The game of baseball has been around as America’s favorite pastime for 169 years. During that time there have been many changes to Alexander Cartwright’s game. In my 62 years as a Dodger fan there has been the inclusion of the DH in the American League, the increased use of Sabermetrics – of which I am not a big fan – and the intrusion of the increased use of instant replay into the game. There have been other more subtle changes that have evolved and one of those changes is in the drafting patterns of teams, including the Dodgers. Teams are now drafting relief specialists within the first ten rounds.

Perhaps the best example of this new drafting philosophy is left-hander Paco Rodriguez, who was drafted by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2012 First Year Player Draft. He was instantly projected as the player in that draft who would be the first in his class to play at the MLB level. Rodriguez was indeed the first to graduate to the big leagues pitching in 11 games for the Dodgers in 2012 with a 1.35 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP.

Thus far no players drafted by the Dodgers in 2013 have advanced beyond the high A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. It may well be that reliever Jacob Rhame – now with the Great Lakes Loons- will be the first player from that draft to leap frog to MLB. Hopefully it will be with the Dodgers but I expect he is no doubt a person of interest for teams scouting the young Dodgers who may be available in trades. Rhame has five wins and six saves with the Loons supported with a 2.05 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, 80 strikeouts and 14 walks. He was a sixth round selection in 2012.

The relief pitcher pattern repeated itself in the most recent draft in June. Brock Stewart was selected in the sixth round while Albert Vanagas was picked in the eleventh round. Both are pitching in relief with the Ogden Raptors in the Pioneer League. Right-hander Matt Campbell was taken by the Dodgers in the ninth round and is playing with the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League. That is the highest placement of any player drafted by the Dodgers in 2014.

Although perhaps not as quickly as Paco Rodriguez did, Loons right-hander Matt Campbell could very well be the first player selected in the 2014 draft to make it to the big leagues.
(Photo courtesy of Loons.com)

Campbell, in my opinion, projects to be the first member of the Dodgers 2014 draftees who will play at the MLB level. That is, if he is able to avoid injuries that would delay his progress. Hopefully it will be as a Dodger.

Matt Campbell grew up in Alpharetta, Georgia which is a suburb of Atlanta. As a result of his proximity to the Braves he grew up with John Smoltz and Craig Kimbrel as his favorite players, both being very successful closers. Smoltz, of course, also excelled in a starting role for the Braves. Campbell attended Northview High School in Alpharetta and following his graduation he enrolled at Clemson University in South Carolina. He seemed to be an unlikely candidate to pursue a baseball career. As a freshman at Clemson he weighed all of 150 pounds and in his own words, “…had no idea of how to pitch.”

Campbell, 5’11” and now around 200 pounds, credits his Clemson strength coach Dennis Love for building up his strength to help increase his velocity. He likewise credits his Clemson pitching coach, Dan Pepicelli, for teaching him how to pitch. That is, fine tuning his mechanics and helping him to effectively use his velocity which tops out around 94 mph. His slider also has some zip in the low nineties.

At Clemson as a senior Campbell finished his 2014 season with a 4-0 record, eight saves and an 0.84 ERA in 25 relief appearances over 32.0 innings pitched. He allowed 16 hits, walked 15 and struck out 45.

Campbell joined the Loons on June 20th and soon made his mark with the Dodgers affiliate. In his first five games, he had six scoreless innings giving up three hits while walking one and striking out five. On the season he has now pitched 29 innings over 22 appearances with an ERA of 1.55 and a WHIP of 1.00. He has struck out 36 and walked 8. He has yet to serve up a home run.

In an interview with Jared Massey he highlighted his love for his fastball. “I love throwing my fastball. No matter what the count, situation, etc. I love going to my fastball. I have a slider and a change up and I would say my change up is my favorite off speed pitch of the two.” From watching Matt pitch I would guess his change up definitely is not a favorite of opposing batters in the Midwest League.

In that same interview Campbell spoke of his personal baseball ambitions, one is definitely to be a closer. “I live for moments like that. I would rather come into a game with the bases loaded and no outs than start my own inning.”

He has already achieved his immediate goal and his long term goal is squarely in his sights. He outlined those goals in his June 16th interview with Massey. “In the near future, I hope to get my career in the minors off to a good start in Great Lakes and continue where I left off this past collegiate season. I want to keep pitching with success and, in the long run, I hope that success will carry me through the minor league system and one day onto the mound, under the lights, in Dodger Stadium.”

As with many young men, Matt Campbell has not forgotten the support of his family and especially acknowledges his father for helping him succeed along the rocky road of baseball. “ I started living my life by the phrase he told me before I left for my senior year. ‘If something is worth fighting for, never look back and ask yourself what if?’ That phrase carried me through the season when I needed that little extra motivation.”