12:24pm: Groshans will receive $3.4MM, per MLB.com’s Jim Callis (on Twitter), leaving just over $800K of the extra pool space needed to fit Kloffenstein. The latter’s precise bonus amount is $2.45MM, Callis adds on Twitter.
10:50am: The Blue Jays have reportedly agreed to terms with top draft choice Jordan Groshans and third-rounder Adam Kloffenstein. The duo is expected to command a major portion of the team’s overall draft pool.
Stefan Stevenson of the Star-Telegram reported Kloffenstein’s agreement to a bonus in the $2.5MM range, though the exact number is not yet known. Meanwhile, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reported that the team had sorted bonus values out on draft night with both players. It’s still unknown just what Groshans will sign for, but Jon Heyman of Fan Rag tweets that there is now a deal in place with the first-rounder.
Making this pair of additions work was clearly the key to the Toronto draft strategy. Groshans was taken with the 12th overall pick, which comes with a $4,200,900 allocation. Kloffenstein went 88th, at a $652,900 slot, meaning the team needed to set aside close to $2MM of pool availability from other picks in order to sort the money out.
Groshans, a Kansas commit who plays on the left side of the infield, topped out at 28th in pre-draft rankings. Fangraphs put him there, but was the only outlet to tab him as among the top thirty players eligible for selection. Groshans is said to have interesting power upside and an “electric” overall set of tools, but also still a few things to iron out as a pro.
As for Kloffenstein, he’s a righty who had been committed to play his college ball at TCU. As Davidi details in his story, Kloffenstein had an interesting draft experience amidst uncertainty as to whether any team would meet his bonus request. In the end, he’ll take a deal to join the same organization as his neighbor and friend. Kloffenstein’s highest grade came from Baseball America, which cited the big-framed hurler’s recent strides and remaining projectability.
Awesome. Now ink Conine.
not sure I see it if they go 2 million over for a 3rd round pick
They likely went under on Groshens though. They should have the money if he wants to sign.
You don’t draft those players unless you’re supremely confident they’ll sign for numbers you’ve already agreed on. Too much risk otherwise.
Could someone explain to me why the current system is better than have a hard slot system. Other than not getting the higher level kids like Murray that Oakland drafted I can’t see other drawbacks. I’d rather see teams draft more on talent and have the top kids drafted higher instead of drop because of signing issues.
Seems to me a lot of teams take lesser talents in the first to add fringe 1st round picks in the 3rd round and sign him for 1st round money.
Adam Kloffenstein
17 years old. Look at the video of this kid.
Phillies could have picked him if they had not signed Carlos Santana. Not that they would have, the Phillies like college pitchers with an 89 MPH fastball. Adam Kloffenstein throws too hard.
I’m really happy about that pick. Being able to sign him away from college was great.
I kind of like the Jays strategy here. Get 3 early 2nd round type picks instead of a typical 1/2/3 rd ranked player. Bodes well for future depth.
I mostly appreciate that their risk tolerance was higher this draft. Taking multiple high level prep players early is not something this regime has done so far.
Article doesn’t explicitly state that they were high school teammates. Probably a bit of an oversight. Appreciate all these signing round up posts though