The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed first-round draft pick Jesmuel Valentin, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. Hernandez also adds the Dodgers have signed fifth-round selection Thomas Stripling and eleventh-round selection Jeremy Rathjen. Terms of the deals haven't been disclosed.
Jesmuel Valentin, son of Jose Valentin, is an 18-year-old prospect of Puerto Rico. Like the first-overall draft pick Carlos Correa, Valentin is of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and also played shortstop. Before signing with the Dodgers, he was on his way to LSU tweets Keith Law of ESPN. He (along with his bat) also could have used the three years of college development, Law later tweeted.
The Dodgers selected Valentin with a compensation pick received once the Pirates signed catcher Rod Barajas. Los Angeles will now look to sign Corey Seager, brother of Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager, who they took with the 18th overall draft pick.