The Dodgers have agreed to a $1.775MM bonus with 32nd overall pick Will Smith, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation tweets. That falls below the slot value of $1,940,700.
Los Angeles added this pick when Zack Greinke signed with the Diamondbacks after declining a qualifying offer. That provided an opportunity to add the Louisville catcher as well as to pad the organization’s bonus pool, with some savings to apply to other selections.
Smith rated as high as 59th on the pre-draft rankings of evaluators, with ESPN.com’s Keith Law giving him that placement. Smith delivers impeccable zone awareness and contact ability, but doesn’t wield a big stick. But he draws high grades for his work behind the dish and also has good wheels.
Others weren’t as impressed with that package, though. Baseball America ranked him 74th, with MLB.com dropping him out of the top 100 of its list at No. 110. Those outlets seem less wowed by Smith’s overall defensive package.
The Dodgers already locked up top pick Gavin Lux for pennies over his slot value, but went over the allocation for third-rounder Dustin May. Their top unsigned draft pick is Vandy right-hander Jordan Sheffield, who went 36th overall.
Hopefully his MLB career goes as well as his acting career.
Yes, well, I’m certain that his “impeccable zone awareness” combined with his work behind “the dish” and also his good “wheels” will help despite his lack of a “big stick”.
LoL.
The trifecta, plus a spare.
According to his link his pitching career isn’t too bad, at least this year for Milwaukee.