Dodgers Select RHP Landon Knack with second pick in 2020 MLB Draft
LOS ANGELES –The Los Angeles Dodgers announced their five selections of the second day of the 2020 MLB Draft, taking right-handed pitcher Landon Knack from East Tennessee State University (second round), right-handed pitcher Clayton Beeter from Texas Tech University (second round - Comp B), outfielder Jake Vogel from Huntington Beach High School (third round), catcher Carson Taylor out of Virginia Tech University (fourth round) and right-handed pitcher Gavin Stone from the University of Central Arkansas (fifth round).
Knack, 22, was selected 60th-overall in the draft after finishing his senior campaign with a 4-0 record and a 1.08 ERA (3 ER/25 IP) in four starts. In limited work this season, he fanned 51 batters against one walk, leading NCAA D-1 Baseball in strikeouts and strikeout-to-walk ratio (51.0). In two seasons with the Buccaneers, he went 13-4 with a 2.25 ERA (31 ER/124.0 IP) and 145 strikeouts in 19 starts. The Johnson City, TN native pitched two seasons at Walters State Community College prior to joining East Tennessee State University, going 13-1 with a 2.93 ERA (32 ER/98.7 IP) in 19 games (16 starts).
Beeter, 21, made four starts for the Texas Tech Red Raiders in 2020, allowing five runs over 21 innings (2.14 ERA) with 33 strikeouts against four walks. He posted a 2-1 record, including a career-high 12 strikeouts over 6.0 innings of one-run baseball to earn the victory on March 6 against Rice University. The Colleyville, Texas native was a Freshman All-American in 2019 after recording a team-high eight saves in 20 appearances with a 3.20 ERA (7 ER/19.2 IP) and 39 strikeouts. The two-sport athlete was a four-year letter winner at Birdville High School, earning All-District honors his senior season after posting a 0.81 ERA with 106 strikeouts over 56 innings.
Vogel, 18, was the 100th-selection in the 2020 Draft and first position player taken by the Dodgers. The UCLA commit entered the 2020 season rated the No. 59 prospect in the country by Prep Baseball Report and was listed as the 15th-best prospect in California by Perfect Game. He was a Preseason High School All-American and participated in the 2019 Perfect Game National Showcase, where he was named to the All-Prospect Team.
Taylor, 21, appeared in 16 games for the Hokies, batting .431 (25-for-58) with seven doubles, one triple, two homers and 20 RBI. He led the team in batting average, runs (19), doubles, RBI, OBP (.541) and OPS (1.231) while ranking amongst the NCAA D-1 leaders in OBP (27th), batting average (32nd) , doubles (34th), RBI (35th), runs (49th) and hits (50th). The switch-hitting backstop was a two-year starter at Virginia Tech, hitting a combined .332 (65-for-196) with 16 doubles, four homers and 39 RBI. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, the Duluth, GA native played two seasons at Greater Atlanta Christian and was a two-time Perfect Game honorable mention All-American and First Team All-State both junior and senior seasons.
Stone, 21, made four starts for the University of Central Arkansas, going 3-1 with a 1.30 ERA (4 ER/27.1 IP) and 31 strikeouts. On March 6 against Southeastern Louisiana, he became the third pitcher in school history to throw a no-hitter, recording 13 strikeouts and facing one batter over the minimum. In three seasons for the Bears, he posted a 9-6 record with a 2.42 ERA (27 ER/101.1 IP) with 109 strikeouts against 33 walks. The Lake City, AR native was a two-time All-State and four-time All-Conference player at Riverside High School. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the Arkansas High School All-Star Game in 2018.
The Dodgers completed the 2020 First-Year Player Draft by selecting four pitchers, one catcher and one outfielder.
An updated list of the Dodgers’ selections from the 2020 First-Year Player Draft can be found using the following link: https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker/all/team/dodgers