Dodgers Pick Pitcher Morgan Cooper in the Second Round - Welcome to the Blue!

With the Dodgers second pick of the day, 62nd overall in the 2nd round yesterday, the Dodgers select right-handed University of Texas pitcher Morgan Cooper. Unsurprisingly, Cooper had Tommy John surgery in 2014 (the Dodgers have not been afraid to draft these players) and missed all of following season. He was also drafted last year by the Nationals in the 34th round, but did not sign. Furthermore, I am not aware of any cards made of him, but I will continue to look. Per a Dodgers press release:

In the second round, Los Angeles selected 22-year-old University of Texas right-handed pitcher Morgan Cooper. As a redshirt junior in 2017, he posted a 6-3 record in 16 games (15 starts) while recording a 2.32 ERA (23 ER/89.1 IP) and holding the opposition to a .208 batting average. Rated as the 80th overall pitching prospect by Baseball America, he led the Longhorns in starts (15), strikeouts (110) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.1) this season. The Jarrell, Texas native was named to the 2017 Collegiate Baseball All-America Third team and is a semifinalist for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound pitcher was scouted by Dodgers’ scout Clint Bowers.

Blog Kiosk: 6/13/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a great vintage pic, said to originally be a Sports magazine photo (eBay link), of an old codger having a laugh with a young hurler. Featured in the undated photo are Don Drysdale with Duke Snider.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1973 the famed Dodger infield of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey play on the field for the first time. Ten days later they would be inserted into the starting lineup for the first time. In 1998 the very first triple play is executed at Dodger Stadium. It sequence is 1-6-4-5 in the fifth inning -- with men at 1st and 2nd, Darren Dreifort fields a sacrifice bunt attempt, throws to shortstop Jose Vizcaino at 2nd, who then throws to covering second baseman Eric Young at 1st, who then throws to Bobby Bonilla at 3rd to get the final out. See the GIF on right to see the play.
• Happy Birthday, Gene McCann, Bill Bergen & Charlie Malay!
  

Dodgers Pick Outfielder Jeren Kendall in the First Round - Welcome to the Blue!

Yesterday was the day when big league dreams become more of a reality. Thousands of youngsters, from high school graduates to college aged kids, had been glued to their televisions in hopes of hearing their name. For one Team USA and Vanderbilt University ballplayer his wait is over. With the 23rd pick overall the Dodgers chose outfielder Jeren Kendall. Per a Dodgers press release:

The 6-foot, 190-pound left-handed hitting outfielder posted a .307 (80-for-261) batting average with 10 doubles, five triples, 15 home runs, 53 RBI and stole 20 bases in 2017 as a junior at Vanderbilt. He led the team in runs scored (59), hits and home runs, while posting a .372 on-base percentage and a .556 slugging percentage. Kendall, 21, was rated by Baseball America as the sixth-best outfielder in the 2017 draft and was the 18th overall prospect. He was also named to the All-SEC and All-Defensive Team this season with the Commodores.

2017 Topps Now -- #237 -- Corey Seager's First Career Walk-Off

Clearly, this post is too late for fans who want to order this card, and I apologize about that. I've been very poor at posting stuff up on the weekends. Featured here is the very first 2017 Topps Now card issued for Dodgers sensation Corey Seager. It was originally released to collectors this past Sunday, so this card is now unavailable.

The card honors not only Corey's first career major league walk-off hit, but (if this is to be believed) also marks his very first walk-off hit ever. EVER!

2017 Topps Now -- #240 -- 8th Inning Power Display Completes Comeback Victory

Yesterday afternoons home run exploits earns two Dodger youngsters another 2017 Topps Now card. Check it out above and below. BTW, I had neglected to write about Seager's Topps Now card from Saturdays game, so stay tuned for that post later today.

As you know, the Dodgers completed a sweep of the visiting Reds yesterday afternoon after coming from behind to grab the victory. It all begin in the eighth inning with the Dodgers down 7-3. First up was Chris Taylor who grounded out towards the hole on the left side for out number one. Then Cody Belling stepped up to wallop his second homer of the day to bring the score to 7-4. From here things got a little wild. Grandal singles, Puig walks on four straight and lastly Kiké Hernández walked to load the bases during a fantastic 13 pitch at-bat. Finally, up comes Corey Seager to hit not only his first grand slam of his career, but the eventual game winner. Per Joshua Thornton at MLB.com:

"That inning right there, that ability to win pitches, you can go down the list of at-bats, the exclamation mark with Corey hitting the homer was just typical," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

Blog Kiosk: 6/12/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

It was a glorious Saturday afternoon as many Dodgers' from the past came onto the field to play some ball. Per an AP story at ESPN:

"I think that the fans enjoy it, the alumni and old players enjoy it, and it's entertaining. For a short period of time -- because we can't play it like we used to. But we try," said catcher Steve Yeager, who played 14 seasons for the Dodgers and was co-MVP of their 1981 World Series win.

"It's always nice for the fans to get the opportunity to see some of the players that they saw and grew up with around Dodger Stadium," Yeager said.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017. Go here to check out more pics by Jon from this weekends Old-TimersGame. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1940 the Dodgers made one of the biggest trades in their history. They received 1937 Triple Crown winner Joe "Ducky" Medwick and pitcher Curt Davis from the Cardinals for outfielder Ernie Koy, pitcher Carl Doyle, two minor leaguers and $125k in cash (a huge sum in those days). The Dodgers would win the pennant the following season for the first time since 1920. In 1955 Don Newcombe, having won his first ten decisions of the season, lost his first game of the year when Brooklyn loses to the Cubs, 9-5. In 2005 first baseman Hee-Seop Choi hit home runs in his first three at-bats this evening against the Twins to propel the Dodgers over Minnesota, 4-3. Watch all three here.
• Happy Birthday, Jack O'Brein, Roger Bernadina & Damon Hollins!