The Cincinnati Reds' discounted signing of their top pick frees flexibility to make strong bids on tougher-to-sign picks deep in the draft.
NEW YORK -- Alabama's "Mr. Baseball" is now a member of the Cincinnati Reds organization.
High school shortstop Steele Hall, one of the youngest (and fastest) players in this year's draft, took less than a week after being drafted ninth overall by the Reds on July 13 to negotiate his first professional contract.
Hall, 17, signed for a $5.75 million bonus, which was $763,800 below MLB's assigned slot value for the ninth pick.
That allows the Reds to retain more flexibility to make a run at signing some of the potentially tougher-to-sign picks deeper in the 20-round draft, possibly including prep shortstop Ethan Moore (Tennessee) and prep right-hander Myles Upchurch (Alabama), both of whom are said to be leaning toward attending college.
Hall, who moved up his academic timeline to be eligible a year earlier than his anticipated draft class of 2026 – when Reds officials suggested he might have grown into a No. 1 overall consideration.
Hall, a right-handed hitter out of Hewitt-Trussville High School near Birmingham, is the first high school middle infielder from Alabama drafted in the first round in more than 50 years (Condredge Holloway, 1971, fourth overall, Montreal Expos).
Hall, who turns 18 on July 24, hit .484 with eight home runs, a .554 on-base percentage and 33 stolen bases during the 37-game prep season.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds ink top draft pick Steele Hall for $5.75 million bonus
Category: Baseball
