This is the 51st year of the First Year Player Draft that was instituted in 1965 to attempt to seek a more competitive balance among major league baseball teams. Regardless of how long it has been a team building process it still provides much excitement and hope for all MLB teams and their fans. Dodger fans are certainly hoping that a Clayton Kershaw or Corey Seager is in the works with this year’s draft.

One question that popped up recently was whether the Dodgers would once again select pitcher Kyle Funkhouser whom they had chosen with the 35th overall pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft. As we all know he opted not to sign with the Dodgers and instead returned to Louisville for his senior year.

Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider indicated that Funkhouser had signed a “reconsent” form that means he can be drafted by the same team for the following year. Although he did not have as successful a year as he had hoped as a senior with Louisville he was coveted by the Dodgers in 2015. As a senior and coming off a bit of a down year he also has lost considerable bargaining leverage so the price might be right for a team to pick him with their second or third selection. Dodger fans will remember that the Dodgers twice drafted right-hand pitcher Luke Hochevar so the possibility existed for Funkhouser.

With their first overall selection the Philadelphia Phillies picked outfielder Mickey Moniak out of La Costa Canyon High School in the San Dieguito Union High School District in California. Interestingly enough three of the first four selections were high school players as well as five of the first nine. High school third baseman Joshua Lowe – a personal favorite of mine – was taken by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 13th pick.

All that was left then was to sit and watch and wait for that 20th overall pick to be announced hoping the Dodgers get the guy they were after all along.

The wait was finally over when the Dodgers selected shortstop Gavin Lux out of Indian Trail High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Lux is considered to be the best pure high school shortstop in the 2016 draft since 17-year old Delvin Perez recently tested positive for a performance enhancing drug (Cardinals selected Perez # 23). He has soft hands, a strong arm, a quick first step and a line drive bat. Although he is committed to Arizona State University signability is not expected to be an issue.

Baseball America classified him as a slick-fielding, quick-twitch shortstop with a chance to develop into a true five-tool player. He was listed as number 36 on their top 500 prospects. As his season in Wisconsin progressed his draft stock continued to soar landing him in the top 20 picks.

Lux benefited from the summer showcase circuit participating in the Perfect Game National Showcase, the Tournament of Stars and the Area Code Games among others. Perhaps what improved his stock with the Dodgers is a Corey Seager like tendency. Lux acknowledged how his exposure to higher level pitching during the summer games helped him with his approach. Beyond that and more specifically he indicated he learned to focus more on studying pitchers, understanding what they’re trying to do to him and identifying their go-to pitches. That definitely is not what one would expect from an 18-year old.

Hudson Belinsky of Baseball America wrote on June 5th: “ Lux has a professional attitude and demeanor. Scouts and coaches rave about his makeup. And for as exciting as his character and work ethic are, he’s able to match them with his tools.”

Most MLB teams now consider bloodlines as an important factor in assessing prospects. Gavin Lux has that in his resume too coming from a family of athletes. Hudson Belinsky relates that his uncle, Augie Schmidt, was the second overall pick in the 1982 draft by the Blue Jays. His mother played college volleyball and ran track, and his father played college soccer and wrestled. His athletic prowess is a result of nature and nurture.

The 6’2″- 175 lb Lux credits his uncle as his mentor helping him understand the success and failure of the game. “Not only with the physical and mechanical side of baseball, but also with the mental side … you have to try to stay even-keeled because one day you could hit two home runs, and the next day you could strike out four times. So you can’t get caught up in the highs or lows.”