The Royals have agreed to a full slot deal with their first-round selection Bobby Witt Jr., per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. The 18-year-old, who was chosen second overall, will receive a $7,789,900 bonus to sign with the Royals.
Witt, often touted as the second-best player in his class and the top high-school prospect in the class, is regarded as a “potential five-tool shortstop,” per MLB.com. Hailing from Colleyville Heritage High School in Texas, Witt’s father played 16 years in the big leagues, and the junior Witt is said to possess a strong arm and defensive instincts that should allow him to stick at shortstop and provide potentially plus defense. His offensive profile is fueled by impressive power that could make him a 20-20 player in the future, but there are some concerns about his ability to hit for average stemming from the swing-and-miss in his game.
With his signing, Witt slides into a crop of impressive young infielders for the rebuilding Royals, joining Adalberto Mondesi, Nicky Lopez, and Hunter Dozier as some of the promising youngsters for Kansas City. While general manager Dayton Moore likely views Mondesi, who has turned heads with his play since the second half of last season, as a building block and shortstop of the future, that is not in consideration when drafting a talent like Witt, who plays the same position. Witt strengthens a mediocre Royals farm system that looks to be on the rise following the addition of Witt and the strength of last year’s draft class, headlined by Brady Singer.
Didn’t really expect it to take them very long to sign him….Royals usually pick players that are easier to sign..
He was the consensus #2 pick and Dayton has never shown any reason to believe that signability plays a major role in his draft strategy. That statement hasn’t been true since 2005.
Signability isn’t usually much of an issue since they implemented the slot system. It occasionally comes up, but not near as much as it used to. I think the Royals are a perfect example of why the slot system was implemented.
Also two of the top 5 signing bonuses ever were Royals picks (Adley will likely bump then both down a spot)
For position players. Gerrit Cole still has the record at 8m.
1) There’s no reason to hold out anymore due to slot money
2) You must have forgotten literally every year prior to the slot system. The Royals took Wil Myers, Hochevar, Aaron Crow and many others who were deemed hard to sign.
Lots of moola for an 18 yo. Hopefully he has the right people in place to help him manage it.
His Dad
His dad made over $21 million in his career so I think he will be alright.
Time for Sox to sign Vaughn now.
Word on the street he’s returning for his Senior season.
Nice. Well played.
What will it take for the Orioles to sign Adley Rutschman??
A Baltimore Orioles post.
Slot + $1.5M
I can’t wait for him to be at a game in KC on tv. Hopefully on Tuesday. Mondesi’s job is safe for awhile & Bobby could always move to 3rd. (Mike moustakas was drafted as a SS, so was Hunter Dozier)
He’s a couple years away. Not something that needs to be worried about any time soon.
Draft picks usually are at a game after they sign. Jackson & Brady were at games in KC around the 4th of July last year, that’s what I mean, and there will definitely be a press conference streamed on Facebook I’d hope. I’m not talking about his debut (I could see him coming up 6 months or so after the “next wave” debuts.
Mondesi is a pretty solid player. Only real knock is his penchant for striking out. Even with that he’s a solid 3 WAR player in my eyes with the rest of his power/speed/defense profile. Not a guy I’d be looking to upgrade if I were in KC’s position.
In 5 years Bobby Witt will challenge mondesi for the SS position. By then mondesi will be nearly 29.
He took it all!
let’s hope he earns that money, and dont end up a bust.