Dodgers Blue Heaven: Dodgers Pick Righty Michael Grove in the Second Round

Tuesday, June 05, 2018

Dodgers Pick Righty Michael Grove in the Second Round - Welcome to the Blue!

The Dodgers second pick yesterday afternoon has a story similar to a rookie currently making waves with the Dodgers. Like Walker Buehler, Michael Grove, the Dodgers 2nd Round Pick, had to have Tommy John Surgery as a young lad. Unlike Buehler, Grove had his done just over a year ago while Walker had his performed immediately after signing a pro contract with the Dodgers three years ago. So, in a way Grove is way ahead of Buehler. BTW, you can follow the right-hander on twitter here: @mgrove_2. Per a Dodgers press release:

In the second round, Los Angeles selected West Virginia University right-handed pitcher Michael Grove. The Wheeling, West Virginia native missed the 2018 season, but prior to missing his junior campaign he went 5-5 with a 3.13 ERA (32 ER/92.0 IP) in 25 collegiate games (16 starts), while also holding the opposition to a .220 batting average. As a sophomore in 2017, he made nine starts, going 3-1 with a 2.87 ERA and striking out 61 batters against 15 walks in 47.0 innings before sustaining a season-ending arm injury. As a freshman in 2016, he went 2-4 with a 3.40 ERA and collected one save in 16 games (seven starts) for the Mountaineers. Grove was also named to the 2016 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention team and the 2017 All-Big 12 Second Team. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound pitcher was scouted by Dodgers’ scout Jonah Rosenthal.

“Grove is a little bit of a unique case. A lot of credit goes to our area scout, Jonah Rosenthal, as he was able to see him both freshman and sophomore year at West Virginia and was able to gain some familiarity with his physical ability. We felt like Grove’s talent level matched that pick and our comfort level of where he was with his post Tommy John surgery, it made sense for us” said Gasparino.

BTW, both MLB Pipeline and FanGraphs didn't provide reports or rankings for Grove. After all, when you missed all of this season due to surgery then you are likely to be only seen below the radar. Fortunately, Baseball America does have a report:

Grove was shaping up to be a priority follow this year as he showed a mid-rotation caliber arm for West Virginia last season before he blew out his elbow in his ninth start of the season. He hasn’t pitched in a game this year as he recovers, but pre-injury he was blowing away hitters with a 93-96 mph fastball and a plus breaking ball with above-average control. Grove’s injury status makes him a true wild card for the draft, but a team willing to take a chance could end up landing a second/third round talent in a later round.

It looks like the Dodgers decided they were not going to wait. They chose a kid, who was expected to show up later in the draft, right now. Below are more links and stories about Grove below:

West Virginia Athletics - Michael Grove biography page.
WVUNite at The Smoking Musket; "Michael Grove Selected By Los Angeles Dodgers In MLB Draft."
Per Kevin Kinder at Blue Gold News; "Michael Grove Picked on First Day of MLB Draft."

Grove, who underwent Tommy John surgery shortly after an aborted start against Kansas State 14 months ago, displayed everything major league clubs are looking for in a pitching prospect. Making nine starts as a sophomore in 2017 before his season was ended, he posted a 2.87 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 47.0 innings pitched while holding opposing batters to a .174 batting average. As a true freshman in 2016, Grove had 56 strikeouts and a 3.40 ERA in 45.0 innings while moving into the starting rotation.

Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA; "Dodgers draft RHP Michael Grove in the 2nd round, No. 68 overall."
Via David Hood at True Blue LA; "A profile of Michael Grove, the Dodgers’ second-round draft pick."

What he’s good at right now: Prior to injury in 2017, Grove was one of the better power arms in the Big 12, and still managed to be voted to the conference second team despite missing the back half of conference games. Grove has a quick arm that produces two above average to plus pitches in a 92-95 mph fastball with boring action in on right handers, and a sharpe downer breaking ball that has slider speeds at around 87 mph but resembles a spike curve.

Per Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest; "2018 MLB Draft: Dodgers select West Virginia RHP Michael Grove at No. 68."
Via Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider; "In Ginn and Grove, Dodgers take a pair of right-handed pitchers on Day 1."

Walker Buehler, the last top pick the Dodgers used on a starting pitcher prior to Ginn, had Tommy John surgery after the Dodgers selected him in 2015. Buehler’s already in the Major League rotation — one that includes pitchers in Ross Stripling and Alex Wood, who also underwent the procedure and bounced back.

“The Walker Buehler example is a good one,” Gasparino said. “We hope to repeat it here with Grove.”