The Cleveland Indians signed 20 of their 42 selections from the 2018 First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday. Eighteen of the selections inked their first professional contracts Wednesday afternoon in Goodyear, Arizona. The club has signed six of their top 10 selections from the 2018 MLB Draft.
Second round selection RHP Nick Sandlin (67th overall) was the top pick signed Wednesday. Sandlin, 21, recently concluded his junior season at the University of Southern Mississippi, posting a 10-0 record with a 1.06 ERA in 15 starts for the Golden Eagles. He struck out 144 batters in 102.1 innings pitched against just 18 walks, leading all Division I pitchers in ERA (1.06) and WHIP (0.71). The 2018 First-Team All-American (per Baseball America) was also named the 2018 recipient of the C. Spire Ferriss Trophy, which honors the top collegiate baseball player in the state of Mississippi. He worked out of the bullpen in his first two seasons at Southern Mississippi, earning 2017 First-Team All-American honors from Rawlings-Perfect Game.