The Dodgers wasted no time when the international signing window opened Thursday, locking up Ezequiel Melbourne, a 16-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic.
Melbourne’s a 6-foot-3 switch-hitter who’s ranked No. 29 in his international class. The Dodgers signed him for $747,500, which could turn out to be a steal if he develops the way scouts expect.
What makes Melbourne intriguing isn’t just his size – it’s how polished he looks from both sides of the plate already.
“Melbourne displays an equally proficient smooth swing from both the left-handed and right-handed side. He displays great balance in his hips and upper body and focuses on line drives, which allows him to consistently produce hard contact.”
That’s from his MLB.com scouting report, which also notes he’s a selective hitter who rarely chases bad pitches. The power’s still developing, but evaluators think there’s more pop coming as he fills out that lean frame.
Defensively, Melbourne gets 50 grades on the 20-80 scale for both his fielding and arm strength. That’s solid across the board.
“Those loose limbs work in Melbourne’s favor on the infield dirt as he features a quick first step,” the report continues. “He showcases smooth actions with the glove and is comfortable going to his back hand, all while following it up with a solid throwing arm.”
His long legs should help on the basepaths too. Scouts think he could develop into a genuine stolen-base threat once he learns the pro game.
The Dodgers already have plenty of talent at the major league level, but they’re not slowing down when it comes to building for the future. Melbourne’s pro journey starts now, and if everything breaks right, that $747,500 investment could pay off big down the road.
Also worth noting – Ezequiel Melbourne might be one of the better names in baseball.
