With the conclusion of the 2009 MLB Rule 4 Draft signing period, it is time to look at the Sox final bounty. Listed below are the Sox’ top 10 picks and their respective signing bonuses. Figures courtesy of pgcrosschecker.com.
1-28 OF Reymond Fuentes $1,134,000
2-28 RHP Alex Wilson $470,700
3-27 SS David Renfroe $1,134,000 ($266,000 deferred; total $1.4 mil)
4-27 OF Jeremy Hazelbaker $191,700
5-27 OF Seth Schwindenhammer $140,000
6-27 RHP Branden Kline Unsigned
7-27 RHP Madison Younginer $975,000
8-27 OF Shannon Wilkerson $100,000
9-27 RHP Kendal Volz $550,000
10-27 OF Brandon Jacobs $750,000
-Branden Kline is the only Sox pick in the first 15 rounds to go unsigned.
-Overall, Boston inked 26 of its 50 selections.
-Wondering how 3rd round pick David Renfroe squeezed $1.134 million out of Uncle John’s hands? He is supremely talented and held a football scholarship to Mississippi.
That’s called leverage, folks. Maybe the two-way SS-SP reminded Theo a litttle bit of Casey Kelly (now ranked the Sox #1 prospect on Soxprospects.com).
-Boston signed each of its first 15 picks in 2008, and 13 of the first 14 in 2007.
-2008 and 2007 supplemental first round picks, Bryan Price and Nick Hagadone were both included in the recent swap for Victor Martinez.
-The top signing bonuses of the 2009 draft were first overall selection Stephen Strasburg ($7.5 million; RHP, Washington Nationals), 9th overall Jacob Turner ($6.25 million; RHP, Detroit Tigers), and 2nd overall pick Dustin Ackley ($6 million; OF, Seattle Mariners).