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Fourth-round pick Russell Sandefer has agreed to an under-slot deal with the Dodgers, per Nick Marcinko of GatorCountry as reported by DodgerBlue. The right-handed pitcher was selected with the No. 132 overall pick on Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft and becomes one of the first members of this draft class to finalize his agreement with the organization.

Sandefer comes to the Dodgers out of the University of Florida, where he established himself as a reliable arm in one of college baseball’s most competitive conferences. The SEC pipeline has been good to the Dodgers over the years, and Sandefer fits the profile of a polished college arm who could move through the minor league system with some pace. An under-slot deal is notable here — it suggests either Sandefer was eager to get into pro ball quickly or the Dodgers negotiated themselves some savings that could be redirected toward harder-to-sign picks later in the draft. That’s a common strategy for front offices working the draft pool, and Andrew Friedman’s group has been as savvy as anyone at maximizing their bonus pool dollars.

The Dodgers selected 16 players total in this year’s draft — 10 pitchers and six position players — so Sandefer is part of a pitching-heavy haul. Getting the fourth-rounder signed early is a good sign for the organization’s ability to lock down the rest of the class without complications. Under-slot deals in the middle rounds are the kind of quiet, efficient moves that add up over time, freeing up money to potentially go over slot on a high-upside prep arm or a tough sign later in the draft.

For us, the draft class is one piece of the long-term puzzle. The Dodgers are obviously in win-now mode — that much is clear from the roster — but restocking the farm system matters, especially with how aggressively this front office has traded prospects in recent years to acquire major league talent. Sandefer probably isn’t going to be on anyone’s top-100 prospect lists right away, but college right-handers with SEC pedigrees who sign quickly and get into instructs on time have a way of quietly climbing organizational rankings. I like the efficiency of this move. Get the deal done, get him throwing, and let the development staff go to work.

Source(s): Staff (DodgerBlue) | First reported: July 20, 2026 5:24 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers