Right-hander Nolan Long was selected by the Dodgers in the 16th round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft out of Wagner College on Staten Island in the state of New York.

He had previously been picked in the 38th round of the 2012 draft by the San Francisco Giants after his senior season at Waterford High School but chose to attend college preparatory school South Kent in Connecticut to prepare for a move on to Wagner College.

After high school he wanted his future to include playing both basketball and baseball at the Division I level. That is something both his father and uncle were able to accomplish, and both are supporters and role models in his life.

“My father and uncle were both Division I basketball and baseball players, and that’s something that always motivated me,” Nolan said.

Standing head and shoulders above his teammates (literally), it’s no wonder that 6′-10″ Nolan Long wanted to pursue a collegiate career in basketball in addition to baseball – just as his father and uncle did. (Photo credit – @AmandaRayPhoto)

In his freshman year at Wagner he joined the baseball Seahawks at the conclusion of the men’s basketball season. As a sophomore at Wagner he went 4-3 with a 2.67 earned run average. He allowed 37 hits over 54 innings and struck out 55 with 25 walks.

The 6’10” – 255 lb Long excelled in both basketball and baseball but ultimately moved in the direction of baseball. At Wagner he had a fastball that touched 95 mph but usually sat at between 88-90 mph. He was also working on a slider to add to an arsenal that included a curveball and change-up.

Following his 2015 college season Long planned to compete in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Bourne Braves knowing that scouts would be arriving for the opening weekend of play. At the same time the MLB First Year Player Draft was scheduled for the ensuing week.

In late May Long had worked out for the Dodgers with Director of Amateur Scouting Billy Gasparino in attendance.

“I thought it went pretty well,” he said. “It was good exposure for me so I’m glad I was able to attend.”

Not sure by whom or in what round he would be drafted, or even if he would be picked, Long went into the 2015 draft a bit nervous but with no definite expectations. He explained:”I’m just kind of waiting to see what happens because anything can happen.”

With basketball still an option he finally had to make a definite decision when his name was called by the Dodgers. “I had to make a decision, and I’m fine with it,” Long said. “I loved playing basketball, but the Dodgers gave me an opportunity to play baseball for a living.

Following the draft the New London, Connecticut native reported to the Arizona League Dodgers. His first professional appearance came on July 8th against the AZL Indians. He gave up two runs while recording only two outs in the inning. In his next eight appearances he did not give up a run, earned or unearned. On the season with Dodgers he posted a 1.11 ERA and a WHIP of 1.07 while striking out 30 and walking 12 over 24.1 innings.

Long then made two starts with the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League. In 8.1 innings with the Loons he struck out seven while walking none and posting an ERA of 4.32.

He was assigned to the Great Lakes Loons for the start of the 2016 season and although he led the Dodgers Arizona League team in wins last season with five, the Loons had him slotted in as part of their bullpen contingent to begin the season.

“I was a starter in college and in the Arizona League and in Spring Training,” Long said. “To me it doesn’t matter that much, as long as I get to pitch and as long as I keep getting people out.”

The 22-year old right-hander made his first appearance of the 2016 season with the Loons pitching in relief on April 9th against the Lansing Lugnuts. In 1.1 innings he gave up one hit while striking out three and walking one.

Nolan Long
(Image courtesy of MiLB.com)

His second appearance came on Friday, April 15th when he was given a spot start as pitching teammate Andrew Sopko was assigned to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the A+ California League. Long gave up one earned run in three innings of work along with one hit, two walks and three strikeouts. The run came in true small ball fashion by the Lake County Captains on a walk, a stolen base, an infield out and a sacrifice fly. On the evening Long threw 54 pitches, 31 for strikes.

He started again on April 20th giving up three earned runs in 3.2 innings while battling a bit with the strike zone.

On Tuesday evening Long made his third start of the season facing off against the Wisconsin Rattlers in Appleton. Having survived the first inning with two errors behind him he breezed into the fifth inning with a 2-0 lead. After a one out single in the bottom of the fifth inning the infield again committed two errors behind him. One strike away from getting out of the inning unscathed Long gave up a single allowing two unearned runs to score. He was then replaced by right-hander Kevin Brown who secured the last out of the inning.

In 4.2 innings Long gave up two hits, walked one and struck out four. In his longest outing of the season he threw 85 pitches, 53 for strikes. The Loons went on to lose the game 4-3 when reliever Marcus Crescentini gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The player casting the longest shadow in the Dodgers system was not sure of his role coming into the season but is pleased to serve in any assigned role as long as he is achieving some success in that role. It seems he may already have morphed into a starter’s role ready to build on his success as a starter with the Ogden Raptors in 2015. Thus far he has had a relatively good start to his season but the question remains. Will he be a starter or a reliever? As the season progresses and other players progress from extended spring training he should soon know the long and the short of it.