LA snags two-way player Underwood in fifth round

The Dodgers drafted their first two-way player in the fifth round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft on Friday, selecting right-hander J.D. Underwood from Palm Beach State.

While Underwood is committed to the University of Miami, he will focus solely on the mound should he sign with the Dodgers. He also played first base in junior college.

"Not in a million years, you can't dream of a better situation," Underwood told the Palm Beach Post after he was drafted. "The way everything played out this year, it's unbelievable. I'm just speechless. It's awesome. Unbelievable."

Underwood's father, Tom, spent parts of 11 seasons in the Major Leagues and made 213 career starts. So J.D. has a pretty good feel for pitching.

He has a feel for three at-least average pitches, with his fastball, curveball and changeup. Underwood tops out at around 92 mph, but goes right after hitters and gets high marks for his makeup, with the upside of a mid-to-back-of-the-rotation type starter.

Underwood, 20, is listed at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds. In May, he led Palm Beach State to its first Florida junior college baseball title in 29 years. Underwood was named the tournament's top pitcher, tossing two complete games to go 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA.

During the regular season, Underwood posted a 1.66 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 92 1/3 innings. He went 8-2 and issued just 12 walks. Underwood also hit .367 with three home runs and 47 RBIs as a left-handed bat.