The Reds have agreed to terms with first-rounder Nick Lodolo, per Jim Callis of MLB.com (Twitter link). He’ll receive the full $5,432,200 that accompanies his No. 7 overall slot.
Lodolo is a 6’6″, 202-pound lefty out of Texas Christian University who was a consensus Top 10 prospect headed into the 2019 draft. He posted dominant numbers this year, logging a 2.48 ERA with 11.5 K/9 against 1.5 BB/9 in a total of 15 starts and 98 innings. Fangraphs ranked him as the draft’s No. 7 prospect, while he ranked eighth at both Baseball America and MLB.com as well as 10th at ESPN.com.
Lodolo adds a polished, high-end pitching prospect to a Reds system at a time in which the organization has been looking to emerge from an ongoing rebuilding process. Baseball America called him a “high-probability Major Leaguer” that has above-average control and the potential for three plus pitches (fastball, slider, changeup), although each is considered to be more of an average offering at the moment. ESPN’s Keith Law gives him credit for “at least midrotation upside,” and Callis calls him the best pitching prospect in this year’s draft class.
If he’s a familiar name to baseball fans, it’s likely because Lodolo was drafted by the Pirates with the No. 41 overall pick back in 2016. Lodolo opted not to sign and instead pursued his college career. That type of risk doesn’t always pay off from a financial standpoint but certainly did in this case; the No. 41 overall pick back in 2016 came with a $1.576MM slot value.
Have there been any studies actually indicating that a move like this paid off? He got $4m more in bonus money, but he also gave up three years of his professional career. Now granted high schoolers spend longer in minors than collegiates, but really some hard facts should be mentioned when saying a guy sacrificing professional years for a few mil higher bonus made a great financial move.
I would say $4 million > 3 professional years.
It’s the difference between being a UFA at 28 vs 31 potentially
That’s if you think he’d already be in the majors right now.
He did the right thing. Pirates can’t develop players!
I’m curious how many of these 2019 draftees make the top 100 prospects. Currently the breakdown is…
2014 Draft 6
2015 Draft 8
2016 Draft 20
2017 Draft 16
2018 Draft 20
International signings 30
Interesting! Do you mean first rounders or the complete draft class?
Kind of puts the Orioles decision to ignore the international market the last few years in a new light!
Signings are from 2012 to 2018. Draft is the complete draft class.
Thanks!
I’m wondering if MLBTR would consider writing up a tracking of the first rounders, their slots and their eventual signing bonus? It’s probably somewhere on the interwebs to find tbf.
Baseball America has one