Dodgers Draft College Pitcher Who Hasn’t Pitched in 2 Years

Some people dream of hearing their name called in an MLB draft. University of Oregon’s right-handed pitcher Isaac Ayon has heard his name not once, but twice in an MLB draft.

The Washington Nationals selected Ayon as the 585th overall pick in the 20th round of the 2023 MLB draft. Baseball America released a scouting report for Ayon before the 2023 MLB draft.

“Ayon was in position to begin the 2023 season as Oregon’s Friday night starter, but he has missed the entirety of the season with an elbow injury-which has clouded his draft status. When healthy, Ayon has looked like a top-five rounds talent, with a fastball that’s been up to 98 mph in the past and a pair of solid secondaries. In 2022 when healthy, Ayon pitched in the 92-95 mph range and used a low-80s slider to get a 41% miss rate. He also showed some feel for a mid-80s changeup. There was a chance for Ayon to pitch late in the season for the Ducks, but as of late May, that has not been the case for the 6-foot-4, 235-pound righty.”

— Baseball America

Ayon had missed the entire 2023 collegiate season due to internal brace surgery. He was left with two remaining years of NCAA eligibility, which ultimately led to his decision to stay in Oregon, according to 247Sports.com.

Ayon endured a second elbow injury that would result in Tommy John surgery, which kept him off the mound in 2024.

Still, Ayon’s two-year absence from the mound did not stop the Los Angeles Dodgers from drafting him as the 550th pick in the 18th round of the 2024 MLB draft.

Before injuries took him off the mound, Ayon showed great potential in his freshman and sophomore seasons. As a true freshman, he led the team with 22 appearances. His efforts on the mound contributed to Oregon’s return to the NCAA tournament for the first time in six years. In his sophomore year, he transitioned to a starting pitcher, leading the team with 16 starts and 7 quality starts. Ayon ranked fourth in the Pac-12 in starts and strikeouts looking (26). His two complete games that season ranked 17th nationally.

Now, Ayon has a decision to make. He can use his remaining NCAA eligibility to finish a collegiate career that was interrupted by injuries, turning down a second MLB draft offer and rejecting the top team in the National League West. Or he could jump right into a professional career despite not having pitched in two years.

Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

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