Prior to the 2017 Major League entry draft, Baseball America (BA) ranked Donovan Casey as its 111th best prospect, but it wasn’t certain whether he would be selected as a right-handed pitcher, or position player. As a position player, BA considered Casey to have “dynamic tools,” including plus arm strength, running speed, and athleticism, but lacking in-game power and strike zone recognition kept him from a higher ranking. As a pitcher, Casey could touch 95 mph with his fastball, averaging just under a strike out per inning during his career (forty-one innings pitched), recording a 2.41 ERA, and holding opposing hitters to a .193 batting average.

The Dodgers selected the 6’-2” / 190-pound Casey in the 20th round of the draft as an outfielder 499 picks later than projected by BA; a steal for the team considering Casey’s athleticism and college experience as a two-way player. Apparently the scouts liked his tools better as a position player than pitcher, but there was the option of moving him to the mound if his bat stalled in the minors.

Casey’s hitting, speed, and defense has justified the Dodgers decision to play him in the outfield. Starting his professional career for the Dodgers rookie teams in Arizona and Ogden Utah, Casey slashed .403/.453/.604/1.057 in 2017. The following year he by-passed Low Single-A, moving up the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, where he slashed a modest .253/.316/.378/.694 with six home runs.

Now 23 years old with two seasons of experience, Casey is having a terrific start to his 2019 season, slashing .358/.424/.472/.895 for Rancho Cucamonga. Maintaining anything close to that pace will result in a promotion to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, likely sooner rather than later.

Check back often for updates on Donovan Casey’s progress.

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