Nats Wait Until Last Minute, Sign Top Five Draft Picks

Posted by Dave Nichols | Tuesday, August 16, 2011 | , , , | 0 comments »

The Washington Nationals have signed all five of their top draft picks, according to multiple sources

There was very little news all evening until right before the midnight deadline, when multiple sources announced that first round picks 3B Anthony Rendon (No. 6 overall), RHP Alex Meyer (No. 23 overall) and Brian Goodwin (No. 34 overall), along with third round pick LHP Matt Purke, had all agreed to deals with the club.

Details of the contracts are unknown at this time, but it has been reported that Rendon signed a $7.2 million Major League deal, according to Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman and Purke signed a Major League deal worth roughly $4.4 million, according to Baseball America's Jim Callis.  Other reports have Goodwin's contract at $3 million, MLB-recommended "slot" money for the third overall pick.

The first domino to fall, with news leaking about 9:30 pm from Baseball America's Jim Callis, was fourth round pick Kylin Turnbull, a 6'4" left-handed pitcher from Santa Barbara (CA) CC.  Turnbull is described as a big, projectable lefty with a low-90s fastball.  He also features a slider and splitter that "have potential", according to one scouting service.  He was committed to the University of Oregon, but signed with the Nats for $325,000, just $100,000 more than the MLB slot recommendation.  Turnbull was a 30th round pick of the White Sox in 2010 and improved his stock by not signing and playing another year of amateur ball.

We'll have much more infprmation about all the Nats top draft picks, including quotes from Nats GM Mike Rizzo, coming up after he addresses the media shortly.

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