Dodgers: Everything you need to know about first-round pick J.T. Ginn
By Jason Reed
The future superstars of the MLB were selected on Monday in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft. Dodgers first-round pick, J.T. Ginn, is no exception.
The MLB Draft does not get as much love as its’ NFL and NBA counterparts. However, the future of the league rides on the MLB Draft and the superstars of tomorrow now have a team to call home. The Los Angeles Dodgers hope the team has a superstar of its own in the making with J.T. Ginn.
Los Angeles selected Ginn with the 30th overall selection in the draft out of Brandon High School in Missippi. Ginn just turned 18 on May 20.
In the MLB, it typically takes quite a few years to get from the minor leagues to the big leagues. While there are expectations that can get it done in three years or less, those are few and far between.
Coming out of high school, it may be another five years until we see Ginn on a big league roster. Until then, the casual fan may begin to forget about him.
To counteract that, we compiled everything we think you should know as a Dodgers fan about first-round pick J.T. Ginn.
He is committed to Missippi State and could still go to school
Now, this is doubtful considering that Ginn is in for a pretty big payday, but it is possible. Ginn is committed to Missippi State and is on the fence whether or not to attend school.
Tyler Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger in Missippi interviewed Ginn. In that piece, Ginn stated that he was indeed on the fence, but given the opportunity to make life-changing money, he would have to discuss with his family.
The 30th overall pick is worth just over $2.2 million. And while that has to stretch out throughout his entire minor league career, it may be better than the risks that come with playing college baseball.
He absolutely dominated his peers
Granted it is just high school but J.T. Ginn absolutely dominated the opposition in his senior season with Brandon High School.
Ginn has an electric fastball that can sit from 95-97 and could probably flirt with triple-digits as his body and arm progresses throughout the minors. His slider is the perfect second pitch that has swing and miss capability and he is already working on and showing confidence in a decent changeup.
Ginn’s stuff was just too overpowering for the high schoolers that he was facing.
According to Max Preps, Ginn had a 0.36 ERA in 39.1 innings pitched with 78 strikeouts his senior season. Ginn limited opposing batters to a .073 batting average and was named the Gatorade Mississippi Player of the Year. Last year’s first-round pick, Jeren Kendall, was named the Wisconsin Player of the Year during the 2013-2014 season.
He has a powerful bat to go along with an overpowering arm
The Los Angeles Dodger selected Ginn with the intentions of being a pitcher, that is obvious. However, the Mississippi right-hander also had a stellar bat at the high school level that would turn some heads if it was not for his pitching.
Ginn hit .419 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs in his senior season with Brandon. Much like former Dodger Zack Greinke, Ginn pitched as well as played shortstop. Greinke is one of the best hitting pitchers in baseball, Ginn could be one day as well.
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Overall, the Los Angeles Dodgers made a fairly good selection with the 30th overall pick. Here’s to hoping that Ginn does in fact sign with the Dodgers and we can all see him in the big leagues in five or so years.