We’ve already lined a couple of vital draft bonuses this night. A couple of extra $2MM+ signings from Monday:
- The Phillies are signing second-rounder Griffin Burkholder for $2.5MM, stories Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline (X hyperlink). Philadelphia needed to go properly past the approximate $1.35MM slot worth related to the 63rd general choose to signal him away from a dedication to West Virginia. Burkholder is a righty-hitting outfielder out of a Virginia highschool. Pre-draft scouting stories at Baseball America (the place he ranked #50 within the class) and from Keith Regulation of the Athletic (who ranked him 71st) credit score Burkholder with wonderful velocity and the potential for plus uncooked energy at his peak. The query is whether or not he’ll develop an satisfactory hit software in professional ball. He’s a developmental flier for the Phils.
- Royals second-round choose David Shields landed a $2.3MM bonus, Callis stories (on X). That’s according to the forty first general choose’s $2.28MM slot worth. Shields is a 6’2″ left-handed pitcher from a Pennsylvania highschool who had been dedicated to Miami. One of many youthful pitchers within the class, Shields is a projection arm with good athleticism and low-90s velocity at current. Regulation ranked him forty third on his pre-draft checklist, crediting the southpaw with good curveball really feel and a unfastened arm motion.
- The Rockies agreed to a $2MM bonus with forty second general choose Jared Thomas, stories Carlos Collazo of Baseball America (X hyperlink). That’s slightly below slot, which was round $2.22MM. Thomas is a lefty-hitting outfielder from the College of Texas. He hit .349/.435/.635 with 16 homers and 18 steals as a draft-eligible sophomore. Thomas cut up most of his defensive work in Austin between first base and heart area, although he’ll probably get a shot on the latter place in professional ball. FanGraphs and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel every had him as a high 50 participant within the class. Thomas attracts reward for his strong energy and athleticism, though BA’s scouting report raises questions on his propensity to chase pitches off the plate. Thomas struck out in 20.6% of his plate appearances throughout his draft 12 months. Whereas that’s a bit higher than the MLB common, it’s prone to rise in professional ball.
