The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced their eight selections from the second day of the 2017 Draft, picking University of Houston catcher Connor Wong (third round), Park Vista Community (FL) High School right-hander James Marinan (fourth round), University of Utah right-hander Riley Ottesen (fifth round), University of Connecticut right-hander Wills Montgomerie (sixth round), University of Kentucky right-hander Zach Pop (seventh round), Xavier University third baseman Rylan Bannon (eighth round), University of Evansville right-hander Connor Strain (ninth round) and University of Kentucky outfielder Zach Reks (10^th round).
Los Angeles drafted nine of its first 10 players from the college ranks and through 10 selections they have taken six pitchers, two outfielders, one infielder and one catcher.
The Dodgers started the second day of the draft by selecting University of Houston catcher Connor Wong in the third round. In his junior season, the 21-year-old Texas native posted a .287/.379/.494 slashline and led the American Athletic Conference with 61 runs and 26 stolen bases, while recording 13 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs and 36 RBI. Wong, who was selected to the 2017 Second Team All-American Conference Team as a catcher and 2016 First Team All-American Conference Team as a utility player, has played in 184 career games with the Cougars, hitting .280 with 152 runs, 32 doubles, eight triples, 23 home runs and 103 RBI. He has also seen time at shortstop, third base and in the outfield and was rated by Baseball America as the 77^th overall prospect in the 2017 draft.
The Dodgers selected their lone high school player in the fourth round, taking right-handed pitcher James Marinan from Park Vista Community (FL) High School. During his senior season, the Florida native pitched two complete-game shutouts and went 8-1 with a 0.84 ERA (6 ER/50.0 IP) while striking out 66 against just 12 walks. Marinan was ranked the 58^th overall prospect by Baseball America in this year's draft.
The Dodgers selected four college pitchers today, taking University of Utah righty Riley Ottesen (fifth round), University of Connecticut right-hander Wills Montgomerie (sixth round), University of Kentucky right-hander Zach Pop (seventh round) and University of Evansville righty Connor Strain (ninth round). Ottesen, a 23-year-old sophomore, went 5-4 with a 4.93 ERA (52 ER/95.0 IP) and recorded 72 strikeouts against 33 walks in 16 games (15 starts) for the Utes. In 15 starts during his junior season with the Huskies, Montgomerie went 6-3 with a 3.73 ERA (37 ER/89.1 IP) and collected 116 strikeouts while issuing 40 walks. Pop, a Canada native, appeared in 22 games during his senior season with the Wildcats, going 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA (8 ER/20.2 IP), while recording 20 punch outs against 14 walks. Strain went 2-5 with a 2.62 ERA (20 ER/68.2 IP), striking out 68 batters and issuing 38 walks in 14 starts for the Purple Aces in 2017.
Los Angeles also nabbed collegiate position players Rylan Bannon, a junior third baseman from Xavier University in the eighth round, and outfielder Zach Reks from the University of Kentucky in the 10^th round. Bannon started 61 games for the Musketeers last season and posted a .339/.449/.633 slashline while leading the team in runs (45) and home runs (15). Bannon also recorded 14 doubles, three triples and 50 RBI and was named the 2017 Big East Player of the Year. Reks posted a .352/.461/.471 slashline in 65 games with the Wildcats as a senior last season and recorded 44 runs, 16 doubles, two triples, three homers, 44 RBI and a team-leading 15 stolen bases.
Attached is the list of the top 10 Dodger selections from the 2017 First-Year Player Draft.
The 2017 First-Year Player Draft concludes tomorrow with rounds 11-30 starting at 9:00 a.m. (PST).