The Reds announced that they’ve signed first-round pick Steele Hall. Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports that the 17-year-old infielder receives a $5.75MM bonus. That’s below the approximate $6.51MM slot value for the ninth pick.
Baseball America and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel each had Hall as a mid-first round talent on their pre-draft rankings. Keith Law of The Athletic was quite a bit lower, placing him 36th. The 5’11 Hall” is a right-handed hitter with elite speed. He’s expected to stick at shortstop and is viewed as a hit-over-power player. Both BA and McDaniel write that Hall has an aggressive offensive approach, while Law expressed concern about his ability to handle breaking stuff.
While Hall may be a somewhat divisive prospect, his youth and athleticism made it clear that he’d be picked high enough to sign away from a commitment to Tennessee. His signing bonus is close to the slot value of the 12th pick, so the deal provides the Reds a bit of cost savings for the later rounds. Cincinnati took two other high school players within the top 10 rounds: second-rounder Aaron Watson and fifth-round pick Eli Pitts. It’s likely that one or both players will get an overslot bonus with some of the money saved by cutting a deal with Hall.
Can we agree that “Steele Hall” is a great name for a baseball player?
Or any athlete really
Apparently, his ruggedness is off the charts.
Let’s hope he lives up to the name.
Steele Walker was there first.
Maybe Hall can have a longer big league career than 5 games though.
When I’m capable of remembering obscure names such as Steele Walker, DeMarcus Evans, and Alex Speas, I might need to start focusing on life more…
Steel Walker discovered he was better suited for a career as an Ironworker.
Mike156
Let’s hope he can stay healthier than Justin Steele and DJ Hall.
Better options were available
Yes, that’s how MLB draft has worked for decades. Slot system doesn’t always mean the best player available
We all have no clue; even the experts are right less than 1/2 the time. The best player is available is almost never picked. To say some of these other guys are better or worse is a long term than another player available is ridiculous
If it were me, I would have drafted Iron Vestibule, but this guy will do just fine.
He was known in the islands as hundred foot iron. That steel hull freighter was passing its time.
Who were these better options?
We cannot. Not a fan of the “my dad is really insecure” names.
I would have gone with Tammany but I like obscure jokes more than most.
cool
Or possibly Fawn?
I don’t think it’s insecure, he probably just thought it sounded cool.
Oh and Tanner Scott is more secure (I can only assume that’s what your username is about)
There is a trite yet usually accurate cliche about assumptions…
It was obvious he was drafted high so Buffalo Bob could save a few bucks.
Stop. I’m no Castellini fan, but the Reds always pay their full draft bonus allotment.
Exactly. And if they needed to overpay they would and have done so.
Let’s not bring that up though since it means they can now pay elsewhere to try and get players to sign instead of going to college.
That’s ridiculous. This is definitely who the reds thought was the best player and they always been a sucker for speed and defense.
If they wanted to save money, just don’t sign the guy and get another 1st rounder next year. Not a bad strategy w this weak class
Below Slot Signing so the Reds got a STEELE !!
💥
All jokes aside, best of luck in your career of trying to do something few can. Make it to the show.
Can Reds handle Bengals contracts please
Mike Brown and Bob Castellini were separated at birth.
Good thing Mike doesn’t run the Bengals day to day anymore. They got into the 21st century finally.