DODGERS NOTEBOOK: COVETED PITCHER IS TOP DRAFT PICK.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

Dodgers scouting director Logan White has coveted pitcher Luke Hochevar for years, as evidenced by the fact the club drafted Hochevar out of high school in the 39th round in 2002.

But after losing their first-round pick this year when they signed free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe, and with their sandwich pick not coming until 40th overall, White never imagined he would get another crack at Hochevar when the 2005 First-Year Player Draft began Tuesday.

Because at least in part to the fact Hochevar is being advised by notorious hardball agent Scott Boras, the player Baseball America ranked as the second-best pitcher in this year's draft was still available when the Dodgers made their first pick.

So, they pounced on the right-hander, now a junior at the University of Tennessee. The question is how quickly they can sign Hochevar and whether they can avoid a Jered Weaver-type standoff with Boras.

There are whispers that it will take a four-year, major-league contract to get Hochevar signed, but no one seemed willing or able to confirm that Tuesday.

``That certainly hasn't been told to us,'' said Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta, who will head the negotiations with Hochevar because of his established relationship with Boras.

Hochevar, who has a chance to break Texas Rangers pitcher R.A. Dickey's Tennessee school record if he can win his 16th game of the season in Friday's NCAA Super Regional opener at Georgia Tech, wouldn't commit one way or another.

``We really haven't gotten to the details on that yet,'' he said. ``(But) I want to start playing as soon as possible, and I want to get this thing done as soon as possible. But I'm really not thinking about it too much right now.''

Negotiations cannot fully begin until the Volunteers' season ends.

The Dodgers made 19 picks on the draft's first day, including three high-schoolers who are sons of former big leaguers: Second-rounder (51st overall) Ivan DeJesus Jr., like his father a shortstop; 13th-rounder Steven Johnson, a right-hander and the son of former Dodgers manager Davey; and 14th-rounder Scott Van Slyke, an outfielder like his father, Andy.

With their second second-round pick (74th), the Dodgers took right-hander Josh Wall, a high-schooler from Louisiana. They took Cal State Fullerton outfielder Sergio Pedroza in the third.

--Penny close: DePodesta, pitcher Brad Penny and Penny's agent, Greg Genske, all denied a published report that the pitcher has agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension. Nnevertheless, all indications are such a deal is imminent.

``I think we're still short on (an agreement),'' DePodesta said. ``There are some issues beyond length and dollars. I view it all as one big package, and we're not quite there.''

That would seem to indicate the sides have agreed on money and length, reportedly three years and an option year that could increase the value to $32 million. Genske, seated behind the backstop, met with Penny briefly before batting practice Tuesday and showed him something Genske had written on a yellow legal pad, another possible indication of a deal.

``We're still engaged in negotiations, with the end of those negotiations very, very near,'' Genske said. ``But I'm not saying what the results of those negotiations will be.''

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