A look at the Orioles' draft pick signings and some signing bonuses

After drafting 38 players this year in the First-Year Player Draft, 27 of which were pitchers, the Orioles had signed 30 picks as of yesterday afternoon. Of the 30 signed players, 19 are pitchers. The latest signing announced by the club on Thursday was its ninth-round pick, University of Mississippi infielder Austin Anderson. The Orioles did not have a pick until the third round and they have signed their first 16 picks, getting every player from the third to the 18th round. Last year, they signed their first 15 picks. That is a pretty solid job by scouting director Gary Rajsich and his area scouts. The Orioles' first five selections in this draft were pitchers. At one point, the O's drafted 11 pitchers consecutively in rounds 16 through 26. Here is a look at the players that have been signed and the minor league clubs they are currently with. All picks are now either with short-season Single-A Aberdeen or the Orioles Gulf Coast League affiliate. Some players' assignments are not set yet and they are listed as TBA - to be announced. Round 3 - LHP Brian Gonzalez, GCL Round 4 - RHP Pat Connaughton, Aberdeen Round 5 - RHP David Hess, Aberdeen Round 6 - LHP Tanner Scott, GCL Round 7 - LHP Max Schuh, TBA Round 8 - 2B Steve Wilkerson, Aberdeen Round 9 - 3B Austin Anderson, TBA Round 10 - OF Jay Gonzalez, Aberdeen Round 11 - LHP John Means, Aberdeen Round 12 - RHP Nigel Nootbaar, Aberdeen Round 13 - LHP Matt Trowbridge, TBA Round 14 - OF Gerrion Grim, GCL Round 15 - 2B Alejandro Juvier, GCL Round 16 - RHP Tanner Chleborad, Aberdeen Round 17 - RHP Jean Cosme, TBA Round 18 - RHP Matthew Grimes, Aberdeen Round 20 - RHP Zach Albin, GCL Round 21 - LHP John McLeod, Aberdeen Round 22 - RHP Josh Walker, Aberdeen Round 23 - RHP Zeke McGranahan, GCL Round 24 - RHP Lucas Long, GCL Round 27 - SS Austin Pfeiffer, Aberdeen Round 29 - RHP Patrick Baker, TBA Round 30 - RHP Michael Burke, GCL Round 31 - 3B Riley Palmer, Aberdeen Round 32 - OF Jamill Moquete, Aberdeen Round 35 - OF Tad Gold, Aberdeen Round 36 - 1B Alexander Lee, GCL Round 38 - RHP Keegan Ghidotti, GCL Round 40 - OF T.J. Olesczuk, GCL One draft pick the O's will not likely sign is left-handed pitcher Brandon Bonilla. He was taken in the 25th round out of Grand Canyon (Ariz.) University. Bonilla is the son of former Oriole Bobby Bonilla and godson of Barry Bonds. He has a fastball that can reach the mid- to upper-90s. But a source said negotiations have not progressed and the Orioles feel he is going back to school. They are leaving the door open, but Bonilla's signing seems unlikely at this point. Three picks the Orioles still are considering signing are 33rd-round right-hander Brandon Koch, 37th-round right-hander Hunter Hart and 39th-round right-hander Tucker Simpson. Here are signing bonuses on six of the Orioles' eight top-10 round picks that have been reported by Baseball America and/or MLBPipeline.com and confirmed by MASNSports.com. To the right is the slot value for that pick and, as you can note, Brian Gonzalez and Tanner Scott were signed to overslot bonuses. Round 3: Brian Gonzalez for $700,000 ($594,200). Round 4: Pat Connaughton for $428,100 ($428,100). Round 5: David Hess for $280,000 ($320,500). Round 6: Tanner Scott for $650,000 ($240,000). Round 8: Steve Wilkerson for $10,000 ($157,300). Round 10: Jay Gonzalez for $5,000 ($137,600). The O's seventh-round pick, Schuh, reportedly signed for near the slot value of $179,900. Ninth-round pick Anderson reportedly signed for well under the slot value of $146,800. The Orioles' allotted amount to sign their top 10 picks was $2,204,400. By my estimate with the figures above, they have spent just about that amount. If there is any savings from their allotted amount, it could be used for any pick from round 11 on. Picks from rounds 11-40 can be signed for as much as $100,000 each. Teams can exceed that $100,000 amount, but it must come from savings from their money allotted to sign the top 10 picks.



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