The Dodgers selected right-hander Walker Buehler out of Vanderbilt University with their first round pick in the 2015 First Year Player Draft. The 20-year-old junior was a bit of a surprise pick in that he was not expected to still be available as a 24th overall selection. Little did he know that he would be joined by teammate left-handed pitcher Philip Pfeifer taken by the Dodgers in the third round of the draft on Tuesday.

By making the 6′ 2″ – 175-pound Buehler their first round pick the Dodgers followed a familiar drafting pattern – it marked the 12th time in 13 years that they have drafted a pitcher first. However, Billy Gasparino, in his first draft as Dodgers Scouting Director, said the pitching-heavy selections were not a planned strategy but rather “they just fell that way.” He continued: “We didn’t plan it this way but we took a lot of smart, educated kids from good schools.”

Walker Buehler long ago accepted the nickname “Ferris Bueller” from the cult film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. He even incorporated it into his Twitter handle @buehlersdayoff.
(Photo credit – Peter Aiken)

Buehler was initially selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 14th round of the 2012 June Draft out of Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky. Baseball America at that time had projected the them 17-year-old as a second-round draft choice. His career high school record of 16-12 is deceiving when his career ERA is 2.11, with 234 strikeouts and 75 walks in 166 innings are taken into consideration. Following his final high school season his number 12 jersey was retired.

After considering his options, Buehler chose not to sign with the Pirates but rather honor his commitment to the Vanderbilt Commodores of the Southeastern Conference. In 2015 as a junior he posted a 2.97 ERA in 78.2 innings while striking out 81 and walking 25. During the course of his three-year college career, he went 20-7 with a 2.88 ERA in 49 games striking out 249 against only 83 walks.

Buehler, who wears number 13, played a significant role in the 2014 National College Championship won by the Commodores. He pitched 5.1 innings of no-hit relief in Vanderbilt’s 6-4 win over University of California Irvine. “The game turned around when Walker came in,” Vandy Coach Tim Corbin said. “He pounded the strike zone from the minute he got in there to the minute he finished.”

Following the 2014 season Buehler played in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League. He finished his season as a co-winner of MVP honors after winning both his starts in the playoffs while not allowing a run in 15.1 innings, leading the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox to the league championship.

Scouting reports suggest that Buehler has a four-pitch repertoire that could be average or better at the major league level. Jim Callis of MLB.com wrote: “He had the deepest repertoire in the [Cape Cod Baseball] League, featuring a 90-96 mph fastball with sink, a deceptive change-up and a pair of hard breaking balls in his curveball and slider. Buehler could have four solid-or-better big league pitches and throws them all for strikes.”

Speaking on behalf of the team, Dodgers Director of Amateur Scouting Billy Gasparino described Buehler from the Dodgers perspective: “He’s an accomplished college pitcher with three plus pitches,” said Gasparino. “He’s athletic and he’s got power to everything he does. More importantly, he’s a great human being and from a quality family. We’re really excited to add him to the organization.”

In March, as part of the College Baseball Classic, Buehler allowed one run and five hits in four innings in a 4-2 loss to Texas Christian. The venue was Dodger Stadium. “It was awesome, man,” he said of his Dodger Stadium experience. “It was the first time I ever pitched in a big league ballpark.”

Buehler was scouted by Dodgers area scout Marty Lamb. Although he was picked in the 24th round of this year’s draft, the Dodgers may well have gained an actual top-10 pick. Stan Kasten, the Dodgers President and CEO, revealed just moments after Buehler’s selection that he was ninth on the Dodgers draft list. Interestingly, ESPN’s Keith Law also listed Buehler at ninth while Baseball America and MLB.com both listed him 11th.

Buehler apparently was not expecting to be drafted by the Dodgers. “It surprised me,” Buehler said of his selection by the Dodgers, who had no contact with him prior to the draft. “I’m excited and really humbled by it.”

He does, however, have a connection to the Dodgers and more specifically to Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke. Buehler has looked up to the slender Greinke since he started pitching, perhaps even modeling the way he pitches after him. “Similar body types,” Buehler said. “Similar pitchers, I hope I can say.”

Scouting Director Billy Gasparino, speaking to the comparison between the two lean pitchers, tended to agree: “I don’t think that’s too far off.” For his part Greinke, who follows the draft with more than a little interest, gave a thumb’s up to the Dodgers selections including Buehler.

When asked about the possibility of ever pitching along side left-hander Clayton Kershaw, Buehler indicated he would be honored and humbled. “That’s something that not many people get to think about in their life,” he said. “It’s obviously very humbling and it’s exciting thinking about, but when I get a little bit down the road.”

Walker Buehler is presently concentrating on helping Vanderbilt win another National College Championship. However, like Zach Greinke, he has a plan in mind as he will soon begin his professional career – improving fastball command at the next level is his priority.

“The pro game and college game are a little bit different in that the pro game is a little more fastball-oriented,” he said. “Fastball command – trying to put the ball where you want – I think, is the biggest thing.”

That does sound a bit Greinke-like, doesn’t it?