The 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft was considered to be a very successful one for the Dodgers. Some have compared it to the 2003 draft in which the Dodgers selected Chad Billingsley, Matt Kemp and A.J. Ellis. Others have compared the 2012 class to the 2006 draft in which the Dodgers selected Clayton Kershaw with the seventh overall pick. Scouting director and assistant general manager Logan White was more than pleased with last year’s draft. “In 2002 and 2003, those were good Drafts, and I knew they were good Drafts,” White said. “In 2006, I felt good because of Kershaw. Sometimes you get feelings, and this one I’m ecstatic about. It’s going to turn out to be a really good Draft. There’s no question.”

Much of the excitement around the draft came as a result of the first two selections – Corey Seager and Jesmuel Valentin – two eighteen year old shortstops. However, there were other causes for excitement. Six of the top ten selections were high school players who all signed. Twenty-four of the top twenty-five picks were signed. Paco Rodriguez actually pitched with the Dodgers in his draft year, the first member of the 2012 draft class to make it to the majors. Ross Stripling and Duke von Schamann are presently starters with the Chattanooga Lookouts as is Jharel Cotton. Lindsey Caughel was promoted to high A Rancho Cucamonga earlier this year. All of these players have gathered some attention and deservedly so. In the meantime other members of the 2012 class are working at their trades in a more subtle way.

Darnell Sweeney is one of those players, making quite an impression with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Sweeney, 22, was the thirteenth selection by the Dodgers, two later than Duke von Schamann. He had previously been drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 41st round of the 2009 draft but chose not to sign. He spent the next three years at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Sweeney doesn’t regret his decision: ‘“I knew I wasn’t mature enough to go to pro ball right out of high school,” he said. “I was happy for my decision that three-quarters of my degree got done and now I’m living the dream.” He intends to complete his education.

Sweeney hit for the cycle on May 7th and nearly did so again a few weeks later.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

A definite influence on his baseball life was a trip to Japan as a seventeen year old. He first went to California to try out for a high school team taking part in a good will tournament in Japan. Sweeney made the team and had his eyes opened. In an interview with Hugh Bernreuter he explained: “Japan smoked us,” Sweeney said. “It was unbelievable how devoted they were, even in high school. They took classes in baseball. They played it the right way, doing everything the right way, from bunting to making the right throw to getting the runner in from third with less than two outs.”

Darnell Sweeney began his professional career with the short season Rookie League Ogden Raptors following the draft in June, 2012. From the lead off position in the batting order he hit .303 with an OBP of .380 while stealing ten bases. After only sixteen games Sweeney was promoted to the Class A Great Lakes Loons. At a more appropriate level he hit .291 with an OBP of .372 and stole seventeen bases in twenty-one attempts – an 82% success rate which is considered to be very good at any level. As such, he positioned himself as a lead off hitter as he progresses through the Dodger farm system. His manager in Midland, John Shoemaker, sees Sweeney as a player with the necessary tools to lead off. “He’s got what you need in a lead-off hitter,” Shoemaker said. “He’s a switch-hitter, he’s patient, he’s got speed, he doesn’t strike out often.” Sweeney showed a little pop with the Loons hitting five home runs along with eight doubles and four triples in 51 games.

He began the 2013 season with the High A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League. Continuing to hit in the leadoff position Sweeney is hitting .283 with an OBP of .338. In 60 games he has a slugging percentage of .482. Among his 70 hits are twelve doubles, eight triples and seven home runs. He has had one grand slam and on May 7 he hit for the cycle. He has had a five hit game and missed a second cycle on June 9 by a home run. His 37 runs batted in are the third most on the team, five behind team leader O’Koyea Dixon.

At 6’ 1” Sweeney weighs only 150 pounds and welcomes the inevitable comparison to Dee Gordon, with whom he has become friends. They met at the University of Central Florida during the winter of 2012. He credits Gordon with helping him to progress through the Dodger system as quickly as he has. “During the off season he comes down to Florida and we worked out together, so a lot of his stuff that he does, I do. I worked with him and he actually helped me with a lot of stuff that got me to this level right now.” He also credits Gordon with helping him realize his dream which one day may see the two friends competing for the same job. “It’s a great competition,” Sweeney said. “I’m just trying to work my way up and the better that both of us are makes the Dodgers organization that much better.”

Although many liken Darnell Sweeney to his good friend Dee Gordon, Sweeney is a switch hitter whereas Gordon is not. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Darnell Sweeney is a work in progress. He is hitting with unexpected power. His speed, not on a par with Dee Gordon’s, is still a definite asset that he uses well. He leads the league in triples and is second in stolen bases with an 81% success rate. I would expect him to be promoted to class AA Chattanooga later this year and to be the Lookouts starting shortstop and lead off hitter in 2014 as he moves up the Dodger prospect list, perhaps into the top ten.