Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — The Dodgers have used their first round pick in the 2024 draft to get an infielder with some high upside: with the 23rd pick, they have chosen high school shortsop Kellon Lindsey of Hardee High in Wauchula, Florida.
According to a recent profile in the Athletic, in his senior year, Lindsey was splitting his time between being a standout quarterback and defensive back on the football field and a star on the baseball diamond. However, after the football season ended, Lindsey shifted his focus solely to baseball, leading to a meteoric rise in his draft prospects.
By mid-spring, Lindsey transformed from a little-known player to a first-round prospect. Now, he faces a tough decision: turning pro or attending his dream school, the University of Florida. Lindsey’s impressive athleticism, particularly his speed, has been a key factor in his rise. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound shortstop has been timed at 6.57 in the 60-yard dash, making him one of the fastest players in this year’s draft class.
Lindsey’s journey included workouts alongside retired MLB All-Star Gary Sheffield and his son Noah, also in this draft class. The presence of scouts at his games initially distracted Lindsey, but he quickly adapted. “I just go out there and play my game every day,” he said at the MLB Draft Combine at Chase Field. “I just try to not acknowledge them more than anything, and just do my thing out there.”
Ranked 24th in The Athletic’s Keith Law’s MLB Draft top-100, Lindsey is known for his speed, athleticism, and build. “I love his athleticism,” remarked MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds after the Dodgers made their pick. “He reminds me a lot of Trea Turner. He can fly… great hands, great athletics, you can see how light he is on his feet.”
“Our scouting staff and organization are big fans of Kellon, so we’re very excited to have him on board,” said Billy Gasparino, Dodgers Vice President of Baseball Operations in a press release from the Dodgers PR office. “He’s a dynamic athlete, and shortstops are so hard to find. We also love his work ethic, and we think he’s going to be a very prototype Dodger player that we all like and are rooting for in the future.”
A key question is whether Lindsey can develop enough strength to enhance his power. He acknowledges that focusing on baseball has allowed him to add muscle: “Football, it takes a toll on your body, for sure. All those years getting beat around, it’s tough on your body.”
Lindsey’s standout tool is his speed, having stolen 53 bases in 49 high school games. His speed often unnerves pitchers, prompting multiple pick-off attempts. “That’s how you know you’re in their head a little bit,” he remarked to the Athletic.
Lindsey was the sixth high school player (and the sixth shortstop) taken in this year’s draft. Though he was committed to play next year at the University of Florida, the selection by the Dodgers might just put those plans on hold.
Obviously, when you draft a high schooler, there is a lot of development that needs to be done. Just look at can’t-miss pick Jackson Holliday’s rough go of it with the Orioles this year. However, Lindsey looks like he’s got a lot of tools in his toolbelt, so it’s going to be interesting to see how he develops as a Dodger.
