The Los Angeles Dodgers went into the 2020 MLB Draft with six overall selections, including three within the first 66 picks. They selected Bobby Miller in the first round, another right-hander in Landon Knack at the end of the second round, and with the No. 66 overall pick drafted Clayton Beeter from Texas Tech in Competitive Balance Round B.
Beeter had 33 strikeouts and four walks as a starter, but also served as a relief pitcher for he Red Raiders. He underwent Tommy John surgery in December 2017.
The Dodgers received that selection as part of the February trade that sent Kenta Maeda and Jair Camargo to the Minnesota Twins. The pick carries a $1,003,300 slot value.
Heading into this year’s Draft, Dodgers vice president of amateur scouting Billy Gasparino noted the impressive crop of college pitchers and high school position players. Though, Gasparino wondered how the Draft being dramatically reduced from 40 to five rounds would impact matters.
He said Wednesday night the first round largely went according to what the Dodgers anticipated. After all the selections are made Thursday, the next bit of intrigue will come with undrafted players.
Organizations are free to sign as many of those players as they please, with each able to receive a maximum $20,000. However, teams are not permitted to take money from their bonus pool to sign undrafted free agents.
“It’s really eliminated a lot of the creativity. It really has,” Gasparino said. “It’s going to be challenge. It’s just those six picks and if you don’t spend the money, it doesn’t get spent.”
The Dodgers’ bonus pool for their six picks made throughout the course of the five-round Draft is $5,928,400.
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