In the 2015 MLB First Year Player Draft last June, the Dodgers selected Kyle Funkhouser out of the University of Louisville with their supplemental first-round pick, 35th overall. That was the highest draft selection ever by a Louisville Cardinal but not as high as expected by many – including Funkhouser.

Upon the advice of his agent Scott Boras, Funkhouser’s negotiations with the Dodgers went nearly all the way up to the summer signing deadline. According to ESPN.com, the Dodgers said they offered a signing bonus of more than the $1.75 million slot value that Major League Baseball suggests for the 35th pick. By the last day to sign 2015 draftees, Funkhouser had not signed with the Dodgers but instead had chosen to return to Louisville and pursue a national college championship and perhaps look to improve his draft status and signing bonus for 2016.

Not able to sign the college player that they wanted the Dodgers looked at the eleventh hour at other players they had drafted but not yet signed. One suspects they had a back-up plan in place just in case Funkhouser didn’t sign. That possibility was always there as there were rumors that the 6 foot-three inch, 225 pound hard throwing right-hander had suffered an injury during the 2015 college season. Perhaps that had contributed to his play in his junior year that saw him have a good year, but a bit of a down year by his standards.

Perhaps a bit of finger nail biting also went on in the Dodgers front office as up until the last day of signing first round selection – July 17 – Walker Buehler had not signed. They were probably confident Buehler would sign and knew of his pending Tommy John surgery. They were also able to reel in sixth round selection first baseman Edwin Rios and right-handed pitcher Logan Crouse selected in the 30th round of the 2015 draft.

At 6′-6″ Crouse has an almost Randy Johnson-esque appearance coming at you. You don’t suppose…
(Photo credit – James Borchuck)

Crouse is an interesting signing and one made possible when Kyle Funkhouser chose to return to the college ranks, thus freeing up bonus slot money for the Dodgers. The now 19-year-old right-hander was drafted out of Bloomingdale High School in Valrico, Florida. He too was a bit of an unlikely signing as he had committed to play with the Florida State Seminoles after graduating from high school.

At Bloomingdale Crouse was a standout in football as a wide receiver and in basketball as a forward as well as being an outstanding pitcher. Interested in the draft, he was prepared to play for the Seminoles if the draft didn’t go his way as he felt that professional baseball was his goal by one route or the other.

He posted a 1.15 ERA in his sophomore high school year which only improved in his junior year to 0.63 and in his senior year to 0.17. His best season was his senior year when he struck out 116 in 88⅔ innings pitched, helping lead the Bulls to the Class 8A state championship game.

Crouse’s coach at Bloomingdale – Kris Wilken – felt he could be a valuable addition in the MLB draft especially since he had increased his velocity to 92 mph. In the 2015 Florida Athletic Coaches Association all-star game. Crouse pitched two innings, getting out of a bases-loaded jam by striking out a batter on a 3-2 count with a change up.

“That’s where Logan sets himself apart. Bases loaded, nobody out, he’s able to slow everything down,” Wilken said. “This is a thing you don’t teach … that’s what makes him so special, his ability to do that.”

In the same interview with Kelly Parsons of the Tampa Bay Times, coach Wilken elaborated on Crouse’s potential.

“You take everything that kind of makes Logan who he is, and you start thinking about three years, four years of added development, and if that progression takes place, you’re talking about a possible front line guy in the big leagues,” Wilken said. “Whether that route goes through Florida State or the minor league, I don’t think that really matters.”

On developing his arsenal of pitches, the young right-hander credits his pitching coach Jimmy Osting for his development.

“Jimmy has helped me develop a change-up and a two-seam fastball. It improved by arsenal because now I have four pitches to get out hitters instead of two, said Crouse. “He also cleaned up my mechanics and it helped me increase my velocity which just made me that much better.”

Crouse began his professional career as an 18-year-old on August 18, 2015 in the Arizona League in a game against the AZL Rangers. He pitched a scoreless second inning inducing three ground balls. His second outing four days later didn’t go quite as well as he gave up three runs – one of them earned – on a hit and two walks. His defense committed two errors behind him and the AZL Angels stole two bases against him and his young catcher 18-year old Hendrik Clementina.

Logan Crouse participated in the Dodgers fall instructional league. His assignment in 2016 will depend on his progress as viewed in the instructional league and during minor league spring training with an assignment to the rookie level Ogden Raptors a definite possibility at some point in the upcoming season.