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Dodgers reportedly sign 2nd round pick Alex Verdugo

The center fielder passed up a scholarship to Arizona State to play professional baseball with the Dodgers.

Reid Compton-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers as expected have reportedly agreed to terms with their 2014 second-round draft pick, outfielder Alex Verdugo out of Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Arizona. Verdugo signed for the recommended slot bonus amount of $914,600, per Chris Cotillo of SB Nation.

Verdugo was a two-way player in high school but the Dodgers plan to use the No. 62 overall pick as a center fielder. He is passing up a scholarship to Arizona State.

"If he doesn't hit, he can go right on the mound like Kenley Jansen or Pedro Baez or those guys, and I think he's a big league pitcher," Dodgers VP of amateur scouting and draft head Logan White said on Thursday. "But I don't have any doubt this kid is going to go out and swing the bat well."

But forget inking a contract that nets a nearly seven-figure bonus, perhaps the most amazing thing about Verdugo is this tweet from a tennis Hall of Famer.

With Verdugo on board for slot money and fifth-round pick Jared Walker also signing for the allotted amount, the Dodgers for the moment are right on target with their allowed draft expenditures, without penalties:

Dodgers 2014 Draft Bonus Pool
Round Pick Name Pos Bonus Slot amount Overage
1 22 Grant Holmes RHP $1,980,500
2 62 Alex Verdugo OF $914,600 $914,600 $0
3 98 John Richy RHP $534,400
4 129 Jeff Brigham RHP $396,300
5 159 Jared Walker 3B $296,700 $296,700 $0
6 189 Brock Stewart RHP $222,200
7 219 Trevor Oaks RHP $166,600
8 249 Hunter Redman C $154,500
9 279 Matt Campbell RHP $144,300
10 309 Colin Hering OF $137,600
Bonuses over $100,000 (rounds 11-40) $0 $0 $0
Totals $1,211,300 $4,947,700 $0