Dodgers Announce Selections from Day Three of the 2024 MLB Draft

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers announced their 10 selections from the third day of the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, picking Southern Illinois University right-handed pitcher Aidan Foeller (11^th round), Weatherford College left-handed pitcher Cody Morse (12^th round), Long Beach State right-handed pitcher Mike Villani (13^th round), Reedley College right-handed pitcher Will Gagnon (14^th round), North Gwinnett High School shortstop Erik Parker (15^th round), University of Kansas right-handed pitcher Evan Shaw (16^th round), University of Oklahoma shortstop Jackson Nicklaus (17^th round), University of Oregon right-handed pitcher Isaac Ayon (18^th round), Northwest Florida State College outfielder Chase Williams (19^th round), and University of Mississippi left-handed pitcher Hunter Elliott (20^th round).

The Dodgers selected a total of 18 players in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, which included six right-handed pitchers, four left-handed pitchers, five infielders and three outfielders. Four of those 18 draftees were taken out of high school while the remaining 14 are from the college ranks.

Los Angeles began day three of the draft by selecting right-handed pitcher Aidan Foeller out of Southern Illinois University with the 340^th overall pick in the 11^th round. After transferring from Northeast Mississippi Community College, the Salukis hurler recorded a 5-3 record with 4.52 ERA (39 ER/77.1 IP) while holding hitters to a .249 batting average. He also led the Missouri Valley Conference with 105 strikeouts on the year.

In the 12^th round, the Dodgers selected Cody Morse, a 6-foot-6 southpaw from Weatherford College with the 370^th overall pick. The Houston, Texas native made 15 appearances, posting a 5-1 record with one save and a 3.08 ERA (17 ER/49.2 IP) during his sophomore season with the Coyotes. Currently committed to the University of Oklahoma, Morse was named to the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference second team after striking out 53 batters and recording a 1.49 WHIP in 2024.

The Dodgers took their fifth pitcher of the 2024 draft in the 13^th round, selecting right-hander Mike Villani out of Long Beach State with the 400^th overall pick. The Oceanside, California native spun a 1-3 record with a 3.24 ERA (9 ER/25.0 IP) and 29 strikeouts in 22 games played this past season after transferring from Palomar College. He also recorded 10 saves on the year, which ranked 14^th among Division I closers.

Right-hander Will Gagnon was the Dodgers 14^th round selection (430^th overall) out of Reedley College in Reedley, California. During his sophomore campaign, the UCLA commit led the Central Valley Conference in strikeouts (98) and strikeouts per nine innings (16.43) while posting a 6-2 record in 10 appearances (10 starts). Gagnon was selected to the Central Valley Conference first team as a starting pitcher after leading the Tigers with a 3.69 ERA (22 ER/53.2 IP) and 1.25 WHIP.

After taking pitchers with their first four picks on day three, the Dodgers drafted their first position player of the day, selecting high school shortstop Erik Parker in the 15^th round with the 460^th overall selection. The Georgia commit was ranked as the 183^rd overall prospect on MLB.com after slashing .333/.544/.588 with five doubles, three triples, four home runs and 30 RBIs at North Gwinnett High School (Suwanee, Georgia) this past season.

University of Kansas left-handed pitcher Evan Shaw was the Dodgers’ next selection at 490^th overall in the 16^th round. Standing at 6-foot-4, the lefty posted a 3-1 record with a 5.10 ERA (24 ER/42.1 IP), 60 strikeouts, and a .248 batting average against during his junior year with the Jayhawks. Prior to transferring to Kansas, the Fridley, Minnesota native spent three seasons at Minnesota State University (2020) and Cochise College (2022-23).

The Dodgers used their 17^th round selection (520^th overall) on shortstop Jackson Nicklaus out of the University of Oklahoma. The Overland Park, Kansas native was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention this past season after slashing .303/.429/.533 with nine doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 37 RBIs in 57 games for the Sooners. His performance in the 2024 Big 12 Championship, which included a walk-off two-run home run against Kansas, landed him on the Big 12 All-Tournament Team.

Los Angeles selected another college pitcher with their 18^th round pick (550^th overall), taking right-hander Isaac Ayon from the University of Oregon. Before missing the 2023 and 2024 seasons with injuries, the 6-foot-4 Fresno, California native was one of the Ducks’ most reliable starters as a sophomore. In 2022, Ayon finished the year 4-4 with a 5.67 ERA (56 ER/87.1 IP) and 80 strikeouts in 17 appearances (16 starts). He tossed two complete games and ranked fourth in the Pac-12 in starts (16) and strikeouts looking (26).

With their second to last pick of the 2024 draft, the Dodgers selected switch-hitting outfielder Chase Williams in the 19^th round (580^th overall) out of Northwest Florida State College. In his freshman campaign with the Raiders, Williams earned a Second-Team All-Panhandle Conference nod and a FCSAA Gold Glove award after slashing .379/.473/.460 with 11 extra-base hits and 32 RBIs in 55 games. He is currently committed to play at Florida State University for next season.

The Dodgers finished the third and final day of the draft by adding University of Mississippi left-handed pitcher Hunter Elliott in the 20^th round (610^th overall). The Tupelo, Mississippi native owns a 6-4 record with a 3.24 ERA (31 ER/86.0 IP) and 114 strikeouts in 22 appearances (14 starts) in his career at Ole Miss. Elliott made two starts as a sophomore in 2023 before having season-ending elbow surgery which caused him to miss the rest of the 2023 season and the entirety of the 2024 season.

An updated list of the Dodgers’ selections from the 2024 First-Year Player Draft can be found using the following link: https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker/2024/all/team/dodgers