BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Luzinski Happy to Be Picked by L.A.

Despite warnings from other scouting directors that he will be difficult to sign, Ryan Luzinski said Wednesday that he is “ecstatic” about being selected by the Dodgers as their first pick in Monday’s draft.

“Things could not have worked out better for me,” said Luzinski, a power-hitting catcher from Holy Cross High in Delran, N.J. “At first I was down about not going in the first round, but everything turned out perfect. You could not pick a better club or organization to join.”

Luzinski, son of former major leaguer Greg Luzinski, said he hopes to be signed when he visits Dodger Stadium with his father this weekend.

“I am flying out there to work out, and I would think they are bringing me out there to sign me,” Luzinski said. “I think they want to get this done as soon as possible. So do I.”

Luzinski said he wants to get his professional career started as soon as possible while giving the University of Miami, where he has accepted a scholarship, a chance to replace him.

“If I am going to play pro ball, I want to play, and not sit around all summer,” he said. “If we can come to terms, I want to sign right now.”

Luzinski, who is 6 feet 2, 220 pounds, was the 32nd overall selection.

The Dodgers can probably sign him for about a $250,000 bonus. When a scout from another team phoned him on draft day and asked if he would sign for $200,000, Luzinski told him no.

Fred Claire, Dodger vice president, said the Dodgers will not change their low-key style of negotiations.

“Do we absolutely have to (sign Luzinski)? No,” Claire said. “We are not going to be pressed into doing anything. But I don’t think any organization does a better job of dealing with players than we do.”

Jim Gott has quietly become the pitcher the Dodgers hoped to see when they signed him in the winter of 1989. He has allowed an earned run in only two of his last nine appearances covering 15 innings, including a season-high four scoreless innings in a victory in Pittsburgh Monday. “It’s crazy how this game works,” said Gott, who had a career-high 34 saves for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1989. “You look at the Pittsburgh bullpen now, and people say they are kind of hurting. But they have good pitchers over there, just like the ones in our bullpen. I’m just glad I feel so good.” . . . The Pirates’ Barry Bonds, who has stolen three bases in two games with Tom Candiotti pitching, said he will keep running against the knuckleballer. “I am going to keep running no matter what, because the catcher is always going to have to wait on the knuckleball,” he said.