August 24th, 2017 at 10:00 am 
by Harold Uhlman Raptors outfielder Donovan Casey is on a bit of a tear in his last six games in which he has recorded 15 hits. During those six games, he has two four-hit performances and one three-hit game.
Casey was selected by the Dodgers in the 20th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Boston College. Going into the draft he was ranked No. 128 by MLB.com suggesting he would be selected in the first ten rounds. The Dodgers may just have executed another steal in acquiring the 6’2”/190-pound right-handed hitter and versatile outfielder as late in the draft as they did.
The native of Stratford, New Jersey attended Sterling High School in Somerdale in his home state. Following his graduation from high school, Casey headed off to Boston College located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
As a junior in 2017 with the Eagles, Casey was considered to be one of the better runners in the draft and produced a slash line of .286/.370/.362 with 12 stolen bases. For good measure, he also led the team with 23 appearances on the mound, compiling a 2.84 ERA in 31.2 innings pitched along with 32 strikeouts and a 1.07 WHIP.
There were two questions regarding Casey when he was selected by the Dodgers. One question was whether he would sign after being picked lower in the draft that he expected, or return to Boston College for his senior year. Secondly, would he be drafted as a fleet-footed outfielder or as a pitcher with a mid-nineties fastball.
He did sign on July 6th and was assigned to the Arizona League Dodgers. Dodgers Director of Amateur Scouting, Billy Gasparino, indicates that Casey was allowed a preference in which direction he wanted his career to go.
“He wants to go hit, and we would give him every chance to go do that and use the pitching as a backup plan,” Gasparino said. “He is 95 (mph) off the mound with a good arm. But in the outfield, it’s run, it’s throw, it’s power.”
Casey made his professional debut with the AZL Dodgers on July 17 and after five games in which he recorded seven hits in 15 at bats he was promoted to the Ogden Raptors of the rookie level Pioneer League.
He homered in his first game with the Raptors and after 18 games he is hitting .394 along with a .434 OBP, six home runs and 10 runs batted in.
On Wednesday, August 23 Casey recorded his second four-hit game in his last four games. From the leadoff spot, he drove in four runs helping the Raptors to a 13-8 win over the Idaho falls Chukars and maintaining a one-game lead over the Grand Junction Rockies in the second half play-off race.
Donovan Casey
(Photo credit – Kevin Johnson)
He indicates he doesn’t count his hits during a game but looks forward to trying to get the next one.
“I never count my hits during the game because I’m trying to help the team win, trying to do anything that helps put runs on the scoreboard,” the Dodgers’ 20th-round pick in this year’s Draft said. “Once you have one, you want the next one. … A lot of it is luck, just finding holes. I try to battle with two strikes and put a good swing on it early on in the count.”
Casey appears to understand the nature of the game and the importance of consistent good swings although hard hit balls often find gloves and softer hit balls find holes.
“With runners on base, I want to see the ball up, and anything over the plate I want to put a good swing on it,” he said. “That’s usually the best pitch you’re going to see and it’s the best chance to score some runs. The ball happened to find some holes and it led to some runs. It felt good. I like to be aggressive on the first pitch.”
He also credits his coaches with helping him not only with his hitting techniques but also keeping the fun in the game.
“Pretty much, I’ve been working with the [Raptors] coaches on helping my bat path, letting me use my quick hands that I have,” the 21-year-old center fielder said. “Today, I had the confidence to just go out and play and have fun. I was more relaxed, and because of that I’m able to play better — a lot better, actually. The more pressure I put on myself, the worse I do.”
With the Great Lakes Loons eliminated from play-off contention and the Raptors still in the hunt, Donovan Casey may finish the season in Ogden. Do not be surprised if he begins the 2018 season with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the High-A California League.
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Wonder how many times Donovan has heard the ‘Casey at the Bat’ thing. lol!
Can’t wait to see him at Rancho, along with Matt Jones.
Quite often I expect and most likely after a “K”. He doesn’t strike out all that much though – 13 in 86 at bats – along with eight walks. In his last 10 games – 5 K’s and 4 BB.
Nice timing on article, I looked up Casey’s Baseball America scouting report this morning (published prior to the June draft): “Casey is yet another prospect among the two-way player phylum who could be drafted as either a pitcher or a hitter. The difference with Casey is he lacks the polish of upper-tier two-way players like Hunter Greene and Brendan McKay; he’s more of a project. Primarily a right fielder for Boston College in his three-year career, the righthander threw a career-high 29.2 innings this spring, striking out 31 and walking 12 walks while posting five saves and a 3.03 ERA. Casey has plus arm strength and has touched as high as 95 mph on the mound but primarily sits in the low-90s. His breaking ball has potential, but it needs tightening. As a position player, Casey boasts dynamic raw tools with his plus arm, plus speed and plus athleticism. However, while he can show plus raw power in batting practice, he’s shown very little power in games—slugging just .371 and homering just four times in 482 career at-bats. Scouts aren’t convinced Casey has the hit tool or strike-zone awareness to project as a hitter at the next level. But a team that loves Casey’s tools could give him a chance to hit with pitching as a solid backup plan.”
SCB – thanks for the scouting report. I think most young players are projects and Casey is a good one to undertake. The Dodgers seem to be quite good at identifying players, who others overlook, that have an untapped potential.
Maybe it is just the Pioneer League altitude but Casey has six home runs in 71 at bats and a .676 slugging percentage. I think he is a student of the game and has some great coaches to work with him and put those tools to good use.
The Dodgers seem to really value athleticism . Casey has split his outfield time relatively equally in LF, CF and RF. He has also played two games at first base. He may have morphed into the lead off role.
Position players Casey, Reks, Bannon, and Wong all doing well in first pro season and the common traits seem to be athleticism, at least a couple of plus tools, and terrific work ethics — love following players like this.
SCB – you must be peaking at my “to do” list, eh! lol! You are 4/4.
He also ‘liked’ the article link on Twitter.
???