PHOENIX -- The Cardinals have agreed to terms with outfielder Scott Hurst, their third-round pick in this month's MLB Draft. The agreement, which includes a $450,000 signing bonus, comes a week after Hurst completed a run to the College World Series with Cal State Fullerton.
The Cardinals, who forfeited their first three Draft picks, made Hurst their top pick when they took him with the 94th overall selection. Hurst's signing bonus was below the slot value for that pick ($570,900), which means the Cardinals will have additional financial flexibility as they continue to negotiate with other unsigned players.
The organization has tried to find bonus savings where it can in order to make more lucrative offers to sixth-round pick Zach Jackson and eighth-round pick Wilberto Rivera, both of whom were drafted out of high school. The only other unsigned player drafted by the Cardinals in the first 10 rounds is shortstop Kramer Robertson, whose Louisiana State University team is in the finals of the CWS.
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Hurst led the Big West Conference with 56 runs scored and 142 total bases this year. He hit a team-best .328 with a .419 on-base percentage, .575 slugging percentage, 12 homers, 15 doubles, five triples and 40 RBIs. Hurst's season was highlighted by a four-homer game against Cal State-Northridge on May 20.
He went 1-for-6 with two runs scored in Cal State Fullerton's two CWS losses.