Dodgers 2020 MLB Draft primer

The 2020 MLB Draft is here, with coverage beginning Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. PT. The Dodgers have the last pick of the first round, the 29th overall pick. The team says that pick is tentatively scheduled for 6:48 p.m., to give you an idea of the pace of the draft’s opening night.

We’ve been tracking mock drafts and passing along draft-related news for the last few months in preparation for this abbreviated draft, which was shortened from 40 to five rounds.

Here’s what you need to know heading into the Dodgers’ draft:

Dodgers picks

• 1st round (29th overall)
• 2nd round (60th)
• Competitive Balance Round B (66th)
• 3rd round (100th)
• 4th round (130th)
• 5th round (159th)

The Dodgers have six picks in this five-round draft, including a selection in Competitive Balance Round B (66th) overall, which is in between the second and third rounds. That pick was acquired on February 10 from the Twins in the trade that sent Kenta Maeda, minor league catcher Jair Camargo and cash to Minnesota in exchange for pitcher Brusdar Graterol and outfielder Luke Raley.

Those six picks give the Dodgers a signing bonus pool of $5,928,400, including a recommended slot value of $2,424,600 for their first-round pick. Unlike most draft years, that signing bonus pool can only be used on these picks. Signing bonuses for undrafted free agents are capped at $20,000 each.

The deadline to sign draft picks is August 1.

Mock drafts

The irony of the short draft in 2020 is that this year’s talent pool is so strong.

“It’s probably the deepest draft in the last five years, especially in the first round,” Dodgers vice president of amateur scouting Billy Gasparino said a few weeks ago. “The college pitching group and the high school hitting group are really strong.”

To Gasparino’s point, various national mock drafts have linked the Dodgers to six different college pitchers and two high school infielders, among others. Players projected to the Dodgers in multiple mock drafts include Miami right-hander Slade Cecconi, Illinois high school shortstop Ed Howard, Arizona high school infielder Carson Tucker, and the Mississippi State double play combination of Justin Foscue and Jordan Westburg.

Related news

We have all of our MLB Draft coverage in one place, including these stories:

• Dodgers preparing for shorter, yet deep draft
• Draft restrictions create challenge for scouts
• The folly of shortening the draft
• Looking for the next Jonathan Broxton or Charlie Hough

Television coverage

Two different networks will broadcast the draft: MLB and ESPN/ESPN2, with live streaming available on both MLB.com and Watch ESPN.

Wednesday’s coverage begins at 4 p.m. PT on MLB Network and ESPN, and includes the first 37 picks, including the first round and Competitive Balance Round A. Thursday starts at 2 p.m. on MLB Network and ESPN2, featuring the final 123 picks, Rounds 2-5.