Tigers officially avoid breaking the bank by signing first-round pick Bryce Rainer
Rainer’s signing bonus is over slot value, but Detroit made the numbers work by signing some other draft picks to under-slot deals.
The Detroit Tigers have signed shortstop Bryce Rainer, the No. 11 overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft, to an over-slot deal. The 19-year-old signed for a $5,797,500 million bonus, an $87,900 bump over the $5.71 million slot value for the No. 11 overall pick, according to MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo.
In signing with the Tigers, Rainer will forgo his college commitment to Texas. This isn’t a surprise, considering he hinted during his Draft night media session that he had agreed to terms after talking with teams in the top 10. Rainer, who has drawn comparisons to Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, joins the Tigers organization as one of its top middle infield prospects.
To avoid breaking the bank on Rainer’s over-slot bonus, the Tigers signed a handful of draft selections to under-slot deals. Right-handed high school pitcher Owen Hall, Detroit’s second-round pick, signed a $1.75 million deal, which was about $143,000 below the slot value for his selection (No. 49 overall).
The Tigers also signed a pair of collegiate pitchers to under-slot deals. third-round pick Josh Randall (No. 85 overall), a right-hander out of the University of San Diego, signed for a $700,000 bonus, nearly $200,000 below his slot value. Fourth-round pick Michael Massey, a righty out of Wake Forest, also signed for $522,500, more than $100,000 below the slot value for his selection (No. 114 overall).
Tigers sign eight of their 21 selections from the 2024 MLB Draft
Detroit has also inked shortstops Jack Penney (fifth round, No. 147 overall) and Woody Hadeen (sixth round, No. 176 overall) to under-slot deals.
As of July 23, the Tigers have agreed to terms with eight of their 21 selections in the 2024 MLB Draft: right-handed pitchers Hall (second round), Randall (third) and Massey (fourth); shortstops Penney (fifth) and Hadeen (sixth), left-hander Ethan Sloan (eighth) and right-hander R.J. Sales (10th).
Competitive Balance Round B pick Ethan Schiefelbein is the only Tigers pick in first six rounds who has yet to sign with the club. Teams have until 5 p.m. Aug. 1 to sign their draft selections.
