The youngest player selected by the Dodgers in the 2015 First Year Player Draft was right-handed pitcher Jason Bilous who was 17-years of age when he was picked in the 29th round of the draft. He was recovering from Tommy John surgery and didn’t expect to get drafted although he had set a signing price. The Dodgers were aggressive with a $600,000 offer which is third round money. Bilous didn’t sign and instead decided to attend Coastal Carolina University and play with the Chanticleers.

The second youngest player selected by the Dodgers was Brendon Davis out of Lakewood High School in Lakewood, California. He too was seventeen when he was drafted in the fifth round and just two weeks older that Bilous. Davis had a similar circumstance to Bilous, as he had suffered a broken wrist in February 2015 in a tractor accident prior to his senior high school year and missed his entire season.

Davis played his high school ball in Lakewood almost in the shadow of Dodger Stadium only 20 miles from Los Angeles. In 2013 he was named to the Perfect Game Underclass second team and was a first team player in 2014 along with All-America third-team and California All-Region first-team honors. In his junior year he hit .372. He was rated by Perfect Game as the top third baseman in America in the 2015 class and the number 27 prospect in the nation in his class.

Although sidelined with an injury during his senior year at Lakewood High School, the Dodgers rolled the dice on 17-year-old Brendon Davis, selecting him in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB First Year Player draft. (Photo credit – Stephen Dachman)

Following his junior year Davis committed to Cal State Fullerton citing the baseball program at Fullerton as being more of a pro atmosphere because of the strength of the Titan program and the number of players who had been able to move through the program to play professional baseball. Additionally, he wanted to follow his father who had played basketball at Fullerton.

“My dad didn’t stop growing until his senior year of college and I think I can really fill out,” said the 6-foot-4 junior.

Davis played in the summer baseball showcase which provides a tremendous platform for players to improve their play on the field and enhance their draft stock. Players face some of the best talent in the nation and get the opportunity to display their wares in front of the scouts in attendance.

“It was a great experience,” said Davis, who took part in the Area Code Games at Blair Field. “It gave me a great picture of what pro ball will be like, having to grind every day.”

Following his accident Davis of course was concerned about his future baseball prospects and more specifically his path to MLB.

“It was scary when I got hurt,” Davis said. “So I just put that in my advisor’s hands.”

Certainly they thought the accident and broken wrist would damage his draft prospects. His advisor, Wasserman Media Group’s Lenny Strelitz, was more than up to the task and made sure Davis was on the Dodgers radar. He was still on their radar and the Dodgers selected him in the fifth round as the 162nd overall pick, although the fifth round was most likely more than they had hoped for.

But Davis still had a decision to make and a difficult one – Dodger Blue or Fullerton Orange?

“It’s a tough decision,” Davis said. “I was never worried about what round I was selected in, it was all about what the Dodgers wanted to do. Cal State Fullerton is a great school and they’re headed to the NCAA College World Series again, but its a dream come true to be taken by my hometown team.”

Davis made his decision and made his professional debut on July 15, 2015 with the Arizona League Dodgers against the AZL White Sox. He went hitless in three trips to the plate but the next day against the AZL Athletics he had three hits in four at bats. With the AZL Dodgers he hit .278 in 27 games while playing shortstop. Later in the season he hit .167 in seven games with the Ogden Raptors of the rookie level Pioneer League.

Brendon Davis
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

Davis is the youngest player drafted by the Dodgers in 2015 to sign a contract with them to begin his professional career. Depending on his progress in extended spring training it is quite possible that he will debut with the Ogden Raptors on June 17th when the Raptors visit the Idaho Falls Chukars.

 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

UPDATE:

Brendon Davis made his major league spring training debut on Sunday afternoon and went 2 for 2 with two doubles. And even though the Dodgers lost the game to the Padres by a score of 12-5, you couldn’t chisel the smile off Davis’ face as he made his way back to the Dodgers minor league clubhouse after the game.

Although there have been others who made their MLB spring training debut as an 18-year-old, it’s probably safe to say that there haven’t been too many to double in each of their first two plate appearances.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

Congratulations, young man!