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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.
Congrats to @Dodgers 2nd round @MLB draft pick Alex Verdugo !!! "Plan your work..work your plan." - #GilReyes
— Andre Agassi (@AndreAgassi) June 10, 2014
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 |