DRAFT UPDATE: WHAT TO DO WITH LONEY DODGERS' TOP PICK EQUALLY AT HOME AS PITCHER, AT FIRST.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

The Dodgers' history of blunders with their No. 1 draft picks has been equally dooming for pitchers and position players.

Their latest first-rounder, Missouri City, Texas, high schooler James Loney, can hit and pitch equally well. Now if only he can avoid the first- round-flop label attached to David Yocum (1995), Damian Rolls (1996), Glenn Davis (1997) and others. Rolls and Davis were infielders, Yocum a pitcher. None made it and the Dodgers have been embarrassed for failing miserably on draft day.

Loney will be considered by some a reach selection at No. 19 overall. Some projections had him going in the second round or later. First-year scouting director Logan White apparently disagreed.

``We've got pretty good sources that said the Astros would take him (at No. 29),'' White said Tuesday.

Another possible reason for grabbing Loney early is signability. He has a collegiate scholarship offer from Baylor. But he plans on negotiating a contract with his mother Ann and father Marion, a telltale sign he won't have a big-name agent getting in the way of the bargaining.

``I don't think I'm going to go to Baylor,'' Loney said Tuesday. ``I'll probably sign after the (Texas) state tournament, go to minor-league camp and begin working out.'' He might be the best two-way player available. Only the Dodgers have to decide on Loney as a pitcher or first baseman.

When vice president Tom Lasorda announced Loney as his pick, he specifically referred to him as a first baseman. But scouts have mentioned pitching as the strength of his game. The numbers he posted as an Elkins High senior (9-1, 106 strikeouts in 56 innings) back that claim. But the Dodgers are fascinated by a bat that produced eight homers, 56 RBI, a .509 batting average and .934 slugging percentage.

``You look at this guy's swing and there's no question he's a hitter,'' White said.

The Dodgers took high school players with their first five picks, including Phoenix two-sport star Michael Nixon. The catcher is mulling an offer to play football at UCLA. But the Dodgers are confident they can offer the money Nixon figures to command rather than go to school.

With their sixth selection, the Dodgers tabbed a JC second baseman who has local ties. Former Littlerock High slugger Delwyn Young was the 121st overall pick after starring for two seasons at Riverside and Santa Barbara City Colleges. Young, drafted by the Atlanta Braves each of the last two years, has committed to Cal State Fullerton.

The Angels' first-round pick was Virginia Tech pitcher Joe Saunders, a left-hander with several quality pitches.

As expected, the Pittsburgh Pirates picked Ball State pitcher Bryan Bullington with the draft's first overall pick.

Staff writer Brian Dohn contributed to this report