:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/34989407/451293720.0.jpg)
The Dodgers have reportedly signed their 12th-round pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, right-handed pitcher Kam Uter out of Pace Academy in Atlanta. Uter was one of just eight high school players drafted by the Dodgers, and the two-sport star was committed to play baseball and wide receiver in football at Wake Forest.
Instead he will get a $200,000 bonus to sign with the Dodgers, per Jim Callis of MLB.com, who described Uter (in the tiny confines of a tweet) as "athletic" with a fastball between 92-94 mph.
The 6'4, 205-pound Uter was signed by Dodgers scout Lon Joyce. Here is video of Uter pitching in a game on April 9:
With Uter in the fold, the Dodgers have signed 31 of their 40 draft picks, including each of the top 18.
Any bonus amounts over $100,000 for picks in and after the 11th round count against a team's allotted draft bonus pool, meaning half of Uter's bonus will count against the Dodgers draft cap.
Here is a look at the Dodgers' draft bonus pool:
| Dodgers 2014 Draft Bonus Pool | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | Pick | Name | Pos | Bonus | Slot amount | Overage |
| 1 | 22 | Grant Holmes | RHP | $2,500,000 | $1,980,500 | $519,500 |
| 2 | 62 | Alex Verdugo | OF | $914,600 | $914,600 | $0 |
| 3 | 98 | John Richy | RHP | $534,400 | $534,400 | $0 |
| 4 | 129 | Jeff Brigham | RHP | $396,300 | $396,300 | $0 |
| 5 | 159 | Jared Walker | 3B | $296,700 | $296,700 | $0 |
| 6 | 189 | Brock Stewart | RHP | $190,000 | $222,200 | ($32,200) |
| 7 | 219 | Trevor Oaks | RHP | $161,600 | $166,600 | ($5,000) |
| 8 | 249 | Hunter Redman | C | $30,000 | $154,500 | ($124,500) |
| 9 | 279 | Matt Campbell | RHP | $20,000 | $144,300 | ($124,300) |
| 10 | 309 | Colin Hering | OF | $5,000 | $137,600 | ($132,600) |
| Bonuses over $100,000 (rounds 11-40): RHP Kam Uter (12th round) |
+$100,000 |
$0 |
$100,000 |
|||
| Totals | $5,148,600 | $4,947,700 |
+$200,900 (+4.06%) |
|||
In 2013, the Dodgers paid bonus larger than $100,000 to two draft picks: 11th-rounder Spencer Navin ($300,000; $200,000 of which counted against the bonus pool) and 17th-rounder Greg Harris ($175,000; $75,000 toward the bonus). The Dodgers are now $200,900 over slot, which will be subject to a 75 percent tax on the overage.
Here are the penalties for going over slot:
| Excess amount | Dodgers 2014 range | Penalties |
| 0-4.99% | $4,947,701 - $5,195,084 | 75% tax on overage |
| 5-9.99% | $5,195,085 - $5,442,469 | 75% tax on overage loss of first round pick |
| 10-14.99% | $5,442,470 - $5,689,854 | 100% tax on overage loss of first and second round picks |
| 15%+ | $5,689,855+ | 100% tax on overage loss of first round picks in next two drafts |
| Per collective bargaining agreement | ||
For now, the Dodgers' penalties amount to $150,675 (75 percent of their $200,900 overage). Any bonus amounts over $100,000 for picks after the 10th round will be subject to penalty as well. As long as the Dodgers' overage doesn't reach $247,385 (five percent over their allotted amount), they won't forfeit a draft pick.
That means the Dodgers now have an extra $46,484 in bonus money to add to the $100,000 max for their remaining unsigned draft picks before getting into the real punitive penalties.
The deadline to sign 2014 draft picks is July 18.