Dodgers add catching project in eighth round

While the Dodgers' eighth round pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft starred as a shortstop at the University of Georgia, scouting director Logan White said the club plans to convert Kyle Farmer to catcher.

And Farmer is ready to embrace the change, though he's never played the position.

"I'm willing to play anywhere just to get a chance," Farmer told the Athens Banner-Herald this week. "I'm ready to go play. Hopefully a team gives me a shot and I can go sign the contract as soon as possible and head out and leave. I don't know where it's going to take me, but I don't know what I'd do without baseball. I really can't wait."

The Dodgers liked what they saw from Farmer as a catcher during a workout, and drafted him with the 244th selection on Friday.

During his career with the Bulldogs, Farmer hit .308 with 63 doubles, seven triples, 18 home runs and 168 RBIs. He ranks among the top 10 in school history in games played, total bases, at-bats, hits, doubles and RBIs.

Farmer was the starting shortstop for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team last summer, but his future is behind the plate.

The Yankees drafted Farmer as a shortstop in the 35th round last year, but he did not sign and returned to Georgia for his senior season.

"I think coming back helped in a good way because I saw a lot of things I'd never seen before that," Farmer said. "You've got to stay positive no matter what, and I learned that coming back for my senior season. You've got to be mentally tough in the Minor Leagues."