The Dodgers on Sunday agreed to terms with their 2014 fifth-round draft pick Jared Walker, a third baseman from McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, Walker revealed via Instagram and Twitter. Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reported that Walker signed for $296,700, the exact slot amount for the No. 159 overall pick in the draft.
Baseball America rated Walker the No. 339 prospect heading into the draft, saying his future as a professional might be in left field rather than third base. Of his bat, Baseball America's scouting report noted, "The lefthanded hitter has hitting instincts and a line-drive stroke with natural strength."
Walker was committed to play baseball at Kennesaw State in Georgia.
Pictured with Walker is Dodgers scout Lon Joyce.
Walker is the first known draft signing by the team, though Cotillo also reported Thursday that the Dodgers had an agreement second-rounder Alex Verdugo as well. Verdugo himself told Daniel Gaona of the Arizona Daily Star he would sign with the Dodgers, but we just don't know the bonus amount yet.
Here is a look at the Dodgers' bonus pool, which totals just under $5 million.
| 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 | ||
| 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 | $296,700 | $4,947,700 | $0 | |||
Anything over the total bonus pool is subject to an overage tax, and penalties start getting punitive once the total bonuses reach five percent over, which in the Dodgers' case would be $5,195,085, which is $247,385 over.