Dodgers take speedy SS Lindsey with No. 23 pick
Juan Toribio
@juanctoribioThe Dodgers selected Kellon Lindsey, a shortstop from Hardee High School in Florida, with the No. 23 overall selection in the 2024 MLB Draft on Sunday.
¡°Pretty excited here,¡± Dodgers vice president of baseball operations Billy Gasparino said. ¡°Kellon was one of the few players we had targeted in the Draft. ¡ The excitement level our player development staff has is through the roof. We really feel we found someone who is going to be a great Dodger and we¡¯re excited to have as part of the organization. I think one day you¡¯ll be happy to watch here.¡±
Lindsey came into the Draft rated one of the best players at the shortstop position. MLB Pipeline had Lindsey rated as their 29th overall prospect in this year¡¯s Top 250.
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The 18-year-old posted really strong numbers over the past two high school seasons, posting a .429 batting average as a junior and following that up with a .403 clip as a senior in 97 plate appearances. His biggest tool, however, is his speed that is expected to help him go through the Minor League system.
¡°Yeah, the speed is definitely one of the biggest roles, and it really helps translate to other parts of the field,¡± Lindsey said. ¡°I think my glove has always been pretty good. I think this year fundamentally and rhythm-wise, it really improved, and I think that was big for this past season. On the hitting side of things, I feel like I can pretty much put the ball in play whenever I want, and I think that¡¯s an important tool to have.¡±
Lindsey has a run grade of 75, making him one of the fastest players in this year¡¯s class. Scouts have often compared Lindsey to former Dodger and All-Star shortstop Trea Turner. Adding a player of Lindsey¡¯s speed continues a recent pattern for the Dodgers, who selected speedy outfielder Kendall George with their first selection in the ¡®23 Draft.
¡°Not on purpose. But if we ever do have to run a track event, we¡¯re going to be pretty good at it,¡± Gasparino joked. ¡°As both Kendall and Kellon ¡ they both have additional skills to go with that. It¡¯s a bat we like. It¡¯s defense at a premium position. And then the run tool is definitely their signature strength but just one of many.¡±
He was a dual-sport athlete throughout some of his high school career, playing quarterback for Hardee High School. After his senior year of football, Lindsey made the decision to put his entire focus on baseball. That decision paid dividends this spring as Lindsey jumped on just about every team¡¯s draft boards.
Lindsey also gives the Dodgers another shortstop prospect in the Minors with a high ceiling.
¡°Coming from football season and getting to focus on baseball, I think it was really important for me, important for my development,¡± Lindsey said. ¡°And just putting football aside and putting baseball in mind and focusing on that, focusing on fundamental stuff, I think that was really big for me this season. I think it helped with my growth as a player and off the field as well.¡±
Lindsey is committed to the University of Florida, but said the plan is to forgo his college career and sign with the Dodgers. Los Angeles has a $3,676,400 slot for their first-round pick, but the Dodgers don¡¯t have to use their full allotment in order to continue taking chances with high-slot players later in the Draft.