Nats sign both prep draft picks, with Dickerson agreeing to record bonus

The Nationals introduced two more draft signings this morning after announcing two of their top four picks last week in Seaver King and Kevin Bazzell and their second pick in Caleb Lomavita yesterday. And the two were the Nats’ only selections out of high school in this year’s draft.

Second-round pick Luke Dickerson out of Morris Knolls High School in New Jersey and 15th-round pick Sir Jamison Jones out of St. Rita High School in Illinois both officially signed their first professional contracts with the Nationals.

“It's been an honor getting drafted and everything,” Dickerson said during an introductory press conference with both draft picks. “Just being able to celebrate those times with my family and everything. And just getting to work, I'm super excited.”

“First off, I just want to thank God for putting me in this situation,” Jones said. “I've been extremely happy over the past couple of weeks and just glad that I'm here and I can show what I have. I'm ready to get the work and just start on a long career hopefully, Lord willing.”

Dickerson, a shortstop with a commitment to play at the University of Virginia, signed for $3.8 million, which is a record number for a non-first-rounder since Major League Baseball’s Draft pool system began, per a source familiar with the terms. That is more than $1.5 million more than the $2.122 million slot value for the 44th overall pick.

“Just a lot of talks with my family. What's right for us and for me going forward in my career,” Dickerson said of his decision to forgo his offer at UVA. “If I get the right opportunity and I'm going for it, then I'm excited. I'm ready to start going.”

Jones’ signing bonus is reportedly $500,000, which is way more than the $150,000 assigned to picks taken after the 10th round ($350,000 of his bonus will count against the Nationals’ $13,895,100 bonus pool) to sign him away from his commitment to play at Oklahoma State University.

“I had this conversation with my mother a lot throughout this whole process,” Jones said. “I would always tell her, my dream wasn't necessarily to be a college baseball player, it was to be a professional baseball player. And with the right opportunity, I'm gonna start my professional career and hopefully start moving up the ranks as soon as possible. So that definitely played a lot into it. But all love for Oklahoma State. They showed me amazing love. That's a great place and I definitely will be back soon.”

MLB Pipeline was first with Jones' signing bonus figure.

Both prep prospects have long ways to go before they play games at Nationals Park, where they watched the Nats play the Padres last night. But they are both already confident in what they can bring to the organization.

“Just bringing a lot of fight, a lot of grit,” Dickerson said. “Being a great teammate. Just bring a lot of passion. And being the best player and person you can be for the program and the teammates in the locker room.”

“Especially what he said on the locker room,” Jones said. “That's one big thing that I was taught coming up is to be a great guy, no matter if you're in the lineup or you're not in the lineup. That's something that I definitely want to embody through my years while I'm here, being a great teammate and helping keep the guys up in the clubhouse no matter what it may be.”

The Nationals have now signed 19 of their 21 picks in the 2024 MLB Draft. The only two left to sign are 14th-rounder Yoel Tejeda Jr., a right-hander from Florida State University, and 20th-rounder Colby Shelton, a third baseman from the University of Florida.

The deadline to sign drafted players is Aug. 1 at 5 p.m.