Rays To Sign Third-Rounder Burke For $900K

The Rays and third-round selection Brock Burke have agreed to terms on a $900K signing bonus, reports MLB.com’s Jim Callis (on Twitter). That’s more than $355K north of the No. 96 overall selection’s slot value. A high school left-hander out of Colorado, Burke had been committed to Oregon. He is represented by agent Paul Cobbe of Sosnick/Cobbe Sports.

Burke didn’t rank among MLB.com’s Top 200, Keith Law’s Top 100 or even Baseball America’s Top 500. However, Law noted in his recap of AL teams’ drafts (subscription required and recommended) that Burke is “very projectable” and features an 86-91 mph fastball with sink. Law adds that Burke’s changeup and curve both need work, and he doesn’t use his lower half enough. BA does have a scouting report on Burke, noting that the 6’3″, 185-pound southpaw offers projection and has touched 92 mph but struggles with command, as evidenced by the seven walks per nine innings he averaged this spring.

BA also says that his breaking ball has depth and projects as average or better, and it’s worth noting that Burke struck out an incredible 19 hitters in a late April game this season (as written by Justin Groom of Colorado’s 9News.com). MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo noted at the time of the selection that Burke has continually improved his velocity and may have more velocity on the horizon, as he doesn’t get to throw as many innings as prep arms from warmer climates (video link).