The Los Angeles Dodgers signed 12 selections from the 2017 MLB Draft prior to Friday’s deadline, including first-round pick Jeren Kendall (23rd overall), second-round pick Morgan Cooper (62), third-round selection Connor Wong (100) and fourth-round pick James Marinan (130).
Shortstop Jacob Amaya (11th round; 340th overall pick), right-handed pitcher Andre Jackson (12; 370), right-hander Evy Ruibal (16; 490), right-hander Nathan Witt (17; 520), right-hander Max Gamboa (19; 580), outfielder Donovan Casey (20; 610), right-hander Mark Washington (25; 760) ad shortstop Jeremy Arocho (27; 820) were also signed.
Unsigned were center fielder Josh Mclain (14th round; 430th overall pick), shortstop Joshua Rivera (21; 640), second baseman Deacon Liput (29; 880), outfielder Hunter Mercado-Hood (31; 940), outfielder Preston White (38; 1,150), catcher Logan White (29; 1,180) and left-hander Clayton Andrews (40, 1,210).
The Dodgers did not announce signing bonus figures, though Kendall reportedly agreed to terms for more than his $2,702,700 slot value (23rd overall pick), per Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball:
Dodgers have a deal with Kendall, OF from vandy. $2.9M.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 7, 2017
The Dodgers signed Cooper for under slot value ($1,018,200), but went over slot to ink Wong and Amaya, per Jim Callis of MLB.com:
2nd-rder Morgan Cooper signs w/@Dodgers for $870k. @MLBDraft
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 7, 2017
3rd-rder Connor Wong signs w/@Dodgers for $550k (pick 100=$537,100). Houston C, athletic & versatile, close to avg across board. @MLBDraft
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 7, 2017
One more … 11th rd, Jacob Amaya, @Dodgers, $247,500. We should have all the bonuses loaded in our tracker in next day or so! @MLBDraft
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 8, 2017
The Dodgers had $5,517,800 in bonus pool money to sign their 2017 MLB Draft picks made within the first 10 rounds. The total dollars applied to picks made in rounds 11 or later who signed for more than $125,00, which is where Amaya factors in.
With reports of previous signing bonuses, it can be determined the Dodgers exceeded their bonus pool allotment. So long as the club did not go five percent over, they faced only a tax penalty and not forfeiture of future draft picks.
In total, the Dodgers signed 33 of their 40 picks from the 2017 Draft.
