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2017 Major League Baseball draft
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
| 2017 Major League Baseball draft | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Date | June 12–14, 2017 |
| Location | Secaucus, New Jersey |
| Network | MLB Network |
| Overview | |
| 1,215 total selections | |
| First selection | Royce Lewis Minnesota Twins |
| First round selections | 36 |
The 2017 Major League Baseball draft began on June 12, 2017.[1] The draft assigned amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The first 36 picks, including the first round and compensatory picks, were broadcast on MLB Network on June 12, while the remainder of the draft was live streamed on MLB.com on June 13 and 14.[2]
With the worst record in the 2016 MLB season, the Minnesota Twins received the first overall pick.[3] Compensation picks were distributed for players who did not sign from the 2016 MLB draft.[4] Also, fourteen small-market teams competed in a lottery for additional competitive balance picks, with six teams receiving an additional pick after the first round, and eight teams receiving an additional pick after the second round.[5] The Twins selected Royce Lewis with the first overall selection.
The St. Louis Cardinals forfeited its top two selections (numbers 56 and 75 in the second and competitive balance round B respectively) and $2 million in damages to the Houston Astros when Commissioner Rob Manfred adjudicated a computer system hacking scandal on January 30, 2017.[6]
First round selections
[edit]| All-Star/All-MLB Team | |
| * | Player did not sign |
|---|
Compensatory round
[edit]| Pick | Player | Team | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Nate Pearson | Toronto Blue Jays[Compensation 1] | Pitcher | College of Central Florida |
| 29 | Christopher Seise | Texas Rangers[Compensation 2] | Shortstop | West Orange High School (FL) |
| 30 | Alex Lange | Chicago Cubs[Compensation 3] | Pitcher | LSU |
Competitive Balance Round A
[edit]| Pick | Player | Team | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Drew Rasmussen* | Tampa Bay Rays | Pitcher | Oregon State |
| 32 | Jeter Downs | Cincinnati Reds | Shortstop | Monsignor Edward Pace High School (FL) |
| 33 | Kevin Merrell | Oakland Athletics | Shortstop | South Florida |
| 34 | Tristen Lutz | Milwaukee Brewers | Outfielder | James Martin High School (TX) |
| 35 | Brent Rooker | Minnesota Twins | Outfielder | Mississippi State |
| 36 | Brian Miller | Miami Marlins | Outfielder | North Carolina |
Other notable selections
[edit]Notes
[edit]- Compensation picks
- ^ Compensation pick for the Cleveland Indians signing Edwin Encarnación
- ^ Compensation pick for the Colorado Rockies signing Ian Desmond
- ^ Compensation pick for the St. Louis Cardinals signing Dexter Fowler
References
[edit]- ^ "2017 MLB Draft Date Set - BaseballAmerica.com". August 24, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
- ^ Feinsand, Mark (January 20, 2016). "2017 MLB Draft coverage begins on Monday night | MLB.com". MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
- ^ Mayo, Jonathan (January 20, 2016). "2017 MLB Draft order set: Twins pick first | MLB.com". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
- ^ Mark Polishuk (October 2, 2016). "Current 2017 MLB Draft Order". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
- ^ "Competitive Balance picks set for MLB Draft". MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
- ^ "MLB strips Cardinals of draft picks, fines them $2 million for Astros hack," USA Today, Monday, January 30, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
External links
[edit]2017 Major League Baseball draft
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
The 2017 Major League Baseball Draft was the 53rd annual amateur draft conducted by Major League Baseball (MLB), in which the 30 MLB teams selected eligible high school and college players to join their organizations. Held from June 12 to 14, 2017, at the MLB Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, the event spanned 40 rounds and resulted in 1,215 total selections.[1] The draft order was determined primarily by the reverse order of the 2016 MLB season standings, with compensatory picks awarded to teams losing free agents, and the Minnesota Twins secured the first overall pick after finishing with the league's worst record.[2][1]
A defining feature of the 2017 draft was its emphasis on high school talent early on, marking the first time since 1990 that the top three selections were all prep players.[1] The Twins selected shortstop Royce Lewis from JSerra Catholic High School in California with the No. 1 pick, followed by right-handed pitcher Hunter Greene from Notre Dame High School in California (Cincinnati Reds, No. 2) and left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore from Whiteville High School in North Carolina (San Diego Padres, No. 3).[1] The fourth pick went to two-way college star Brendan McKay, a first baseman and pitcher from the University of Louisville, chosen by the Tampa Bay Rays.[1] Other notable first-round selections included right-hander Kyle Wright (Atlanta Braves, No. 5), outfielder Jordon Adell (Los Angeles Angels, No. 10), and third baseman Jake Burger (Chicago White Sox, No. 11).[1]
The draft class was characterized by a deep pool of pitching prospects and versatile athletes, with teams allocating a record $289 million in signing bonuses across all picks, guided by slot values and bonus pools to control spending.[3] The 2017 draft class has been evaluated as one of the weaker recent classes, though several players have become established major leaguers. By 2025, draftees from this class had established themselves in the majors, including Lewis as a key infielder for the Twins, Greene as a hard-throwing starter for the Reds, and Burger as a power-hitting corner infielder for the White Sox, Miami Marlins, and Texas Rangers.[4] The event highlighted MLB's ongoing focus on developing young talent through domestic amateur pipelines.
This table captures the primary selections, noting the predominance of high school athletes in the top half (e.g., Lewis, Greene, Gore as prep standouts) versus college performers lower down, aligning with teams' risk assessments for immediate development needs.[20]
[31][32][33]
Background
Eligibility and selection rules
The eligibility for the 2017 Major League Baseball amateur draft encompassed U.S. and Canadian residents, as well as players attending high school or college in those regions or U.S. territories, who met specific amateur status criteria. High school players became eligible upon graduation, provided they had not yet enrolled in college or signed a professional contract. Junior college players were eligible annually, while four-year college players could be drafted as freshmen or sophomores only if they turned 21 years old before the draft date of June 12, 2017; otherwise, eligibility began after their junior year or upon exhausting amateur status. Additionally, unsigned players from prior drafts who remained amateurs and had not signed professional contracts were eligible, ensuring the draft focused on untapped domestic amateur talent.[5][6] The selection process followed a structured format across 40 rounds, with teams picking in reverse order of their previous season's regular-season standings to promote competitive balance. Ties in standings were resolved by head-to-head records, intradivision play, and other tiebreakers from the prior year. The draft emphasized amateur players, excluding those already under professional contracts, and included compensatory and competitive balance rounds integrated after the first round. Rounds 1 through 10 occurred over the first two days (June 12-13), with rounds 11-40 completed on June 14, allowing for 1,215 total selections.[5] Post-selection, teams held exclusive negotiation rights with their draftees until the signing deadline of July 15, 2017, providing approximately one month to finalize contracts. To regulate spending, MLB assigned each team a bonus pool based on draft pick slots, with recommended values for early picks (e.g., the No. 1 overall slot valued at around $7.8 million). Exceeding the pool by 0-5% resulted in a 75% tax on overages; 5-10% over led to forfeiture of international signing pool space for the next year; 10-15% over incurred loss of the next year's first- and second-round picks; and over 15% meant losing those picks plus the subsequent year's first-round pick. These penalties aimed to prevent excessive bonuses while allowing flexibility for high-value signings.[7][5] Under the 2016-2021 collective bargaining agreement effective for 2017, key adjustments separated the domestic draft from international signings to avoid overlap. The international signing period began July 2, 2017—after the draft concluded—running through June 15, 2018, with bonus pools capped at $4.75 million for most teams and adjusted for luxury tax payers or those receiving competitive balance picks (e.g., $5.25 million for Round A recipients). Competitive balance picks, awarded to 14 qualifying small- and low-revenue teams, were determined by a formula combining three-year winning percentages and revenue rankings, rather than a lottery; six teams received picks after the first round (picks 31-36), and eight after the second (picks 67-74). This system provided extra selections to foster parity without altering the core reverse-order structure.[8]Determination of draft order
The draft order for the 2017 Major League Baseball draft was primarily determined by the reverse order of the 2016 regular-season standings, with the team possessing the worst record receiving the first overall selection. The Minnesota Twins earned the No. 1 pick after finishing the 2016 season with a 59–103 record, marking the most losses in the majors that year.[9][10] In cases where multiple teams concluded the 2016 season with identical records, tiebreakers were applied based on each team's performance in the 2015 season, awarding the higher draft position to the club with the poorer winning percentage from that prior year. For instance, both the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays finished 2016 at 89–73, but the Orioles received the earlier pick due to their 81–81 mark in 2015 compared to the Blue Jays' 93–69.[11][12] Compensatory picks added 3 supplemental selections to the end of the first round, granted to teams that extended a qualifying offer to an unsigned free agent from the 2016 season who subsequently signed elsewhere without the original club receiving equivalent compensation. Under the collective bargaining agreement, these picks were awarded in reverse order of the previous season's standings among the qualifying teams, excluding those in the top 10 of the main first-round order. For example, the Toronto Blue Jays received the 28th overall pick as compensation for outfielder Edwin Encarnacion, who rejected their qualifying offer and signed a three-year, $60 million contract with the Cleveland Indians.[13][2] To enhance competitive balance between large- and small-market clubs, MLB awarded competitive balance picks to 14 eligible teams based on a formula combining their three-year winning percentages, revenue, and market size rankings. Six additional picks were placed immediately following the first round (picks 31-36) and eight more after the second round (picks 67-74). The order was announced on December 13, 2016.[8]Draft proceedings
Dates, location, and broadcast
The 2017 Major League Baseball draft took place over three days from June 12 to June 14. Rounds 1 and 2 were held on June 12, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET, followed by Rounds 3 through 10 on June 13 starting at 1:00 p.m. ET, and Rounds 11 through 40 on June 14 beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET.[14][15] The event was hosted at MLB Network's Studio 42 in Secaucus, New Jersey, marking a continuation of the centralized studio format introduced in prior years for the early rounds.[16] Selections for Rounds 1 and 2 occurred live on site with team representatives present, while later rounds were conducted via conference call but streamed live online. This structure incorporated virtual elements for the extended proceedings, resulting in a total of 1,215 players selected across 40 rounds.[17] Broadcast coverage featured live telecasts of Rounds 1 and 2 on MLB Network, with simultaneous streaming available on MLB.com for all days. The presentation included on-site reactions from top prospects in attendance during the first round, enhancing viewer engagement with immediate responses to selections.[15][18]Special team penalties and adjustments
The most significant adjustment to the 2017 Major League Baseball draft stemmed from penalties imposed on the St. Louis Cardinals for their involvement in a hacking scandal that compromised the Houston Astros' player evaluation database in 2015. As a result, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred ordered the Cardinals to forfeit their 56th overall pick in the second round and their 75th overall pick in Competitive Balance Round B, with both selections reassigned to the Astros. Additionally, the Cardinals were fined $2 million, which was paid directly to the Astros as compensation for the breach. This penalty, announced on January 30, 2017, represented the most severe sanction of its kind in MLB history for a data security violation, though it did not affect the Cardinals' primary first-round selection.[19] These forfeitures directly altered the draft order for the affected teams, causing the Cardinals to begin their selections in the second round at pick No. 57, while the Astros gained extra mid-round assets without losing any of their own. The reallocation ensured that the overall structure of the draft remained intact, preserving a total of 36 picks in the first round (including regular, compensatory, and competitive balance selections). No other teams faced similar disciplinary forfeitures that year.[19][20] Beyond the Cardinals' case, the draft incorporated minor adjustments related to unsigned selections from the 2016 draft. Specifically, the Pittsburgh Pirates received the 42nd overall pick as compensation for failing to sign left-handed pitcher Nick Lodolo, their Competitive Balance Round A selection (No. 41) from the previous year. This was the only such compensatory slot awarded for unsigned draftees, reflecting the rarity of non-signings in the early rounds under MLB's signing deadline rules. No major international amateur signing violations from prior periods impacted the 2017 draft order or bonus pools in a way that required additional penalties or redistributions.[21]First round selections
Compensatory and competitive balance picks
In the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, compensatory picks in the first round were awarded to three teams that lost qualifying free agents from the 2016-17 offseason who rejected one-year qualifying offers and signed with other clubs. These picks, positioned after the standard first-round selections (adjusted for forfeitures by the Colorado Rockies for signing Ian Desmond, St. Louis Cardinals for signing Dexter Fowler, and Cleveland Indians for signing Edwin Encarnacion), were granted to the Toronto Blue Jays (for Edwin Encarnación, who signed with the Cleveland Indians), Texas Rangers (for Ian Desmond, who signed with the Colorado Rockies), and Chicago Cubs (for Dexter Fowler, who signed with the St. Louis Cardinals).[11] Competitive balance picks in Round A were distributed to six clubs via a lottery system designed to assist small-market and low-revenue teams, based on criteria including previous-season revenue sharing receipts and winning percentages. The recipients, in draft order, were the Tampa Bay Rays, Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, and Miami Marlins; these picks were inserted immediately after the compensatory selections and could be traded under MLB rules.[8] The following table lists all compensatory and competitive balance Round A selections, including overall pick numbers, teams, players drafted, positions, and high schools or colleges.| Overall Pick | Team | Player | Position | School/College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Toronto Blue Jays | Nate Pearson | RHP | College of Central Florida (Ocala, FL) |
| 29 | Texas Rangers | Chris Seise | SS | West Orange HS (Winter Garden, FL) |
| 30 | Chicago Cubs | Alex Lange | RHP | Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA) |
| 31 | Tampa Bay Rays | Drew Rasmussen | RHP | Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR) |
| 32 | Cincinnati Reds | Jeter Downs | SS | Monsignor Edward Pace HS (Miami Gardens, FL) |
| 33 | Oakland Athletics | Kevin Merrell | SS | University of South Florida (Tampa, FL) |
| 34 | Milwaukee Brewers | Tristen Lutz | OF | James W. Martin HS (Arlington, TX) |
| 35 | Minnesota Twins | Brent Rooker | OF | Mississippi State University (Starkville, MS) |
| 36 | Miami Marlins | Brian Miller | OF | University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC) |
Primary first round selections
The primary first round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft consisted of 36 selections, made by teams based on reverse order of the previous season's standings, focusing on high-potential amateur talents from high schools and colleges.[20] The draft emphasized a balance of pitching prospects and position players with power potential, with the Minnesota Twins selecting shortstop Royce Lewis from JSerra Catholic High School first overall for his elite speed and hitting ability, prioritizing up-the-middle talent to bolster their farm system.[1] Following closely, the Cincinnati Reds took right-handed pitcher Hunter Greene from Notre Dame High School second overall, drawn to his exceptional fastball velocity reaching 102 mph, while the San Diego Padres selected left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore from Whiteville High School third for his athleticism and diverse pitching arsenal including a 92-96 mph fastball and plus curveball.[1] Teams exhibited varied strategies, often favoring college players for their polish and lower risk compared to high school selections, though several squads gambled on prep talents for higher upside. For instance, the Tampa Bay Rays opted for two-way standout Brendan McKay from the University of Louisville fourth overall, valuing his versatility as a first baseman and pitcher with a high floor as a future starter.[1] The Atlanta Braves, seeking a reliable college arm, chose right-hander Kyle Wright from Vanderbilt fifth, highlighting his potential as a frontline starter.[1] Power-hitting outfielders and infielders were also prevalent, as seen with the Oakland Athletics selecting Austin Beck from North Davidson High School sixth for his raw tools in power and speed.[1] Overall, the round featured 14 high school picks and 22 from colleges or junior colleges, reflecting a draft class rich in pitching depth but with strategic leans toward bats that could develop into impact hitters.[20]| Pick | Team | Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota Twins | Royce Lewis | SS | JSerra Catholic HS (San Juan Capistrano, CA) |
| 2 | Cincinnati Reds | Hunter Greene | RHP | Notre Dame HS (Sherman Oaks, CA) |
| 3 | San Diego Padres | MacKenzie Gore | LHP | Whiteville HS (Whiteville, NC) |
| 4 | Tampa Bay Rays | Brendan McKay | 1B | University of Louisville (Louisville, KY) |
| 5 | Atlanta Braves | Kyle Wright | RHP | Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) |
| 6 | Oakland Athletics | Austin Beck | OF | North Davidson HS (Lexington, NC) |
| 7 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Pavin Smith | 1B | University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA) |
| 8 | Philadelphia Phillies | Adam Haseley | OF | University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA) |
| 9 | Milwaukee Brewers | Keston Hiura | 2B | University of California, Irvine (Irvine, CA) |
| 10 | Los Angeles Angels | Jordon Adell | OF | Ballard HS (Louisville, KY) |
| 11 | Chicago White Sox | Jake Burger | 3B | Missouri State University (Springfield, MO) |
| 12 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Shane Baz | RHP | Concordia Lutheran HS (Tomball, TX) |
| 13 | Miami Marlins | Trevor Rogers | LHP | Carlsbad HS (Carlsbad, NM) |
| 14 | Kansas City Royals | Nick Pratto | 1B | Huntington Beach HS (Huntington Beach, CA) |
| 15 | Houston Astros | J.B. Bukauskas | RHP | University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC) |
| 16 | New York Yankees | Clarke Schmidt | RHP | University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) |
| 17 | Seattle Mariners | Evan White | 1B | University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY) |
| 18 | Detroit Tigers | Alex Faedo | RHP | University of Florida (Gainesville, FL) |
| 19 | San Francisco Giants | Heliot Ramos | OF | Leadership Christian Academy (Guaynabo, PR) |
| 20 | New York Mets | David Peterson | LHP | University of Oregon (Eugene, OR) |
| 21 | Baltimore Orioles | D.L. Hall | LHP | Valdosta HS (Valdosta, GA) |
| 22 | Toronto Blue Jays | Logan Warmoth | SS | University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC) |
| 23 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Jeren Kendall | OF | Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) |
| 24 | Boston Red Sox | Tanner Houck | RHP | University of Missouri (Columbia, MO) |
| 25 | Washington Nationals | Seth Romero | LHP | University of Houston (Houston, TX) |
| 26 | Texas Rangers | Bubba Thompson | OF | McGill-Toolen Catholic HS (Mobile, AL) |
| 27 | Chicago Cubs | Brendon Little | LHP | State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (Bradenton, FL) |
| 28 | Toronto Blue Jays | Nate Pearson | RHP | College of Central Florida (Ocala, FL) |
| 29 | Texas Rangers | Chris Seise | SS | West Orange HS (Winter Garden, FL) |
| 30 | Chicago Cubs | Alex Lange | RHP | Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA) |
| 31 | Tampa Bay Rays | Drew Rasmussen | RHP | Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR) |
| 32 | Cincinnati Reds | Jeter Downs | SS | Monsignor Edward Pace HS (Miami Gardens, FL) |
| 33 | Oakland Athletics | Kevin Merrell | SS | University of South Florida (Tampa, FL) |
| 34 | Milwaukee Brewers | Tristen Lutz | OF | James W. Martin HS (Arlington, TX) |
| 35 | Minnesota Twins | Brent Rooker | OF | Mississippi State University (Starkville, MS) |
| 36 | Miami Marlins | Brian Miller | OF | University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC) |
Later round selections
Overview of rounds 2 through 40
The 2017 Major League Baseball Draft extended through 40 rounds, with rounds 2 through 40 accounting for the majority of the 1,215 total selections made by the 30 MLB teams.[17] Following the first round and compensatory picks on June 12, round 2 and Competitive Balance Round B picks were announced later that day, while rounds 3 through 10 took place on June 13 (Day 2), and rounds 11 through 40 concluded on June 14 (Day 3).[14] This structure allowed teams to methodically build organizational depth, contrasting the high-profile nature of the initial selections. A notable trend in these later rounds was the increasing preference for college players over high school prospects, reflecting teams' emphasis on more polished talent with shorter development timelines. Overall across all rounds, approximately 74% of draftees (901 players) hailed from college backgrounds, including 771 from four-year institutions and 130 from junior colleges, compared to 26% (312 players) from high school.[23] This shift was particularly pronounced beyond the first 10 rounds, where college selections dominated due to lower signing risks and immediate minor-league readiness. Additionally, teams prioritized pitching depth throughout, selecting 660 pitchers—over 54% of all draftees—to address ongoing needs for rotation and bullpen prospects.[17] The draft was limited to eligible U.S. and Canadian amateur players, excluding international amateurs under age 25 who were subject to separate international signing rules. All rounds were fully conducted as scheduled, but completion rates varied, with many late-round picks (especially from rounds 20–40) remaining unsigned or declining professional offers to pursue college eligibility.[24]Notable selections outside the first round
While the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft garnered much attention, several teams unearthed significant talent in subsequent rounds by targeting players with high-upside tools, athleticism, or under-the-radar college production that scouts valued despite perceived risks like rawness or injury histories.[25] These selections often came from mid-to-late rounds, where teams like the Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, and Houston Astros identified prospects overlooked in earlier evaluations, emphasizing speed, power potential, or specialized skills over immediate polish.[26] From a pool exceeding 1,200 total selections across 40 rounds, these players demonstrated how later picks can yield All-Stars, everyday contributors, and reliable relievers through patient development.[27] One standout was Daulton Varsho, selected by the Diamondbacks in the Competitive Balance Round B (68th overall, effectively round 2) out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as a catcher with elite speed and defensive versatility.[28] Despite his raw hitting approach at the time, Varsho's plus athleticism and arm strength made him a priority for Arizona, who projected him as a multi-positional asset; he later transitioned to the outfield, earning a Gold Glove in 2023 and becoming an All-Star in 2024.[25] Similarly, the Royals took MJ Melendez in the second round (63rd overall) from the University of California, Santa Barbara, betting on his switch-hitting power and catching tools despite swing-and-miss concerns.[25] Melendez developed into the American League's starting catcher at the 2022 All-Star Game, showcasing 30-plus home run potential as a key offensive force.[25] The Yankees' 18th-round selection of Garrett Whitlock (538th overall) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham highlighted their eye for relief pitchers with explosive stuff, as Whitlock's mid-90s fastball and sharp breaking pitches were undervalued due to his senior-sign status.[25] Traded to the Red Sox before his debut, he posted a 2.58 ERA over his first two seasons, ranking second in career bWAR (3.7) among 2017 draftees by 2022 despite Tommy John surgery.[25] In the 21st round, the Astros grabbed outfielder Chas McCormick (631st overall) from the University of Richmond, prioritizing his plus speed, contact skills, and .373 college batting average over his lack of standout power.[25] McCormick evolved into a starting center fielder, providing Gold Glove-caliber defense and contributing to Houston's 2022 World Series title with versatile plate coverage.[25] Other notable late-round gems included the Guardians' ninth-round pick of reliever James Karinchak (268th overall) from James Madison University, whose elite strikeout rates (15.3 K/9 in the minors) overcame early shoulder concerns to make him a high-leverage arm.[25] The Red Sox found value in 17th-rounder Kutter Crawford (519th overall) from Florida Gulf Coast University, a starter with a mid-90s fastball who transitioned to a reliable MLB rotation piece by 2023.[26] The Mariners' 11th-round selection of left-hander JP Sears (317th overall) from The Citadel emphasized his command and changeup, leading to a positive-WAR role as a swingman after debuting in 2022.[25] The Phillies' 10th-rounder Connor Brogdon (293rd overall) from Lewis-Clark State College signed for just $5,000 and became a key bullpen piece with a sub-3.00 ERA in his first full season.[25] Finally, the Rockies took lefty reliever Lucas Gilbreath in the seventh round (207th overall) from the University of South Alabama, where his transition from starter to high-velocity bullpen arm accelerated his path to a 2021 MLB debut and consistent Coors Field contributions.[25] These examples illustrate how teams in 2017 capitalized on later rounds by scouting overlooked high school athletes or college performers with projectable traits, often signing them for modest bonuses under $100,000 while investing in their growth to produce outsized returns.[25]Post-draft signings
Top signing bonuses
The 2017 Major League Baseball draft featured several record-setting signing bonuses, highlighting teams' willingness to invest heavily in top prospects despite bonus pool constraints. Hunter Greene, selected second overall by the Cincinnati Reds, received the highest bonus of the draft at $7.23 million, which exceeded his slot value of $7,193,200 by $36,800 and marked the largest signing bonus for a high school pitcher at the time.[29][30] Royce Lewis, the first overall pick by the Minnesota Twins, signed for $6.725 million, below his assigned slot of $7,770,700, allowing the Twins to allocate savings elsewhere in their pool.[31][32] Bonus pools for the 2017 draft were determined by each team's draft position in the first 10 rounds, totaling $245,806,800 across all 30 clubs, with individual allotments ranging from $14.156 million for the Twins to $2.7 million for teams like the Dodgers.[32] Teams could redistribute money within their pool but faced escalating penalties for overages: a 75% tax for exceeding by 0-5%, a 100% tax plus loss of a future second-round pick for 5-10% over, and forfeiture of a first-round pick for more than 10% over.[32] The New York Yankees, operating under a reduced pool of approximately $6.9 million due to prior penalties from qualifying offer forfeitures, exemplified how past spending decisions constrained draft flexibility.[33][34] Overall, Major League teams spent a record $289 million on draft signing bonuses in 2017, surpassing the previous year's total by 7.2%.[35] A notable trend was that high school draftees often secured larger over-slot deals compared to college players, as teams aimed to deter commitments to NCAA programs; for instance, several top high school arms like Greene and MacKenzie Gore received bonuses slightly above slot to secure their signings.[30][24] The following table lists the top 10 signing bonuses from the 2017 draft, including slot value comparisons:| Rank | Player | Team | Pick | Bonus | Slot Value | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hunter Greene | CIN | 2 | $7,230,000 | $7,193,200 | +$36,800 |
| 2 | Brendan McKay | TBR | 4 | $7,007,500 | $6,153,600 | +$853,900 |
| 3 | Kyle Wright | ATL | 5 | $7,000,000 | $5,707,300 | +$1,292,700 |
| 4 | Royce Lewis | MIN | 1 | $6,725,000 | $7,770,700 | -$1,045,700 |
| 5 | MacKenzie Gore | SDP | 3 | $6,700,000 | $6,668,100 | +$31,900 |
| 6 | Austin Beck | OAK | 6 | $5,303,000 | $5,303,000 | At slot |
| 7 | Adam Haseley | PHI | 8 | $5,100,000 | $4,780,400 | +$319,600 |
| 8 | Pavin Smith | ARI | 7 | $5,016,300 | $5,016,300 | At slot |
| 9 | Jo Adell | LAA | 10 | $4,376,800 | $4,376,800 | At slot |
| 10 | Shane Baz | PIT | 12 | $4,100,000 | $4,032,000 | +$68,000 |