Devin Mann is headed for the bright lights of Los Angeles.
The 2015 Columbus North graduate has been put on the 60-man roster that the Dodgers will employ for the abbreviated 2020 Major League Baseball season. He likely will leave for Los Angeles sometime in the coming week.
“It’s a really good opportunity,” Mann said. “You’re on the taxi squad to maybe make a (major league) debut this year, so I think it will be really cool.”
A fifth-round draft pick out of Louisville in the June 2018 draft, Mann played with the Dodgers’ Single-A team at Rancho Cucamonga last season. He was slated to move up to Double-A Tulsa this year and was with the big-league team in spring training before it was shut down because of COVID-19.
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Four months later, MLB has a plan in place to start the regular season. Teams will play 60 games in 65 days, followed by the playoffs for teams that make it.
Major League rosters typically yield 25 players, and about that many will dress for games.
“You have an expanded roster so they have guys to pick from if a guy gets sick,” Mann said. “I’ll be getting reps, getting to practice, too, which is just as important.”
Most of the Dodgers’ 60-man roster is made up of players from the major league squad and the Triple-A Oklahoma City team. Mann, a third base/utility player who also can play second base, is the only non-pitcher from Tulsa that’s going.
“I had talked to my agent, and we had been discussing possibilities,” Mann said. “It kind of came as not a surprise, but you have some anxiousness that it would help if you get put on the roster.”
That especially is the case since all of the minor league seasons were canceled earlier this week.
“With the minor league stuff, that’s really tough for a lot of guys, losing a lot of opportunities and things like that,” Mann said.
Mann is familiar with Dodger Stadium, having been there for workouts the past couple of winters. He and some other minor leaguers in the system went to a game there following his rookie ball season with the Great Lakes Loons in 2018.
“I know the ins and outs of the facility,” Mann said. “I’ve been out there a few times, so I know my way around.”
Since returning to Columbus in March, Mann has been able to work out at his parents home. He has also been able to do a little hitting at the barn of Patrick Smith, the father of current North player Parker Smith.
Mann hopes that will pay dividends if he happens to be called on in August or September.
“You just keep doing what you’re doing, keep getting better, and if the opportunity presents itself, do what you do,” Mann said. “It was a big first step getting put on that roster. You just have to keep grinding away and hope for the best.”
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Name: Devin Mann
Age: 23
High school: Columbus North
College: Louisville
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 180
Position: Infield
Key stats: batted .268 with 19 home runs, 63 RBIs, 19 doubles, two triples and 63 runs scored last season at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.
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