The 2016 Dodgers: Best Draft Class Ever?

Player Name

It sounds crazy at first, but the Los Angeles Dodgers have churned out an absurd number of big leaguers from their 2016 MLB Draft Class.

By Zach Smith

The Los Angeles Dodgers identified 13 future big leaguers in the 2016 MLB Draft, with more likely to come. Just Baseball’s Aram Leighton breaks down the Dodgers round-by-round selections.

Gavin Lux (SS/2B)   Drafted: 1st Round (20)

This list wouldn’t be complete without Stanton. He’s a great hitter, but he’s injury prone: he’s played in just about 62% of games in four years with the Yanks.

Will Smith (C)   Drafted: 1st Round (32)

The best player in this class and one of the best catchers in baseball, Smith would probably be the 1st pick in a redraft. He’s already launched 48 home runs in his 221 game career.

Jordan Sheffield (RHP)   Drafted: 1st Round (36)

Jordan Sheffield was the odd man out in 2020. The Rockies took Sheffield in the Rule 5 draft and he had a 3.38 ERA in 29 1/3 innings in 2021.

Mitchell White (RHP)  Drafted: 2nd Round (65)

Four pitchers from the 2nd round have made MLB debuts and White is the only arm with an ERA below 4.00. He made 21 appearances for the Dodgers last year.

Dustin May (RHP)   Drafted: 3rd Round (101)

May looked great in 2021, making five starts before season-ending Tommy John surgery. May still has frontline upside and he’s already given us a taste of it.

D.J. Peters (OF)   Drafted: 4th Round (131)

Peters dominated MiLB pitching, hitting 52 home runs in the minors in 2018 and 2019. In 2021, he made 18 starts for the Dodgers before being claimed off waivers.

Devin Smeltzer (LHP)   Drafted: 5th Round (161)

Smeltzer looked strong at the lower levels for the Dodgers before being traded to the Twins as part of the package for Brian Dozier. Smeltzer has now pitched in parts of three MLB seasons.

Luke Raley (OF)  Drafted: 7th Round (221)

Raley was sent back down to Triple-A in May where he hit .294/.393/.570 with 19 HR in 318 PA’s. He earned a promotion at the end of the season.

Andre Scrubb (RHP)   Drafted: 8th Round (251)

Traded to the Astros for Tyler White, Scrubb has thrown over 40 innings of relief for Houston with a 3.32 ERA. White will get plenty of bullpen innings in 2022.

Tony Gonsolin (RHP)  Drafted: 9th Round (281)

Raley was sent back down to Triple-A in May where he hit .294/.393/.570 with 19 HR in 318 PA’s. He earned a promotion at the end of the season.

Later Selections:

AJ Alexy (RHP)  Graham Ashcraft (RHP)  Cody Thomas (OF)  Dean Kremer (RHP)  Bailey Ober (RHP) Zach McKinstry (UTIL)