The Los Angeles Dodgers received what has to be considered some terrible news on Thursday.
The team’s first-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, pitcher J.T. Ginn, announced that he will attend Mississippi State rather than signing with the organization.
“After being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round, I had a lot to think about over the last month. My ultimate goal is to one day play in the Major Leagues, and the draft provided one path to that goal,” Ginn announced on his Instagram account. “College baseball offered another path. I am grateful for both opportunities, and after giving it a lot of thought I have decided to pursue my lifelong dream of playing college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.”
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This is something we rarely see. Certainly, some high school prospects decide college over signing MLB contracts once drafted. Though, said prospects are almost never drafted in the first round.
It’s a major blow for the Dodgers, one that could have wide-ranging ramifications moving forward.
Even with what is a solid farm system, losing out on a first-round pick isn’t necessarily a good thing for the Dodgers. And while Ginn was years from taking to Dodger Stadium as a member of the white and blue, it still has to be considered relatively big news.