masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles have reached an agreement with their top draft pick, Florida State outfielder DJ Stewart, who is expected to get a signing bonus of $2,064,500. That is the exact slot value for the No. 25 pick in Round 1 of the draft.
Stewart is in Baltimore today to get a physical, which would lead to the Orioles making an official announcement of his signing when he passes.
While one industry source cautioned that the deal may not be “100 complete,” it certainly seems headed that way as draft…

The Orioles have reached an agreement with their top draft pick, Florida State outfielder DJ Stewart, who is expected to get a signing bonus of $2,064,500. That is the exact slot value for the No. 25 pick in Round 1 of the draft.

Stewart is in Baltimore today to get a physical, which would lead to the Orioles making an official announcement of his signing when he passes.

dj-stewart-fsu-smile.jpgWhile one industry source cautioned that the deal may not be “100 complete,” it certainly seems headed that way as draft picks usually don’t take physicals until after agreements been reached.

Stewart hit .318 this year at Florida State with 15 homers, 59 RBIs, a .500 OBP and a .593 slugging percentage. He is a two-time academic All American and was the 2014 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year with a slash line then of .351/.472/.557.

The day O’s scouting director Gary Rajsich selected Stewart in the first round, he said this about the 21-year-old left-handed hitter:

“We love DJ’s on-base skills as well as his slugging. He can hit anywhere in the order, but I see him as a middle-of-the-order bat. A run producer, a run scorer. He gives you what he’s got every day and is the kind of kid you want to build your ballclub around.”

That night, Rajsich said Stewart will go to Sarasota, Fla., once signed for his initial orientation and then would likely be assigned to short-season, Single-A Aberdeen.

With Stewart’s signing, the Orioles will have signed 19 of their top 20 draft picks, leaving only Jonathan Hughes, a high school pitcher from Georgia taken in Round 2 with the 68th pick. The club continues to negotiate with Hughes.