Indians agree with comp pick McKenzie
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Indians targeted pitching high in the 2015 Draft, and the club has now succeeded in adding the selected arms to its farm system.
On Monday, Cleveland agreed to terms with prep right-hander Triston McKenzie (picked 42nd overall) on a signing bonus worth $2,302,500, according to MLBPipeline.com's Jim Callis. That means the Indians have signed each of their 11 selections within the first 10 rounds, which included seven pitchers.
The Indians have not confirmed the deal with McKenzie.
"He's got a lot of upside to him," Brad Grant, the Indians' director of amateur scouting, said after drafting McKenzie. "What we like with Triston is it's a fastball that's up to 93 [mph]. He's another one who can spin a curveball. A guy with a good feel for a change. And Triston, as well, throws a lot of strikes and has a very good delivery."
McKenzie, who will turn 18 in August, was added by Cleveland in the Competitive Balance A round between the first and second rounds. The 42nd overall pick came with a slot value of $1,468,400, but money saved on signees in the lower rungs within the first 10 rounds allowed the Indians to give the young pitcher more than the suggested amount.
The Indians selected lefty Brady Aiken with their first-round selection (17th overall) and picked up lefty Juan Hillman (59th overall) in the second round.
McKenzie went 9-5 with a 0.79 ERA in 91 innings as a senior at Royal Palm Beach High School in Florida, striking out 157 and walking just 16 on the season. He logged five complete games in the Class 7A state tournament, allowing only four runs along the way. The righty is listed at 6-foot-5, 160 pounds, but the Indians believe he has potential to add to his frame and gain velocity in the process.