Tigers sign top 2024 Draft pick Bryce Rainer
CLEVELAND -- The Tigers have signed shortstop Bryce Rainer, their first-round pick from last week¡¯s MLB Draft, part of a slew of Draft deals Detroit announced on Monday.
Also announced were deals with right-handers Owen Hall (second round), Josh Randall (third) and Michael Massey (fourth); shortstops Jack Penney (fifth) and Woody Hadeen (sixth), lefty Ethan Sloan (eighth) and righty R.J. Sales (10th). Competitive Balance Round B pick Ethan Schiefelbein is the only Tigers pick in first six rounds yet to sign.
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Rainer signed for a $5,797,500 million bonus, a bump from the $5.71 million slot value for the 11th overall pick, to forgo his college commitment to Texas, according to MLB.com¡¯s Jonathan Mayo. He¡¯s expected to be introduced in Detroit later this week once the Tigers begin their homestand Friday against the Twins. It¡¯ll be his first visit to Detroit.
Hall, a Vanderbilt commit, signed for a $1,750,000 bonus, just below the $1,893,700 slot for the 49th overall selection, according to MLB.com¡¯s Jim Callis.
Rainer had strongly hinted during his Draft night media session that he had agreed to terms after talking with teams in the top 10. In that sense, Monday¡¯s news wasn¡¯t a surprise, nor was the fact that he signed above slot value. Now that it¡¯s finished, Rainer can begin his pro career and join a Tigers system that is accumulating offensive prospects.
Rainer joins Kevin McGonigle, last year¡¯s supplemental first-round pick and currently the Tigers¡¯ No. 4 prospect, as the top shortstop prospects in the organization. McGonigle, who some evaluators believe could eventually shift to second base, was just promoted to High-A West Michigan after batting .326 with an .877 OPS and 20 stolen bases for Single-A Lakeland.
Rainer¡¯s 6-foot-3 height and left-handed swing has drawn natural comparisons to Rangers star shortstop Corey Seager. It¡¯s a lofty expectation, but one that Rainer embraces having grown up as a Dodgers fan following Seager before he signed with Texas as a free agent following the 2021 season.
The Tigers believe Rainer¡¯s athleticism for his size should allow him to stick at short, and they will give him every opportunity to prove that. Detroit has struggled to produce a shortstop through its system since trading then-prospect Willy Adames to Tampa Bay in the David Price deal a decade ago.
¡°This was the first year I¡¯ve played shortstop in high school, and I think I grew a lot from the start of the season,¡± Rainer said last week. ¡°I think with the help of this organization and their coaches, I think I can upgrade my playing of shortstop a lot more.¡±