Dodgers Draft the Son of Ex-Player Luzinski

The Dodgers made catcher Ryan Luzinski of Holy Cross High in Delran, N.J., their first pick and 32nd selection overall in baseball’s amateur draft Monday.

Luzinski, the son of former major leaguer Greg Luzinski, was taken with a pick that the Dodgers were awarded for losing free agent Eddie Murray.

The Dodgers did not have a first-round pick for a second consecutive year because they signed free-agent pitcher Tom Candiotti last winter.

At 6 feet 2 and 220 pounds, Luzinski was projected as a first-round pick earlier this year but has experienced weight problems. He recently signed a letter of intent to play baseball at the University of Miami.

In other first-round selections:

In the 11th position, the Cubs took Pepperdine’s Derek Wallace, who was the fourth pitcher selected. Wallace was 2-2 with a 4.08 earned-run average and 47 strikeouts in 51 innings going into the College World Series.

Benji Grigsby of San Diego State was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 20th position, and former Culver City High standout Todd Steverson of Arizona State by the Toronto Blue Jays at No. 25.

The first local high school player, and first catcher, selected was Torrance High’s Jason Kendall, who was the 23rd pick, by Pittsburgh.

“I was shocked, but I was more excited than anything in getting drafted that high,” said Kendall, who signed to play baseball at San Diego State. “Now, it’s decision-making time for me.”

Only first-round selections were released to the public. The succeeding rounds, to be held through Wednesday, will be announced later this month.

Draft Notes

Jeffrey Hammonds, a Stanford outfielder whom many thought was the top available player, was taken by the Baltimore Orioles with the fourth pick. Hammonds hit .377 with six home runs, 33 RBIs and 30 steals for the Cardinal this season. . . . The 39th pick overall was shortstop Dave Landaker of Simi Valley Royal High, who was taken by Houston. First baseman Dan Melendez of Pepperdine was selected by the Dodgers as the 49th pick and catcher Bobby Hughes of USC was the 50th player selected, by Milwaukee.

The Colorado Rockies, making their first draft pick, took University of Florida right-hander John Burke, who was drafted by Houston last year but chose not to sign. Then the Florida Marlins took Miami catcher Charles Johnson.

Times staff writers Bill Plaschke and special correspondent Gary Klein contributed to this story.