Dodgers Sign Outfielder Luke McKenzie to Minor League Contract
The Dodgers have agreed to terms with outfielder Luke McKenzie, a JuCo product from Jones College in Mississippi. He somehow went undrafted this season and accepted a $125,000 bonus from the Dodgers.
Here is a video of one of his home runs. Wow.
The Dodgers have signed JuCo OF Luke McKenzie to a minor league deal with a $125k bonus as an undrafted free agent. McKenzie is 6'2'', 206 lbs., and attended Jones College in Mississippi. Here's a look at one of his homers: pic.twitter.com/XDdOnQZADp
— Future Dodgers (@FutureDodgers) August 4, 2019
In 2018, McKenzie picked up just 32 plate appearances in JuCo, crushing two home runs for a .765 OPS. He possesses tremendous raw power and also showed a little bit on the mound in 2018, throwing 5 1/3 innings and allowing three earned runs for Jones College.
McKenzie just graduated from Columbia Academy (MS) in 2017. In his junior and senior years combined, the 20-year-old put together an insane slash line of .400/.504/.800 with 17 home runs in 66 games.
The left-handed hitting outfielder should begin his career down at Camelback Ranch to get acclimated to professional ball, and should progress through the system at a fairly average rate considering his age.
The Dodgers’ organization obviously believes in the talent of Luke McKenzie, proven by the lofty $125,000 signing bonus he was handed, a very large sum of cash for an undrafted free agent. That bonus is larger than what eight of the Dodgers’ 2019 draft class received for their signing bonuses.
Welcome to the Dodgers, Mr. McKenzie!
Dodgers second signing this year of an un-drafted player. Catcher Chase Barbary from Newberry College was the other. Barbary’s father (Travis) is the manager of Dodgers AAA team in Oklahoma City.