Chris Reed, Dodgers' #1 Draft Pick, Signed

Following last year's successful signing of Zach Lee, the Dodgers announced yesterday that they have signed #1 draft pick (and Stanford Cardinal!) Chris Reed:

Team officials are expected to announce later this morning that they have signed Stanford left-hander Chris Reed, a source confirmed.

Last year, many didn't give the Dodgers much of a shot at signing their No.1 pick, Zach Lee, because he had committed to LSU to play quarterback. At the eleventh hour, they signed Lee for a club record $5.25 million.

Of course, the team wasn't in bankruptcy then.

Still, there wasn't nearly the organizational angst over signing Reed, a former Reseda Cleveland High School star. The only potential hiccup was that he was represented by agent Scott Boras, who in 2005 represented Luke Hocheva, the last No.1 pick the Dodgers failed to sign.

ESPN L.A.'s Tony Jackson reported that Reed accepted a signing bonus of just under $1.6 million.

Reed is expected to be at Friday night's Dodgers game against the Astros. He will be assigned to Class A Rancho Cucamonga, a fairly high start, though it does keep him in California the next month.

The 6-foot-5 Reed was the 16th overall selection in the June draft. In his junior year at Stanford last season, he went 6-2 with nine saves and a 2.65 ERA. He was the Cardinal closer, and although he started only one game, the Dodgers initially plan to use him in the rotation.

I'll be at the game tonight so I hope to see Chris there!

More:

• Tony Jackson of ESPN reminds us that the Dodgers haven't failed to sign any top draft pick since 2005's Luke Hochevar (who went to the Royals and was also represented by Boras);
• Dodgers.com brings up the point that Reed might be better suited for the bullpen given his experience as a starter (small sample size);
• Stanford Athletics archive story on Reed getting drafted, with kind words by Dodgers Assistant GM Logan White on Reed's starter-ability (and 92-95 mph speed).