Dillon Paulson was the Rays return in the three team trade between the Rays, Dodgers, and Phillies last week. The full components of the trade include:
- Rays receive Dillon Paulson and a Player to Be Named Later
- Dodgers receive Garrett Cleavinger
- Phillies receive Jose Alvarado
With only one full minor league season under his belt, I’m sure a lot of fans aren’t too familiar with Paulson. So who is he? And how will he contribute to the Rays?
Introducing Dillon Paulson
Paulson is a 23 year old lefty first basemen who was drafted by the Dodgers in 2018. In 2018, he was named a mid-season all-star while playing for the Great Lakes Loons. He was assigned to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in 2019, where he split the season between two Class A levels (Full and Advanced). Paulson combined to hit .243/.366/.433 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with 16 home runs.
While there wasn’t a ton of video available for Paulson yet, here is a prospect video from his time at USC:
Something to consider about Paulson’s minor league stats…
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, where Paulson spent his 2019 season, are part of the California League. The California League is known for being a hitter’s league, meaning sometimes the stats alone do not tell the full story of a player’s ability.
That being said, Paulson is just starting out his professional career, and seems to be doing quite well. The lost 2020 season will be a step back, but hopefully he took the time to keep improving and to get ready for next season. In a couple of years, maybe we’ll get to see him join the Rays as one of their lefty platoon hitters.
What did you think of this three team trade?