The Tampa Bay Rays and right-handed pitcher Michael Mercado have agreed to terms on a contract, according to MLB.com's Jim Callis. The club has not confirmed the report.
Mercado was the No. 40 overall selection in the 2017 MLB Draft and will receive a $2,132,400 signing bonus from the Rays. The suggested slot value for the pick is $1,714,500.
The fourth selection of the second round, Mercado features a promising fastball and a plus curveball and can control both pitches well. The young righty allowed just 29 hits and 17 walks while striking out 97 batters in 70 2/3 innings for Westview High School in California this season.
Standing 6-foot-5, Mercado's four-seam fastball sits in the low 90s and has reached 95 mph at times. His repertoire also includes a two-seam heater with late movement, a cutter with slider-type break and a circle change he has a good feel for, but hasn't had to utilize it much, per Baseball America.
The Rays have signed six of their picks from the recently completed Draft, including shortstop Zach Rutherford (sixth round), left-hander Hunter Schryver (seventh round), right-hander Riley O'Brien (eighth round), right-hander Phonenix Sanders (10th round), and right-hander Ryan Askew (29th round).