Tanner Dodson Stats & Scouting Report

IP	62.1
ERA	3.32
WHIP	1.59
BB/9	6.21
SO/9	8.37

Full name Tanner Dodson
Born 05/09/1997 in Sacramento, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 160 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School California
Drafted in the CB-B round (71st overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 (signed for $772,500).

View Draft Report

Scouts prefer Dodson on the mound, where his 92-94 mph fastball touches 98 mph with heavy sinking action. He also throws two breaking balls - a hard slider and a sharp curveball - and a changeup that has some depth. He has served as Cal's closer this spring and has found success in the bullpen. If he stays a reliever, he could be a quick mover in the minor leagues. Dodson is an exceptional athlete and gets the most out of his tools as a hitter. The switch-hitter has good bat-to-ball skills and consistently barrels up balls. He is a disciplined hitter who doesn''t give at bats away. He has an unconventional setup at the plate, which limits his power. He is an above-average runner and uses his speed well on the bases. Dodson's biggest impact figures to come as a pitcher, and he projects as a top-two rounds pick, but his strong performance at the plate over the last two years has convinced some that he can also make it as a hitter. That success means whichever team drafts him will have options.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: Dodson's father Bo was a first baseman/outfielder who was a third-round pick (63rd overall) of the Brewers in 1989. Tanner went eight picks later in his draft, but was a supplemental second round pick because there are more teams picking now.

Scouting Report: Dodson is following in Brendan McKay's footsteps as a two-way player for the Rays and like McKay, Dodson is seen as a better prospect on the mound than in the outfield. Dodson dominated New York-Penn League hitters with a 95-98 mph fastball with power and sink and a hard 88-90 mph slider. The slider is a little more erratic than the fastball, but both are pitches that can miss bats and both have potential to be plus-plus pitches. Righthanders hit .104/.200/.104 against him. His stuff sometimes does tail off in his second and third innings of work. Dodson is above-average defensively in center fielder and an above-average runner with a plus arm. He has little power, but he puts the bat on the ball from both sides of the plate.

The Future: If he were only an outfielder, Dodson wouldn't be seen as a significant prospect, but his defense and base-running provide extra value on top of his potential to be a late-inning reliever.

Draft Prospects

Scouts prefer Dodson on the mound, where his 92-94 mph fastball touches 98 mph with heavy sinking action. He also throws two breaking balls - a hard slider and a sharp curveball - and a changeup that has some depth. He has served as Cal's closer this spring and has found success in the bullpen. If he stays a reliever, he could be a quick mover in the minor leagues. Dodson is an exceptional athlete and gets the most out of his tools as a hitter. The switch-hitter has good bat-to-ball skills and consistently barrels up balls. He is a disciplined hitter who doesn''t give at bats away. He has an unconventional setup at the plate, which limits his power. He is an above-average runner and uses his speed well on the bases. Dodson's biggest impact figures to come as a pitcher, and he projects as a top-two rounds pick, but his strong performance at the plate over the last two years has convinced some that he can also make it as a hitter. That success means whichever team drafts him will have options.
A California signee, Dodson would be a two-way player for the Bears if he gets to school. The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder plays for NorCal's travel team in Sacramento and has brushed 95 mph, though his fastball just as often sits at 90 as it its 94. There are reports he's touched 97 and had late draft helium. If he winds up at school, it will be because of his raw secondary stuff. Dodson's breaking balls, both his curve and slider, can morph into a loopy slurve and need to be tightened up. His changeup is in its nascent stages. He's athletic and capable of being an everyday player as a switch-hitter in college.

Minor League Top Prospects

After drafting Brendan McKay in 2017 and encouraging him to play both ways, the Rays did it again with Dodson. The former California outfielder and closer who set the school’s single-season saves record was drafted with the 71st overall pick this past June and assigned to Hudson Valley. He didn’t disappoint, impressing both in center field and on the mound. He spent most of the year as the club’s leadoff man while also working out of the bullpen. Dodson has impressive range in the outfield and he has an above-average to plus arm that should help him stay in center field. A switch-hitter, Dodson doesn’t hit for much power but he controls the strike zone well. Out of the bullpen the righthander has huge pure stuff. His fastball can reach up to 98 mph, and his slider is a wipeout pitch that sits in the upper 80s and can reach 92 mph. Evaluators note he doesn’t hold his velocity for multiple innings, but overwhelmingly still think his offerings are excellent. Dodson’s pure athletic ability and combination of tools make for an excellent prospect moving forward.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Outfield Arm in the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020
Rated Best Outfield Arm in the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019

Career Transactions

Oklahoma City Dodgers activated RHP Tanner Dodson.
Oklahoma City Baseball Club transferred RHP Tanner Dodson to the Development List.
RHP Tanner Dodson assigned to Los Angeles Dodgers.
RHP Tanner Dodson roster status changed by Los Angeles Dodgers.
RHP Tanner Dodson roster status changed by Los Angeles Dodgers.
RHP Tanner Dodson assigned to Los Angeles Dodgers.