LOS ANGELES, CA—The Los Angeles Dodgers officially wrapped up their 2026 MLB Draft class on Monday, July 27th, signing 15 of their 16 selections before the league’s deadline.
The class is headlined by five right-handed pitchers, five left-handed pitchers, two outfielders, two infielders, and one catcher, with just one draft pick opting not to begin his professional career.
That lone exception was 18th-round selection Max Irving Jr., who recently completed his senior season at Montverde Academy in Florida. Rather than signing with Los Angeles, Irving will honor his commitment to the University of South Florida, where he’ll retain his eligibility for a future MLB Draft.
The biggest signing of the class came earlier this month when the Dodgers agreed to terms with Bo Lowrance, the prep shortstop selected with the No. 40 overall pick in the second round out of Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, South Carolina. Lowrance entered the draft as one of the organization’s highest-upside additions and headlines a class that leans heavily toward pitching.
Los Angeles also locked up fourth-round pick Russell Sandefer, the No. 132 overall selection out of the University of Florida. Sandefer was the Dodgers’ highest-drafted college player and top collegiate pitcher in this year’s class.
The remainder of the Dodgers’ signed draft class includes left-handed pitchers Charlie West (seventh round, Connecticut), Miles Gosztola (eighth round, Oregon), Cody New (11th round, Cal Baptist), Ryne Rodriguez (14th round, Houston), and Zach Bates (20th round, Illinois).
The club also signed right-handed pitchers Devin Bell (10th round, Oregon), Gavin Van Kempen (12th round, East Carolina), Ethan Sutton (16th round, South Florida), and Camden Wimbish (17th round, Campbell); center fielders Kyeler Thompson (ninth round, Texas Tech) and Luke Bard (19th round, Houston Christian); shortstop Caleb Johnson (13th round, Jacksonville State); and outfielder Aemed Nasser (15th round, Central Pointe Christian Academy).
Limited Bonus Pool Didn’t Slow Dodgers Down
Considering the circumstances, the Dodgers’ ability to sign 15 of their 16 selections is particularly noteworthy.
After exceeding the highest tier of the Competitive Balance Tax and forfeiting draft capital following the signings of Edwin Díaz and Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles entered the 2026 MLB Draft with the smallest bonus pool in baseball at just $3,951,900. Despite those financial limitations, the organization successfully signed every selection except Irving.
A club’s draft bonus pool is determined by adding the assigned slot values for each selection in the first 10 rounds. Any signing bonus exceeding $125,000 for players selected after the 10th round also counts against that pool, making financial flexibility a key part of every team’s draft strategy.
Dodgers Add Seven Undrafted Free Agents
The Dodgers continued adding talent after the draft concluded, agreeing to terms with seven undrafted free agents to strengthen their farm system further.
The group includes left-handed pitchers Elijah Coston (Florida Southwestern State), Ian May (UCLA), and Alex Walsh (Jacksonville University); right-handed pitchers Wyatt Halvorson (Arizona State), Jack Giordano (Oregon State), and Brad Pendley (Georgia Southern); along with shortstop Elijah Ickes from the University of Hawaiʻi.
While none of the players heard their names called during the draft, the Dodgers have built a reputation for uncovering overlooked talent through the undrafted free agent market, making these additions worth monitoring as they begin their professional careers.
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Cody Snavely has been the co-editor of DodgersBeat and full-time host of the Bleed Los Podcast since February 2023. He has also written for multiple websites, such as Dodgers Way, Dodgers Low-Down, and Dodgers Tailgate. A Wilmington University graduate, Snavely is an avid Dodgers fan who uses his advanced baseball knowledge to keep fans updated on the latest storylines, rumors, and opinions on Dodgers baseball.
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