The Royals have agreed to terms with #9 overall pick Gavin Cross, reports Jim Callis of MLB.com (Twitter link). He’ll receive a bonus of $5.2029MM, the slot value associated with the selection.
Cross, an outfielder from Virginia Tech, was always expected to go right in the range with which he was actually selected. Each of Baseball America, ESPN, The Athletic and MLB Pipeline placed him as the #10 player in the class on their pre-draft rankings. FanGraphs rated Cross as the draft’s #15 talent. Evaluators were generally aligned on his projection, praising his combination of bat-to-ball skills and power upside. Regarded as a possible above-average hitter with above-average or plus power, Cross is one of the safer offensive prospects in the class.
The 21-year-old played center field during his junior season in Blacksburg. Evaluators suggest his average speed means he’s likelier to move to right field as a professional, but the general belief is he’s a good enough offensive player to withstand a move down the defensive spectrum. Cross hit .340/.412/.609 through three seasons with the Hokies, including a .328/.411/.660 line as a junior to help Virginia Tech to superregionals.
Gavin Cross is the son of comedian David Cross. So if baseball doesn’t workout he has a backup career as an analrapist.
That’s analyst + therapist for the uncultured.
Every analrapist has a backup plan
I’ve seen his father play when he played Rookie Ball in Danville, VA. I had to travel to Greensboro NC a few times and my boss, who was a HUGE Braves fan, We would travel to Dansville and watch them play,,. If they were in town, of course
I saw his dad when he was on the sketch comedy show mr. Show. Loved the “what’s a gogortion?” sketch.
Always like hearing how players make an imprint in peoples lives, no matter how small. Cheers 25!
His cameo on an episode (“Slow Donnie”) of Just Shoot Me is so incredibly hilarious. He plays a guy who his family thinks is developmentally disabled because of a fall, but tells Mia the truth that he’s faking to milk their sympathy. No one believes her when she tries to expose him until the end.
@al that’s baseball
Go, Hokies Go!
Best Hokie since Kevin Barker