Right-hander Tommy Bergjans was selected by the Dodgers in the eighth round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft. His selection on the second day of the draft was perhaps a bit of a surprise to many but not to Bergjans. The surprising part of his selection so early in the draft was that he came from a Division III school.

However, a gander at his resume in a four year career with the Haverford Athletics in Haverford, Pennsylvania makes one wonder why his name was not called before the eighth round regardless of the division in which he played. In his freshman year in 2012 Bergjans posted an ERA of 2.78 which was the fourth lowest in the league and the highest of his career with the Athletics.

His ERA in his next three years continued to improve as Bergjans dominated in the Centennial Conference topping off his senior year with an ERA of 1.07. He struck out 111 in 67.1 innings in 2015 and ended the season as the NCAA leader in strikeouts. His 14.84 strikeouts per nine innings also led the nation. In eight of his starts he struck out at least 10 hitters while walking but 14 during the season and posting a 0.92 WHIP.

Bergjans finished his college career as a three-time All-American and holds several Haverford College pitching records including a career ERA of 1.69, 27 wins, 282.2 innings pitched and 374 strikeouts.

Needless to say, Bergjans started his collegiate career as a complete unknown but by 2015 he was well known to a bevy of major league scouts.

Bergjans described being drafted by the Dodgers, the team he grew up watching, as “pretty awesome.”
(Photo credit – Brian Nicholson)

The 22-year-old Bergjans confidently expected to be drafted and to be selected before the tenth round. In an interview with Matt Leon of KYW Newsradio, Bergjans indicated he had an idea the Dodgers were interested in him and felt there was a pretty good chance that he would be taken on the second day of the draft.

On the advice of his advisor the 6’1” 190 lb Bergjans tuned in to the eighth round of the draft. After waiting for what he describes as the longest 20 minutes of his life his name was called and as he had suspected, by the Dodgers.

Being selected a by major league team obviously was a dream come true for Bergjans and being selected by the Dodgers was the icing on his cake. What made his selection even more special is the fact that he was born in Manhattan Beach, CA and as a Southern California native he grew up rooting for the Dodgers.

“That’s the thing,” Bergjans tells KYW Newsradio. “Obviously I just wanted to be picked by anybody. I had no preferences really, whoever selected me first, I was going to be incredibly happy. But for it to be the Dodgers is pretty awesome.”

Bergjans was a starter throughout his college career and expressed a preference for starting as he began his professional baseball career. Acknowledging that his curve ball “gets a lot of swings and misses” he also concluded that he had the tools to pitch in relief including throwing strikes and going after hitters.

Following two brief relief appearances with the Ogden Raptors of the rookie level Pioneer League, Bergjans made his first start as a professional with the Raptors on July 1st. Over 13.2 innings in five appearances in the Pioneer League he posted an ERA of 2.63 and a WHIP of 0.95 while striking out 16 and walking four.

The Dodgers decided he was ready for the next step in his minor league journey and on Friday, July 17th he was promoted to the Great Lakes Loons of the Class A Midwest League.

On Saturday evening under threatening skies and armed with his low 90’s fastball and “swing and miss curve ball” Tommy Bergjans made his first start with the Loons against the Lansing Lugnuts. Over four innings he gave up five hits and two earned runs while striking out five and walking one.

He exited the game with a 6-2 lead, supported by home runs by Alex Verdugo and Alex Santana, but would not factor in the decision having pitched only four innings.

Relievers Cameron Palmer and Jose Alberto Molina followed Bergjans with five shut out innings as Palmer collected the win. The Loons extended the lead to 10-2 in the eighth innings aided by another home run, this time a three run blast by outfielder Kyle Garlick.