The Dodgers have agreed to terms with first-round draft pick Maddux Bruns, reports Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com (Twitter link). The high school southpaw will receive a $2.2MM signing bonus that lands a bit shy of the $2.4246MM slot value that accompanies the 29th overall pick. Bruns had been committed to Mississippi State University. He’ll forego an opportunity to join the reigning college national champions and instead sign on with the defending World Series winners.
Most public evaluators pegged Bruns as an early-mid second round talent, so it’s not a huge surprise he landed a bit underslot despite being part of a demographic (prep pitching) that often demands above-slot bonuses. Each of Baseball America, Keith Law of the Athletic, and Eric Longenhagen and Kevin Goldstein of FanGraphs placed Bruns between 45th and 60th on their pre-draft rankings.
The Alabama native has among the best raw stuff in the class, with a mid-high 90’s fastball and a high-spin power curveball. But his delivery has a bit of violence that concerns some evaluators, with his control less consistent than that of many of the class’s other top arms. Los Angeles will now get an opportunity to add a high-upside pitcher to the system while saving a bit of bonus pool space to distribute to their Day Two selections.
Hope they are saving enough to sign Peter Heubeck away from Wake Forest commit and Ben Harris away from Georgia.
Most of me assumes so. But then I think: Luke Hochevar, JT Ginn, Kyle Funkhouser. Lol.
Not signing Hochevar is one of the best draft moves the Dodgers franchise has ever done. And I’d take Michael Busch over Ginn all day
Everyone was going to miss on Hochevar. He was an amazing 3 inning starter…but dang did that second time around kill him. Turned into an excellent reliever for awhile. Not a horrible #1.
Hochevar was a complete bust, especially for a 1st round pick, and one signing the dodgers luckily were able to avoid. After he was drafted by the dodgers he and the Dodgers couldn’t agree on a signing bonus. He then left his agent, Scott Boras, and hired a new agent. He signed a $3 million bonus with his new agent. However after signing he changed his mind on the deal and tried to get more. He rehired Boras and again they couldn’t agree on a signing bonus with the Dodgers. He then sat out an entire year and reentered the draft. He then got drafted and signed by the Royals. For the royals he had a career ERA of 5 and a career losing record. Overall he was a below avg pitcher at best.
Hochevar episode was just plain ugly. But didn’t they waste the pick the next year on Mattingly?
Hochevar pushed everyone in 2006 draft down a spot and led the Dodgers to getting Kershaw
Perfect landing spot, just like Dustin may a few years back.