Here’s a look at the latest noteworthy draft signings, with the newest moves at the top of the post. Click here for the full list of slot values and draft pool bonuses, and you can find prospect rankings and scouting reports from Baseball America’s Top 500, Fangraphs’ Top 200, MLB.com’s Top 200, and the Top 50 of ESPN.com’s Keith Law….
- Gunnar Henderson, the first pick of the second round (42nd overall), has decided to sign with the Orioles and will officially do so in a few days’ time, Maria Martin of WSFA 12 News reports (Twitter link). Contract terms aren’t known, though the 42nd overall pick has a recommended slot price of $1,771,100 and Baltimore’s offer might well have exceeded that number to get Henderson to break his commitment to Auburn. Henderson was ranked by MLB.com as the 27th-best prospect of the class, with BA (30th), Fangraphs (40th) and Keith Law (42nd) also giving high grades to the Alabama high schooler. Henderson is praised for his hitting potential and some scouts feel he can remain at shortstop, though there is some thought that a move to third base is inevitable.
Be swell to wake up tomorrow with a similar post about Adley signing
Well, Rutschman is in Baltimore right now so it’s likely you’re going to get your wish in the next couple of days.
Elias is beginning the slow build-out for the Orioles. Gunnar Henderson appears to be an important piece of it.
Great news! I’m ready for the international signing period. That’s going to be very interesting.
To give an idea of what that will look like in the future, I went to an Aberdeen Ironbirds (short season-A) game last week. We were playing the Astros’ affiliate. The Ironbirds had one player under the age of 20 (Jean Carmona, acquired in the Schoop/Villar deal). The Astros’ team had ELEVEN players under the age of 20, all signed out of DR, Cuba, or Venezuela. That is what I look forward to seeing in the next few years.