For the second straight year, the Royals agreed to a last-minute deal with their first-round pick just before Friday night’s deadline.Minutes before the 11 p.m. cutoff, the Royals agreed to terms with Eric Hosmer, an 18-year-old left-handed slugging first baseman who immediately becomes one of the organization’s top prospects.Hosmer receives a $6 million bonus, which is the biggest in franchise history, surpassing the $4 million for Mike Moustakas last year and Alex Gordon in 2006. It’s not a major-league deal, meaning the Royals still have one open spot on their 40-man roster.Hosmer was being advised by super agent Scott Boras, but insisted before the draft that the final decision would be his and his alone.Hosmer also helps fill a desperate need in the Royals’ farm system for position players, particularly power hitters.Time will be the ultimate judge, but right now, the Royals appear to have completed one of their best drafts in years. In addition to Hosmer, widely considered the best power hitting prospect in the draft and a player some teams had at the top of their draft boards, the Royals added another first-round talent in right-handed high school pitcher Tim Melville.Melville, Baseball America’s No. 15 overall prospect before the draft, slid to the fourth round because of signability questions. He agreed to a $1.25 million bonus with the Royals.Hosmer had a scholarship to play baseball at Arizona State, and in the days leading up to the deadline indicated he would be happy in college or pro ball.Hosmer avoids becoming the first top 10 draft pick to go unsigned since Matt Harrington in 2000. Harrington is often cited as a cautionary tale against prospects turning down guaranteed millions, as he has yet to play affiliated baseball.Then again, acting on the advice of Boras, J.D. Drew reportedly turned down $5 million from the Phillies in 1997 and signed for well more than that with the Cardinals the next year.

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Posted on Fri, Aug. 15, 2008 11:48 PM

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Royals sign first-round pick Hosmer to $6 million bonus

By SAM MELLINGER

The Kansas City Star

Bob Dutton's vlog | Royals 4, Yankees 3

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For the second straight year, the Royals agreed to a last-minute deal with their first-round pick just before Friday night’s deadline.

Minutes before the 11 p.m. cutoff, the Royals agreed to terms with Eric Hosmer, an 18-year-old left-handed slugging first baseman who immediately becomes one of the organization’s top prospects.

Hosmer receives a $6 million bonus, which is the biggest in franchise history, surpassing the $4 million for Mike Moustakas last year and Alex Gordon in 2006. It’s not a major-league deal, meaning the Royals still have one open spot on their 40-man roster.

Hosmer was being advised by super agent Scott Boras, but insisted before the draft that the final decision would be his and his alone.

Hosmer also helps fill a desperate need in the Royals’ farm system for position players, particularly power hitters.

Time will be the ultimate judge, but right now, the Royals appear to have completed one of their best drafts in years. In addition to Hosmer, widely considered the best power hitting prospect in the draft and a player some teams had at the top of their draft boards, the Royals added another first-round talent in right-handed high school pitcher Tim Melville.

Melville, Baseball America’s No. 15 overall prospect before the draft, slid to the fourth round because of signability questions. He agreed to a $1.25 million bonus with the Royals.

Hosmer had a scholarship to play baseball at Arizona State, and in the days leading up to the deadline indicated he would be happy in college or pro ball.

Hosmer avoids becoming the first top 10 draft pick to go unsigned since Matt Harrington in 2000. Harrington is often cited as a cautionary tale against prospects turning down guaranteed millions, as he has yet to play affiliated baseball.

Then again, acting on the advice of Boras, J.D. Drew reportedly turned down $5 million from the Phillies in 1997 and signed for well more than that with the Cardinals the next year.

To reach Sam Mellinger, national baseball reporter for The Star, call 816-234-4365 or send e-mail to smellinger@kcstar.com.

Posted on Fri, Aug. 15, 2008 11:48 PM

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