overall <br><b>School</b>: Gonzaga<br><b>Top 200 Ranking</b>: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2015/5/28/8683427/mlb-draft-2015-prospect-rankings-top-200">unranked</a></span>
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<p><b>ETA</b>: Sopko has the pitchability and stuff to get through the first few levels quickly, but will face a tough challenge at Double A and on. He could move quicker in relief, and that might be his ticket to the majors, which could come around 2019.</p>
<p><b>Realistic best case scenario</b>: Sopko moves to the pen and sees his fastball sit more frequently around 94 mph with an above average slider as a putaway pitch. He could work in long relief or in the seventh inning at the major league level with that repertoire.</p>
<p><b>Wrap</b>: Sopko received consideration for my Top 200, but I ultimately passed due to the lack of ceiling as a right hander with fringe to fringe-average stuff. By the seventh round, he’s a solid depth signing that should fill out a minor league rotation until his stuff requires a move to relief.</p>
<p>Sopko has some pitchability but he gets hit too often and might be around the plate too much with his fastball. He has a solid slider and change-up, so he has the necessary pitches to start, but he’s going to need to see a jump in velocity for him to stick in the rotation. Sopko is a depth signing with some upside as a future pen arm.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/6/9/8755325/mlb-draft-2015-andrew-sopko-profileDavid Hood2015-06-09T18:04:24-07:002015-06-09T18:04:24-07:00Dodgers draft RHP Andrew Sopko in 7th round
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<img alt="Andrew Spoko struck out 78 batters in 88 2/3 innings in 2015." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JrhP8T8QOnWQHqsWuw1Jn8yvAlc=/0x0:2400x1600/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46506626/andrew-sopko-david-cohen-for-gonzaga-athletics-2015-draft.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Andrew Spoko struck out 78 batters in 88 2/3 innings in 2015. | <a href='http://www.gozags.com'>Photo: David Cohen | for Gonzaga Athletics</a></figcaption>
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<p>LOS ANGELES -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> on Tuesday with their seventh-round pick of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">2015 MLB Draft</a> selected right-handed pitcher Andrew Sopko of Gonzaga with the No. 222 overall pick.</p>
<p>The 6'2, 220-pound junior was 7-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 14 starts for Gonzaga in 2015. He struck out 78 and walked 29 in 88⅔ innings, and earned All-WCC Honorable Mention honors.</p>
<p>Sopko was ranked 237 in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft-preview/">the Baseball America top 500</a>, but was not listed in <a target="_blank" href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015?list=draft">the MLB.com top 200</a> or in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2015/5/28/8683427/mlb-draft-2015-prospect-rankings-top-200">David Hood's top 200</a>.</p>
<p>"Everyone in the program is very excited and happy for both Andrew and Mitchell [Gunsolus, drafted in the 10th round by Boston]," Gonzaga head coach Mark Machtolf <a href="http://www.gozags.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=627525&SPID=90843&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=210140875&DB_OEM_ID=26400" target="new">said in a statement</a>. "Sopko has improved every year and will do outstanding at the next level."</p>
<p>Sopko sounds like someone who will be an easy sign for the Dodgers, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kaj18.com/story/29278935/missoulas-andrew-sopko-drafted-by-dodgers">per Derek Buerkle of KAJ 18 in Montana</a>:</p>
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<p>But this time, even though he could go back for a senior year at Gonzaga, Sopko says he's ready for pro ball. The team that made the call helped him decide.</p>
<p>"They're the Dodgers. I mean, it's hard not to love it," Sopko said. "I grew up a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Cleveland Indians</a> fan. But to see the Dodgers, it's a dream come true. I actually had a great relationship with the area scout. He liked me a lot, and it seemed like the guys in the front office did too. So it worked out."</p>
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<p>The <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/mlb-draft/2015/4/9/8380065/dodgers-draft-bonus-pool-2015-ryan-webb-trade">slot value for this pick is $178,600</a>.</p>
<blockquote align="center" class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations to RHP Andrew Sopko, the <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers">@Dodgers</a> 7th round <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLBdraft?src=hash">#MLBdraft</a> pick! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnitedWeZag?src=hash">#UnitedWeZag</a> <a href="http://t.co/LFyaaHjz8m">pic.twitter.com/LFyaaHjz8m</a></p>
— Gonzaga Baseball (@GonzagaBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/GonzagaBaseball/status/608374734242377729">June 9, 2015</a>
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<p>Sopko was drafted out of Loyola Sacred Heart High School in Missoula, Montana in the 14th round in 2012 by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>, but did not sign.</p>
<p>Twitter: <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/asop_12">@asop_12</a></p>
<p align="center"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qpLsviD435c" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2015/6/9/8754405/andrew-sopko-mlb-draft-results-2015-dodgers-7th-roundEric Stephen