HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros have signed first-round pick, right-handed pitcher J.B. Bukauskas, who was taken with the 15th overall selection in the 2017 MLB Draft. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. The official announcement was made by Astros Assistant General Manager of Scouting and Player Development Mike Elias.
Bukauskas and Elias will be available in the Union Station Lobby at Minute Maid Park today at 3:30 p.m. CT.
Bukauskas, 20, was rated by multiple outlets as one of the top-10 overall players available in the 2017 MLB Draft, checking in at No. 6 (Baseball America), No. 7 (MLB.com) and No. 9 (ESPN.com). In 15 starts as a junior at the University of North Carolina, Bukauskas was named the ACC Pitcher of the Year after going 9-1 with a 2.53 ERA (26ER/92.2IP), 116 strikeouts and a .188 opponent batting average. His 11.27 strikeouts per 9.0 innings ratio was the third-best mark in the nation, and in the ACC his strikeout total ranked third and his ERA ranked sixth. The Tar Heels Friday night starter in 2017, Bukauskas finished his career at UNC with the fifth-most strikeouts in program history (294).
Bukauskas was named one of four finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, which is awarded to the top amateur baseball player in the United States. He was also one of four finalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, one of five finalists for the College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Year award, and a Baseball America First Team All-American.
Additionally, the Astros have signed catcher Michael Papierski (9th round), right-handed pitcher Kyle Serrano (10th round), right-handed pitcher Brandon Bielak (11th round), right fielder Jonathan Lacroix (12th round), center fielder Jacob Meyers (13th round), right fielder Patrick Mathis (22nd round), second baseman Josh Rojas (26th round) and center fielder Andres Santana (29th round).
The Astros have signed 36 of their 42 selections from the 2017 draft, including all 12 of their selections made within the top 10 rounds.
Major League Baseball's deadline to sign drafted players is today at 4:00 p.m. CT.
-ASTROS-