Dodgers nearing deal with 1st-round pick Grant Holmes

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers haven't officially signed their first-round draft pick, Grant Holmes, but the right-hander took a tour of Dodger Stadium and met with reporters on Monday, sounding like someone ready to begin his professional career.

"It's every kid's dream to be an MLB player, and it came true," said Holmes, who was drafted No. 22 overall out of COnway High School in South Carolina. "It was just a special moment."

Holmes said he wasn't sure where he would begin his pro career, but guessed at the Dodgers spring training facility in Arizona. Asked what stood between a contract getting finalized Holmes said, "It's just depending on the physical," but quickly added, "We're still negotiating."

The Dodgers allotted slot bonus for the No. 22 pick is $1,980,500, but the Dodgers have already saved a total of $261,900 on their seventh, ninth and 10-round selections, meaning they could give Holmes a bonus of at least $2,242,400 without any overage penalties, and that's before considering any savings from sixth-rounder Brock Stewart and/or eight-round pick Hunter Redman.

Dodgers vice president of amateur scouting and draft head Logan White said the NCAA allows draftees to visit their prospective major league team without losing eligibility. If Holmes doesn't sign with the Dodgers, he will play baseball at the University of Florida, and wouldn't be draft eligible until 2017.

But White hinted that a deal with Holmes was close.

"We're doing the process. We have to tie up some loose ends, hoping this thing happens here one of these days soon."

The deadline to sign 2014 draft picks is July 18.