Dodgers pick Arkansas teammates -- LHP Root, OF Davalan -- back to back

SAN FRANCISCO -- Zach Root and Charles Davalan helped take Arkansas to the semifinals of the College World Series earlier this year. Now, they'll be teammates once more in the organization of MLB's reigning champions.

The Dodgers on Sunday selected left-handed pitcher Root with the 40th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, then took outfielder Davalan at No. 41. Given their familiarity, who better to give initial scouting reports on the newest members of the organization than each other?

Davalan on Root: "I guess I'm going to have to live with him a couple more years. But no, he's awesome. He's kind of an old-school pitcher, too. He's got a lot of different pitches, sinkerballer. He's got a cutter, a slider, really filled the zones up good, but he can still get his punchouts when he needs to get out of the jam."

Root on Davalan: "I mean, he's one of my best friends because of Arkansas. He's a really great dude. And as far as scouting reports go, he's one of the best hitters in the Draft class, I think. Getting him at pick 41 is just a big steal for the Dodgers."

Root was ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 42 Draft prospect. He pitched for East Carolina in his first two college seasons before transferring to Arkansas, where he took over for Hagen Smith -- who was the fifth overall selection in last year's Draft -- as the Friday night starter.

In his junior season, Root went 9-6 and posted a 3.62 ERA across 19 starts for the Razorbacks. He struck out 126 across 99 1/3 innings, which ranked fifth among Division 1 pitchers. He was a Third Team All-American and made the All-SEC First Team.

The Fort Myers, Fla., native said the Dodgers were his favorite team growing up because of a fellow southpaw.

"Growing up, my dad always made me watch [Clayton] Kershaw and learn to pitch like him," Root said. "So I've just been watching Dodger baseball ever since I can remember because of Kershaw."

Root prides himself on being a pitcher rather than a thrower. He hits 97 mph with his fastball, but his secondary offerings -- particularly his changeup and curveball -- are what makes him a tough at-bat.

Davalan ranked as the No. 54 Draft prospect. He also transferred to Arkansas this past collegiate season and hit .346 with a .994 OPS, 14 homers and 60 RBIs en route to being named a Second Team All-American and First Team All-SEC. The left-handed hitter struck out only 27 times in 317 plate appearances.

Born in Waterloo, Ontario, and raised in Montreal, Davalan played his senior year of high school in Florida after his family moved to give him a better shot at being recruited. His lone D-1 offer was from Florida Gulf Coast, where he posted a .927 OPS in his freshman year.

Arkansas is where Davalan -- who describes himself as "hard-nosed" and "old-school" -- became interested in analytics, which he primarily uses to study opposing pitchers.

"With TrackMan and a lot of metrics like that," Davalan said, "you learn to know how their pitch is going to move, even before you're in the box. So I studied a lot in the video room we had at Arkansas, and just knowing what the pitchers are going to throw, how much it's moving, if it's got ride, sink, is it sweeping, or is it kind of more of a gyro."

The Dodgers' first selection did not come until Competitive Balance Round A because they exceeded the second Competitive Balance Tax surcharge threshold, so their top pick was moved back 10 spots. They acquired the No. 41 pick along with outfield prospect Mike Sirota in the offseason trade that sent Gavin Lux to the Reds.

Here are the Dodgers' other picks from Day 1 of the Draft:

Cam Leiter, RHP (No. 65 overall, Round 2)

• Bats/throws: R/R
• School: Florida State
• Calling card: The latest in the Leiter family to go pro, Cam is the nephew of Al and Mark and the cousin of Jack and Mark Jr. Cam did not pitch this year due to a shoulder injury, but he has big stuff, including a 65-grade fastball that he's dialed up to 98 mph.
• Quote: “We thought if Cam were healthy and pitched this year, he would have been one of the better college pitchers out there. We love his background and his willingness to fight through adversity to get better, and we think he's got a ton of ceiling and potential.” -- Dodgers vice president of baseball operations Billy Gasparino

Landyn Vidourek, OF (No. 104 overall, Round 3)

• Bats/throws: L/R
• School: Cincinnati
• Calling card: Vidourek's combination of raw power and speed translated into a 14-homer, 39-steal campaign in his junior year with the Bearcats. The left-handed hitter made an impression at this year's Draft Combine with the second-longest ball of the event, a 424-foot shot.
• Quote: “I think that Landyn’s athleticism and the tool package were some of the highest we had in the whole Draft class. With his ability to run, throw, play center field and hit for power with ease, we just don't see that kind of athletic package very often, and that's why he was so enticing to us.” -- Gasparino