Dodgers take high school pitcher Bruns in first round of the MLB draft.
LOS ANGELES >> The Dodgers’ first-round draft pick seems like a quick learner.
Asked about his first name, Maddux Bruns said his father was a big fan of pitcher Greg Maddux and named his son after the Hall of Famer. Naturally then, Maddux Bruns grew up a fan of the Atlanta Braves.
“I am,” he said before a quick course correction. “Or I was.”
The Dodgers became fans of Bruns last summer when the Alabama high school pitcher increased his velocity, throwing 94-95 mph consistently with flashes of more. After a senior season during which he went 7-0 with 102 strikeouts and a 0.86 ERA in 49 innings, the Dodgers made Bruns the 29th player selected in Sunday’s first round of the draft.
“We thought he was the best high school left-handed pitcher in the draft,” said Dodgers director of amateur scouting Billy Gasparino. “It’s power pitches, power body. Everything about power is kind of what he’s about and we’re excited to turn them over to development and kind of finish him off here.”
Bruns’ increased velocity led to some issues with fastball command but Gasparino said the Dodgers were confident that was just an adjustment period Bruns was going through.
“He got basically a bad command-control rap this summer,” Gasparino said. “As he increased his velocity, I think he initially struggled to throw it in the zone. To the kid’s credit and one of the things we liked about him, he showed the ability to make adjustments and improve.”
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Bruns is the first high school player the Dodgers
have taken with their first pick since J.T. Ginn in 2018. The two have something else in common — both gave verbal commitments to Mississippi State before the draft. Ginn did not sign with the Dodgers, opting to go to college instead. He was a secondround pick of the New York Mets in 2020 after playing at Mississippi State.
“We’ll see what happens,” said Bruns, who will be choosing between the reigning college champions and the reigning MLB champions. “I mean, I think I’m going to be a Dodger. But if things don’t work out, we’ll go to school. Whatever happens happens. I think it’ll work out.”
Bruns is the first lefthanded pitcher the Dodgers have selected with their top pick since they picked Chris Reed out of Stanford with the 16th pick overall in 2011. But his eyes are set on emulating the most recent high school left-hander the Dodgers picked in the first round.
“I just grew up watching him and I always wanted that big curveball that he had,” Bruns said of Clayton Kershaw (the Dodgers’ firstround pick in 2006). “I got it and so I just kind of ran with it and then I just liked the way he pitches. He just seems like a good guy, so I did want to emulate myself after him.”
Gasparino said he could see the similarities in the two left-handers — but wouldn’t want to put those kind of expectations on Bruns.
“That’s not an easy career to replicate,” Gasparino said. “But, to give him some credit, I think he’s a very knowledgeable baseball kid. I think it’s not just your standard, ‘Oh I’m lefthanded and so I’m Clayton Kershaw.’ His pitches do have similar shapes. He has the big 12-6 curveball. I could definitely see how he would think and model his game (after Kershaw).
“Let’s hope he has even part of that career.”
Seager back soon
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said injured shortstop Corey Seager will spend some time at home during the All-Star break then head to Arizona next weekend. Seager will take live at-bats and participate in camp games at Camelback Ranch. That could be the final step before Seager returns from the broken bone in his right hand.
“Once we’ve finished that Colorado series (next weekend), we’ll reassess and see where he’s at, physically, and make a decision,” Roberts said. “Right now, there’s no thought of a rehab assignment. It’s more of just getting live at-bats in Arizona. But if he needs those (rehab games) and feels that he needs those to get ready, we’ll do that. But we’re very open to kind of what Corey feels is best for him to come back.”
Seager has been out since he was hit in the hand by a pitch on May 15.
Kershaw status quo
Roberts said he expects Kershaw to “shut it down over the break” after an MRI showed no structural damage in his elbow.
Kershaw did start playing catch this weekend but Roberts said there is no target for Kershaw’s return. He will be eligible to come off the Injured List after the All-Star break.
“Right now he’s kind of status quo,” Roberts said. “So I just don’t know when ... we’ll get him back.
“We want to make sure that when he does come back he feels great and we don’t want any more soreness or anything.”
It’s possible Seager, Kershaw and reliever Jimmy Nelson (on the IL with a lumbar strain) could all return for the home series against the Giants, beginning July 19.