2025 MLB draft: Dodgers select a pair of Arkansas

SAN FRANCISCO — The Dodgers’ first two picks in this 12 months’s MLB draft got here consecutively at Nos. 40 and 41 total.

Turns out, their two choices got here from the identical faculty, as nicely, with the crew taking left-handed pitcher Zach Root and contact-hitting outfielder Charles Davalan out of the University of Arkansas.

Root, a junior for the Razorbacks this 12 months, went at No. 40. A switch from East Carolina, he had a 3.62 earned-run average this season with 126 strikeouts in 99⅓ innings. Scouting reviews lauded his versatile pitch combine, which incorporates a slider, curveball and changeup from a funky low arm-slot supply.

Davalan, a sophomore who was draft-eligible, also transferred into Arkansas final 12 months after one season at Florida Gulf Coast. He hit .346 for the Razorbacks with 14 home runs, 60 RBIs and more walks (35) than strikeouts (27).

Both gamers have been half of an Arkansas crew that received 50 video games and reached the College World Series.

Both determine to be key items of the Dodgers’ future, as nicely.

Though the Dodgers once again have been boxed out of a high draft decide — selecting exterior the highest 30 for the third time in the final 4 years because of aggressive stability tax penalties — the crew did purchase an additional choice in what is thought as “Competitive Balance Round A,” securing the No. 41 total choice as half of the commerce that despatched Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds.

That meant, for the first time since 2019, the Dodgers made two top-50 choices.

And when their choices have been on the clock, they recognized the pair of Southeastern Conference teammates.

Root is a Fort Myers, Fla., native who was the No. 31-ranked recruit in the state popping out of high faculty, according to Perfect Game.

After beginning his school profession at East Carolina, where he had a 9-5 file and 4.43 ERA in two seasons, he discovered instant success upon becoming a member of Arkansas, incomes first-team All-SEC honors and second- and third-team All-American nods.

Though he grew up in Florida, Root mentioned he was a childhood Dodgers fan — thanks in massive half to one other sure left-handed pitcher.

“Growing up, my dad always made me watch [Clayton] Kershaw and learn to pitch like him,” Root mentioned. “So I’ve just been watching Dodger baseball ever since I can remember, because of Kershaw.”

Davalan took a decidedly more circuitous route to the Dodgers.

Originally a childhood hockey participant from Quebec, Canada, Davalan moved to Florida when he was in high faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic, enrolling in a specialised high faculty that allowed him to spend a lot of his days coaching as a baseball participant.

“With COVID, a lot got shut down in Canada,” Davalan mentioned. “So decided to go live in Florida, where the restrictions [weren’t there] and you could play 12 months of the year.”

From there, the undersized Davalan — who is listed at 5-foot-9 and 190 kilos — received one D-I offer from FGCU, impressed enough there to switch to Arkansas, and then blossomed into “one of the best hitters in the draft class, I think,” Root mentioned of his teammate. “Getting him at pick 41 is just a big steal for the Dodgers.”

Davalan supplied related reward about Root, calling him “kind of an old-school pitcher” who “really filled the zones up good, but can still get his punchouts when he needs to get out of the jam.”

“Old-school” was also an adjective Davalan used to describe himself.

“I like to win. I like to play hard,” he mentioned. “So that’s what I’m going to try to do. And I’m sure that knowing the organization, it’s filled of players like that, so I’m super excited just to get to meet new people.”

And, of course, be reacquainted with one from his current previous.

“He’s one of my best friends because of Arkansas,” Root mentioned. “He’s a really great dude.”

“I guess I’m going to have to live with him in a couple more years,” Davalan joked. “He’s awesome.”