Detroit Tigers sign top two 2025 MLB Draft picks, save $850K to use on other picks

The Detroit Tigers have signed their top two picks in the 2025 MLB Draft: Jordan Yost and Michael Oliveto, both to under-slot deals.

ARLINGTON, TX — The Detroit Tigers have signed their top two picks in the 2025 MLB Draft.

Shortstop Jordan Yost — the No. 24 overall pick — agreed to an under-slot $3.25 million bonus, with the slot value at $3,726,300; catcher Michael Oliveto — the No. 34 pick — agreed to an under-slot $2.45 million bonus, with the slot value at $2,827,300.

So far, the Tigers have signed just two of their seven high school selections: Yost from Sickles in Florida, and Oliveto from Hauppauge in New York.

Detroit Tigers 2025 first-round pick Jordan Yost fields a ground ball while playing for Sickles High School in Tampa, Florida.

With those signings, the Tigers saved $853,600 ($476,300 on Yost and $377,300 on Oliveto) to spread among their other 19 picks, such as high school players in the mid-to-late rounds.

One potential candidate is 11th-round pick River Hamilton, an LSU commit.

The right-hander from Barlow High School in Oregon ranked as the No. 99 prospect in the draft (and the 23rd-best right-handed pitcher), according to MLB Pipeline. Additionally, Baseball America ranked him as the No. 171 prospect in the draft.

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The Tigers also selected left-hander Ethan Rogers, a Wichita State commit, in the 18th round out of Lone Jack High School in Missouri, followed by shortstop Meridian Leffew, a UCF commit, in the 19th round out of Gaston Christian School in North Carolina.

Two others draft picks were high schoolers: right-hander Ryan Hall, a Georgia Tech commit, in the fifth round from North Gwinnett in Georgia; left-hander Trevor Heishman, a Memphis commit, in the ninth round from St. John Bosco in California.

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The Tigers are working from a $10,990,800 bonus pool, 17th-highest among the 30 MLB teams.

Teams are allowed to exceed the total allotment for picks by 5% before paying a 75% fine on the overage. No MLB team has exceeded the 5% limit since the slots were created.

Free Press sports writer Matthew Auchincloss contributed to this report.

Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers sign top 2 MLB Draft picks, save $850K for other picks

Category: Baseball