A's sign 2026 first-round Draft pick Burress, second-rounder Edwards

PHOENIX -- The start of a six-game road trip on Monday for the Athletics doubled as a big signing day for several of the club’s 2026 Draft picks.

Headlining the wave of signings were the A’s first- and second-round selections from this year’s MLB Draft. Eighth overall pick, Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress, signed for $7.5 million, while USC left-hander Mason Edwards, the No. 47 overall pick, agreed to a $2.4 million, according to a source.

Both deals come with over-slot bonuses, with Burress expected to be the highest pick in this year’s MLB Draft to receive an over-slot bonus.

Burress, 21, set a school record by bashing 60 home runs in three seasons, becoming the first player in program history to reach that mark. At the time he was drafted, some analysts raised concerns about whether Burress’ power would fully translate to the pros with his 5-foot-9, 185-pound frame and transition to wood bats. The A’s, however, have zero worries about his 60-grade power.

“We don’t have any concern about that,” A’s scouting director Eric Kubota said. “His metrics match up with the best power hitters that have come out of college the last few years. … I think people probably say that because he’s not tall, but he’s really strong. We do think the power will translate.”

Having signed his contract just down the road at the A’s Spring Training complex in Mesa, Ariz., Burress will take part in batting practice with the A’s on Tuesday at Chase Field before their game against the D-backs.

Edwards, 21, led all of Division I college baseball with 169 strikeouts in 95 2/3 innings. Armed with a deceptive fastball in the mid-90s and impressive curveball that many believed was the best of any pitcher available in the Draft, Edwards was comped by Kubota to another lefty out of USC drafted by the A’s nearly three decades ago who went on to have an excellent career that included a Cy Young Award.

“A lot of similarities to Barry Zito, who obviously had a really good career here,” Kubota said. “It’s an easy comparison. … As a starter, he definitely pitched probably more in the low 90s, but we have seen more velocity out of him in the past and think there is room for that to improve as a starter as well. The way he spins the baseball, a lot of those guys are able to improve their velocity.”

It’s unlikely that Edwards will pitch for an A’s Minor League affiliate this season due to his large workload in college. Similar to previous Draft picks such as Gage Jump and Jamie Arnold, Edwards will likely get his professional career started in 2027 and could move quickly through the system if he performs well.

The A’s also signed their supplemental second-round pick, right-hander Gabe Gaeckle of Arkansas, for $1.25 million (slightly above slot value of $1,156,400) and third-round selection, right-hander Jacob Dudan of North Carolina State, for $865,000. Dudan’s bonus was below the slot value of $988,700.

Dudan, 21, is coming off Tommy John surgery that cut his 2026 season short. The A’s expect him to return to the mound around July 2027.

“We saw him as a very high-profile guy,” Kubota said. “We thought the opportunity was such in that round that it was tough to pass up. We feel very good about the chances that he comes back to what he was. I don’t want to say it’s routine nowadays for guys to have that surgery, but in a way, it is kind of routine, and he’s gotten it out of the way. We’re really excited to see what happens when Jacob can come back and throw.”

Fifth-rounder, Georgia Tech outfielder/first baseman Alex Hernandez, signed for the full slot value of $516,300. A college teammate of Burress, Hernandez earned high marks from scouts for his good swing decisions and impressive exit velocities.