True Blue LA - A.J. Vanegas, Dodgers 2014 11th round draft pickWhere The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2014-06-24T15:30:05-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/56035172014-06-24T15:30:05-07:002014-06-24T15:30:05-07:00Dodgers sign 11th-rounder A.J. Vanegas
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<figcaption>Melina Vastola-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers have signed 30 of 40 picks, including each of their top 11 selections. In addition, the team signed free agent right-handed pitcher Vaughn Hayward out of Bryant University.</p> <p>DoLOS ANGELES -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> on Tuesday confirmed the signings of a pair of 2014 draft picks, most notably their 11th-round selection, right-handed pitcher A.J. Vanegas out of Stanford.</p>
<p>In addition, the Dodgers signed <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/mlb-draft/2014/6/9/5793912/billy-bereszniewicz-dodgers-mlb-draft-2014">28th-round outfielder Billy Beresniewicz out of Binghamton</a>, which happened days ago since Bereszniewicz has already played three games for the rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers, going 2-for-7 with a double and a walk through Monday night with one stolen base in two attempts.</p>
<p>The Dodgers have signed 30 of their 40 draft picks, including each of the top 11. The team officially confirmed 28 signings, waiting to finalize eighth-round catcher Hunter Redman, who <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/22/5833596/hunter-redman-contract-dodgers-mlb-draft">agreed to terms on Sunday</a>, and 25th-round outfielder Matt Jones, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/mlb-draft/2014/6/9/5792658/mlb-draft-2014-matt-jones-dodgers">the Hutchinson Community College (Kansas) hit by pitch specialist</a> (40 in 241 plate appearances in 2014).</p>
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<p>Happy to say I'll be signing with the Dodgers organization this week, I'm still chasing that dream <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blessed?src=hash">#blessed</a></p>
— Matt Jones (@who_mattjones_) <a href="https://twitter.com/who_mattjones_/statuses/481207512213901313">June 23, 2014</a>
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<p>Vanegas had an injury-plagued time at Stanford, but rebounded as a closer during his senior campaign, saving seven games with a 2.33 ERA in 18 games, with 28 strikeouts and 14 walks in 38⅔ innings.</p>
<div class="read-more">
<b>More 2014 draft</b>: <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/mlb-draft/2014/6/6/5785226/dodgers-mlb-draft-2014-tracker-results" target="new">Every Dodgers pick, 1-40</a> <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/7/5789030/aj-vanegas-dodgers-mlb-draft-2014" target="new">Vanegas profile</a> <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/mlb-draft/2014/6/9/5793912/billy-bereszniewicz-dodgers-mlb-draft-2014" target="new">Beresniewicz profile</a>
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<p>The <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/7/5789030/aj-vanegas-dodgers-mlb-draft-2014">MLB.com scouting report of Vanegas</a> read, "If Vanegas' injury concerns are behind him, he could be a quick-to-MLB short reliever, something always in high demand, especially in the form of a senior sign."</p>
<p>Vanegas, who turns 22 in August, received a $100,000 bonus <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/jimcallisMLB/status/481128135807991809">per Jim Callis of MLB.com</a>, the maximum allowable without any overage counting toward the team's draft bonus pool.</p>
<p>Vanegas will start with rookie-level Ogden in the Pioneer League.</p>
<h5>Free agent Hayward signs</h5>
<p>The Dodgers also signed undrafted free agent right-handed pitcher Vaughn Hayward out of Bryant University. The 23-year-old redshirt senior was 9-2 with a save and a 2.41 ERA in 15 games in 2014, including 13 starts, with 47 strikeouts and 23 walks in 71 innings. The Rhode Island native began his collegiate career at Holy Cross, before transferring to Bryant after two years.</p>
<p>He negotiated his own contract with the Dodgers, per <a target="_blank" href="http://woonsocketcall.com/node/11504">Brendan McGair of the Pawtucket Times</a>.</p>
<p>"I’m getting paid to play baseball. That’s awesome and the best thing I could ever ask for," Hayward told Mcgair. "I’ve never been to Arizona, but I like it so far. It’s hot, but it’s good for pitching. Better than freezing in the Northeast."</p>
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<p>The 6,2, 195-pound Hayward will start with the rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/24/5839412/2014-mlb-draft-dodgers-aj-vanegas-billy-bereszniewicz-vaughn-haywardEric Stephen2014-06-07T10:53:55-07:002014-06-07T10:53:55-07:00Dodgers pick Stanford RHP A.J. Vanegas in 11th rd
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<figcaption>Melina Vastola-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The projected reliever was 3-3 with seven saves and a 2.33 ERA in 18 games as a senior with Stanford.</p> <p>NEW YORK, NY -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> with their first pick on Saturday, the third and final day of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">2014 MLB Draft</a>, selected right-handed reliever A.J. Vanegas from Stanford in the 11th round, pick No. 339 overall.</p>
<p>Vanegas was 3-3 with seven saves and a 2.33 ERA in 18 games during his senior season with the Cardinal, with 28 strikeouts and 14 walks in 38⅔ innings. The right-hander was <a href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft-preview/" target="_blank">ranked as the 114th-best prospect in the draft by Baseball America</a>, but Vanegas was slowed by injuries in college, including surgery for a herniated disk in his back during his junior season in 2013.</p>
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<b>More</b>: <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/mlb-draft/2014/6/6/5785226/dodgers-mlb-draft-2014-tracker-results" target="new">Dodgers 2014 draft tracker</a>
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<p>"Approaching the draft Vanegas looked healthy and showed the two plus pitches scouts have loved since high school: a fastball that reaches 97 mph and a power breaking ball, which at times is a true slider and at others is more of a cutter," the Baseball America scouting report said. "He has some feel for pitching from his work as a starter, but he hasn’t been as consistent with his breaking ball this season. Vanegas’ 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame and plus stuff once tempted scouts with <span>Brandon Morrow</span> comparisons, but he’s purely a reliever now."</p>
<p><span class="commentsspan">"He's rebounded as the Cardinal's closer, showing a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and a slider that shows flashes of being a biting strikeout pitch. He's almost certainly destined for a bullpen, with his overall command and two-pitch repertoire well-suited for late-inning work," </span><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2014/drafttracker.jsp#ft=team&fv=lan" target="_blank">said his MLB.com scouting report</a><span class="commentsspan">. "If Vanegas' injury concerns are behind him, he could be a quick-to-MLB short reliever, something always in high demand, especially in the form of a senior sign.</span>"</p>
<p>This is the third time Vanegas has been drafted. He was picked out of high school in the seventh round in 2010 by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>, but he turned down a reported near $2 million bonus to go to Stanford, <a href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft-preview/" target="_blank">per Baseball America</a>. Vanegas was also drafted in 2013 in the 19th round by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> but he did not sign after an injury-plagued season.</p>
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<p>Any picks after the 10th round don't count toward the bonus pool unless the signing bonus is over $100,000. Given that Baseball America projected Vanegas might be a third rounder as "a budget pick" (i.e. less than the $534,400 slot amount for that pick), Vanegas could see a bonus north of $100,000.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/7/5789030/aj-vanegas-dodgers-mlb-draft-2014Eric Stephen