2020 MLB Draft: Dodgers sign fourth-round pick Carson Taylor

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed another 2020 MLB Draft pick.

As Major League Baseball confronts a pandemic that is making another spike around several cities in the country, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to conduct business off the field in securing their fourth-round pick Carson Taylor to a new contract, according to Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline.

Following the trend set in signing their first- and fifth-round picks, the Dodgers were able to sign Taylor below his pick’s slot value ($434,300). He signed for $400,000.

A catcher from Virginia Tech, Taylor was the 130th overall selection in the 2020 MLB Draft. He was off to a torrid start in his sophomore campaign before the season was shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Playing in 16 games, he batted .431/.541/.690 with two home runs.

The Dodgers continue to sign draft picks below their slot value.

The Dodgers signed their first round pick Bobby Miller for $2.2 million ($2.4 million slot value) and their fifth-round pick Gavin Stone for $100,000 ($327,200 slog value) last week. They were also able to recruit undrafted free agent Robbie Peto from Stetson University, despite their limited $20,000 resources based on MLB’s special draft bonus arrangements for this season.

Taylor was a third team Collegiate Baseball All-American this past season. He was also included on the 2020 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Watch List. Standing 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, the switch-hitting backstop could prove to be an excellent value addition for Los Angeles.

With Taylor, Miller, and Stone signed, that leaves three players from the draft who still need to agree to professional contracts. The Dodgers have a total bonus amount of $5.9 million to spend this season. They have approximately $3.2 million remaining to secure right-hander Landon Knack, right-hander Clayton Beeter, and local outfielder Jake Vogel. The team is also looking to sign additional undrafted players.