In a highly unexpected and unprecedented move, the Dodgers have (apparently) added 21-year-old right-hander Clayton Beeter to their 60-man Player Pool. Then again, just about everything that is happening in the MLB – and the world – is unprecedented these days.
Late Monday night, @MLBPipeline tweeted out that the Fort Worth, TX native, whom the Dodgers acquired in the Competitive Balance Round B as the 66th overall pick of the recent COVID-19-shortened five-round MLB First-Year Player Draft on June 10 and finally signed late Sunday night, was being added to the team’s 60-man Player Pool.
Ironically, it was Beeter himself who tweeted out that he had finally agreed to terms with the Dodgers late Sunday night, the last of the Dodgers 2020 six draftees to do so.
Although the move has yet to be officially confirmed by the Dodgers and, again, if true, it is highly unlikely that Beeter will see action in the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season. But the mere fact that the Dodgers have added him to their 60-man Player Pool speaks volumes about how much Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and director of amateur scouting Billy Gasparino think of this young man.
Godspeed to you, Clayton!
Play Ball!
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UPDATE:
During Tuesday’s pre-workout media scrum (via Zoom), Roberts confirmed that Beeter had been added to the Dodgers’ 60-man Player Pool.
“You don’t want to lose this year, this summer,” Roberts said.
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That is a strange twist with the two pitchers signed ahead of him (Wilson and Knack) not being included. There was a report 10 days to 2 weeks ago by an Athletic Reporter that Dodgers had added Knack to the 60-player pool when he signed, but obviously that did not happen — yet. Wonder if being added to the player pool was a part of signing negotiations? Beeler signed above slot value, so I think Dodgers went over by about $300K, just under the 5% threshold that would have resulted in loss of next year’s first round pick. It appears Dodgers will only have to pay a penalty equal to 75% of $300K (roughly $230K)
Doc said yesterday that Tony Gonsolin has not yet reported (among others) but declined to say why. If this isn’t a red flag, nothing is.
Gotta admit, there’s something about this Beeter kid I really like.
Hoping the best for Gonsolin’s health. I like the scouting reports on Beeter; 97 mph fastball and plus 12-5 curveball. TJ surgery in high school delayed his development. I think Dodgers had a tremendous 2020 draft for only 5 rounds.
Absolutely agree. Billy Gasparino is a genius.
Four interesting right-handed arms, each with 95ish fastballs and at least one other above average attribute, be it control or other pitches. And two up the middle players both that have shown a knack with the stick. If power is the only non plus tool for Vogel he could be a monster in CF! At the very least, I bet they get a couple relievers and a platoon or bench bat position player.