Boras Part of Draft Package

The Dodgers couldn’t resist. With their first draft choice Tuesday they took a college pitcher who had fallen to the 40th overall pick for one simple yet compelling reason:

His agent is Scott Boras, known for protracted, hard-nosed negotiations.

Maybe when talks begin with Tennessee right-hander Luke Hochevar, the Dodgers can employ Bill Stoneman as a consultant. Stoneman, the Angel general manager, made his last offer to Boras client Jered Weaver in late February and didn’t budge from it. Weaver signed May 30, less than an hour before the Angels would have lost his rights, and for the $4-million signing bonus the team had offered three months earlier.

Hochevar, who will pitch in an NCAA super-regional this weekend, does not anticipate problems. He turned down a low offer when the Dodgers drafted him out of high school in the 39th round in 2002 and went to Tennessee. Now it’s time to begin his pro career.

“I’m really, really excited about going to such a great organization,” he said. “I’m fired up. My whole family is fired up.

“I’m ready to go out and get started.”

Hochevar, 15-2 with a 2.13 earned-run average, was projected to be among the first few players drafted. The Colorado Rockies, who had the No. 7 pick, were interested in the Fowler, Colo., native and spent hours Monday trying to come to terms with Boras.

That the Rockies and nearly every other team passed on a pitcher who was the staff ace for Team USA last summer and touches 94 mph with his fastball is telling. However, the Dodger front office is optimistic he can be signed this summer.

“Every situation is different,” scouting director Logan White said. “We certainly weren’t caught off-guard. I think he’s going to be a really good big league pitcher.”

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The name of the second player picked by the Dodgers has a familiar ring -- Ivan DeJesus. He’s the son of the former Dodger shortstop of the same name. This DeJesus is an 18-year-old switch-hitting middle infielder from the American Military Academy in Puerto Rico.

The Dodgers took three Southland players, drafting Cal State Fullerton outfielder Sergio Pedroza in the third round, Crenshaw High outfielder Trayvon Robinson in the 10th round and catcher George McDonald of Westchester High in the 16th round.

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Outfielder Jason Grabowski was brought back a week early from his rehabilitation assignment, but it had nothing to do with his five-for-five performance a few days ago at triple-A Las Vegas.

Grabowski will replace Ricky Ledee, who was placed on the disabled list because of a strained hamstring. Ledee is batting .279 in 129 at-bats, only 47 fewer than he had all last season. He has played more than expected because left fielder Jayson Werth was on the disabled list for almost two months.

“I never want to come out or go on the DL,” Ledee said. “But with a hamstring, I’m better off taking a few days off than risking a more serious injury.”

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The Dodgers have sold more than 3 million tickets this season, the fastest they have reached the mark since 1992. The team leads the National League in attendance with 1,445,626 fans in 32 home dates, an average of 45,176.