Dodgers Sign Top Draft Pick

Vanderbilt first baseman Glenn Davis, the Dodgers’ first-round pick in the amateur draft, took batting practice after signing a contract before Wednesday night’s game against the Angels.

“He’s got a good short swing and that is a good starting point because it says he’s going to make contact, and as long as he can make contact he can learn to do the other things, hit for average and hit for power,” hitting coach Reggie Smith said. “You never like to go all out and say how good someone’s swing is until you see them in competition. I’ve seen a lot of good swings in batting practice. I want to give him a chance to go out and show what he can do.”

Davis, a 6-1, 195-pound junior, who batted .319 with 18 home runs and 64 RBIs last season, will report to the Dodgers’ San Bernardino farm club today.

“This is a dream come true,” Davis said. “I used to watch the Dodgers on TV. [Dodger Stadium] is as nice as it looks on TV, believe me. I think it will take me about three years [to reach the majors].”

Manager Bill Russell was impressed with Davis.

“He’s got a quick bat,” Russell said. “You like to see that in a hitter. Just the few things that I saw, I liked what I saw. You can see why the scouts really liked him.”

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Executive Vice President Fred Claire said he was pleased with the interleague series against the Angels.

“I liked it, I thought it was exciting,” Claire said. “I thought it was definitely better than an exhibition game because they put up a mark in the standings and they don’t do that in an exhibition game.”

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Infielder Juan Castro, who sprained his right knee sliding into third base on June 5, took infield practice before the game. Castro is eligible to come off the disabled list Friday.

ON DECK

* Opponent--San Francisco Giants, four games.

* Site--3Com Park, San Francisco.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Channel 5 tonight and Friday. Channel 11 Saturday. ESPN Sunday.

* Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 34-35, Giants 40-29.

* Record vs. Giants--1-1.

DODGERS’ PEDRO ASTACIO (3-5, 3.64 ERA) vs. GIANTS’ SHAWN ESTES (8.2, 2.99 ERA)

* Update--The Dodgers, who played six consecutive interleague games, play their next 11 games against National League West teams. After the four-game series against the Giants, the Dodgers play three games against the Colorado Rockies and four against the San Diego Padres next week at Dodger Stadium. Astacio has lost five consecutive decisions, giving up 24 runs in 44 innings (4.91 ERA). Mike Piazza extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single in the fourth inning Wednesday night.

* Friday, 7:30 p.m.--Ismael Valdes (3-8, 3.27) vs. undecided.

* Saturday, 1 p.m.--Ramon Martinez (6-3, 3.42) vs. William VanLandingham (4-4, 4.19).

* Sunday, 5 p.m.--Chan Ho Park (5-3, 3.11) vs. Kirk Rueter (3-2, 3.59).