The Los Angeles Dodgers used the number sixteen pick of the first round to make Stanford LHP Chris Reed the first Bay Area product to come off the board in the 2011 MLB Draft. The Dodgers have done an excellent job in years past of developing young players and will hope that they can develop Reed in short order to join their bullpen.
Reed served in relief for Stanford this season and would seem likely to end up as a set-up man in the short term and a possible closer in the long term for the long haul. While Jonathan Broxton has had his moments as the Dodgers closer, he has struggled quite a bit this year, which has led the Dodgers to give other pitchers save opportunities. John Sickels views him as a potential starter, but one has to wonder if the Dodgers would prefer to get him up to the big league bullpen sooner rather than later.
Head over to mlb.com to view film on Reed and also read his full scouting report.
We'll be here for the next three days covering the 2011 MLB Draft for the San Francisco Giants, the Oakland Athletics, and Bay Area baseball products. For more in-depth discussion about the Giants head to McCovey Chronicles. For more on the A's head over to Athletics Nation. For more general minor league and draft discussion, check out Minor League Ball and Baseball Nation.