Three of the first-round picks in the 2018 Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft didn’t sign professional contracts. Here are the players:
Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie High School (Melbourne, Florida)
No. 8 overall, pick value: $4,980,700
According to MLB.com, a right wrist ailment prevented the Atlanta Braves from reaching an agreement with the 6-foot-6 Stewart before Friday afternoon’s deadline.
Because Stewart didn’t sign, Braves team officials won’t be permitted to directly address the nature of the medical concerns. The team wasn’t permitted to provide a medical examination before selecting the 18-year-old pitcher.
Stewart was seeking approximately $4.5 million, which was slightly under his $4,980,700 slot value. The Braves’ offer was supposedly closer to the $2 million range.
If the Braves’ offer was at least 40 percent ($1.992 million) of the slot value, they will be compensated with the ninth overall pick in the 2019 draft. The team also would have the first-round selection assigned based on this year’s record.
Stewart was ranked this year’s No. 5 overall draft prospect by MLB Pipeline. He had committed to Mississippi State, but it isn’t known if he will play for the Bulldogs or go to a junior college. The latter option would allow him to be draft-eligible next year.
Matt McLain, SS, Beckman High (Irvine, California)
No. 25 overall, pick value: $2,636,400
According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Arizona Diamondbacks offered McLain the full slot value of $2.64 million to sign with the team, but the 18-year-old shortstop instead plans to honor his commitment to UCLA. As compensation for failing to sign McLain, the Diamondbacks will receive the 26th overall pick in the 2019 draft along with their own first-round selection.
J.T. Ginn, RHP, Brandon High
No. 30 overall, pick value: $2,275,800
Ginn is the fifth first-round pick in the bonus-pool era to choose college over a professional contract. He would be draft-eligible as a 21-year-old sophomore in 2020.
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