Brewers making progress signing Draft picks
CINCINNATI -- The Brewers hadn't formally announced any signings from last week's First-Year Player Draft as of Friday afternoon, but that doesn't mean amateur scouting director Bruce Seid and his crew haven't been busy.
According to MLB.com's own reporting, plus other media reports and players' posts on Twitter, the team had either signed, or agreed to terms pending a physical exam, with each of its first 11 selections and 12 of its first 13.
Milwaukee may be waiting until it has a signed contract for top pick Devin Williams before announcing any other deals. Williams, a right-handed pitcher from a high school in suburban St. Louis, was in Milwaukee for a physical exam on Wednesday and a motion analysis test on Thursday, and an agreement was expected to be finalized by the end of the weekend.
Williams, who is foregoing a scholarship from Missouri to sign with the Brewers, is expected to receive a signing bonus in excess of the $1,017,300 slotted by Major League Baseball for the 54th overall pick.
Other notable picks were already officially in the fold by Friday. The team's second overall pick, supplemental second rounder Tucker Neuhaus, a left-handed-hitting shortstop, and fifth-rounder Josh Uhen, a right-hander from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, each Tweeted a photo signing their contract, and both traveled from Milwaukee to Phoenix on Friday to begin their professional careers. Neuhaus received a $771,000 bonus and Uhen $250,000, according to Baseball America.
Officially a Brewer!!!! ⚾ pic.twitter.com/aekl394ZBD
- Tucker Neuhaus (@Tucker_Neuhaus) June 10, 2013
Third-rounder Barrett Astin, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Arkansas, signed for $584,300, and told fans he will be roommates at rookie-level Helena with 17th round pick Brandon Moore, a fellow Razorback who told the website WholeHogSports.com that he signed with the Brewers on Thursday after getting engaged to his girlfriend at the airport. The Camas-Washougal Post-Record reported that fourth rounder Taylor Williams, a right-hander from Kent State University, signed for $400,000.
Sixth-rounder Garrett Cooper, a first baseman from Auburn, is also headed to Helena. Seventh-rounder Omar Garcia and eighth-rounder Brandon Diaz, speedy center fielders from Florida high schools, had also signed, as had ninth-round pick Tyler Linehan of Fresno State, 10th rounder Michael Ratterree, an outfielder from Rice, and 11th rounder Andy Hillis, a right-hander from Lee University in Tennessee. The most recent to sign was Ratterree, whose deal was reported Friday evening by the Houston Chronicle..
"I'm officially a Brewer," Linehan Tweeted, posting a photo of himself in a Brewers cap.
It was a common sentiment at the end of a busy post-Draft week.