Dodgers sign 6-foot-3 shortstop who 'consistently produces hard contact'

Billy Heyen

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Dodgers sign 6-foot-3 shortstop who 'consistently produces hard contact' image

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers have tons of MLB talent right now.

But that won't stop them from looking for the next big thing, either.

Their early reported international signing on Thursday, the day the int'l window opened, was a shortstop, 6-foot-3 Ezequiel Melbourne.

He's a 16-year old from the Dominican Republic. His signing bonus, according to MLB.com, is $747,500, a potential bargain for the guy they rank the No. 29 player in his class.

One of the most exciting aspects of Melbourne? He's a switch-hitter.

"Melbourne displays an equally proficient smooth swing from both the left-handed and right-handed side," says his MLB.com scouting report. "He displays great balance in his hips and upper body and focuses on line drives, which allows him to consistently produce hard contact. While he does occasionally get to some power during in-game action, he’s largely a selective hitter who rarely chases. Evaluators believe there should be even more extra-base pop in the tank as he continues to add weight to his lean-bodied frame."

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Melbourne is given 50 grades (on the 20-80 scale) for both his fielding and his arm.

"Those loose limbs work in Melbourne’s favor on the infield dirt as he features a quick first step," MLB.com writes. "He showcases smooth actions with the glove and is comfortable going to his back hand, all while following it up with a solid throwing arm. His long legs allow him to cover ground on the basepaths and he could tap into some genuine stolen-base prowess as he continues to hone that aspect of his game in the pro ranks."

Also, he's got a great name, Ezequiel Melbourne.

The Dodgers would love to see him reach his potential, and his pro baseball journey starts now.

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