The Houston Astros announced today that the club has signed five additional players who were selected in the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Those players include infielder Abraham Toro-Hernandez (fifth round), right-handed pitcher Chad Donato (11th), infielder Ryne Birk (13th), right-handed pitcher Kevin Hill (25th) and right-handed pitcher Ian Hardman (36th). Terms of the contracts were not disclosed. The official announcement was made by Astros Director of Amateur Scouting Mike Elias.<o:p>
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Two of the players that signed today are originally from the Houston area. Chad Donato is from Cypress and attended Cypress Woods High School before playing at West Virginia for three seasons (2014-2016). Ryne Birk is a product of Katy, and went to Seven Lakes High School before attending Texas A&M from 2014-16. <o:p>
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Houston has now signed 19 of their 40 selections from the 2016 draft, including eight of their top 10 selections.<o:p>
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Signed Draft Picks from the Astros 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft<o:p>
Rnd (Pick)      Player                                      School                                        Ht/Wt                  Date Signed<o:p>
2 (61)               OF Ronnie Dawson                 Ohio State                                  6-2/225                6/17<o:p>
3 (97)               C Jake Rogers                          Tulane                                        6-1/190                6/15<o:p>
4 (127)             LHP Brett Adcock                   Michigan                                    6-1/225                6/16<o:p>
5 (157)             IF Abraham Toro-Hernandez Seminole State                          6-0/190                6/20<o:p>
6 (187)             OF Stephen Wrenn                  Georgia                                      6-1/185                6/16<o:p>
8 (247)             RHP Nick Hernandez              Houston                                     6-2/215                6/16<o:p>
9 (277)             LHP Ryan Hartman                 Tennessee Wesleyan                  6-3/200                6/16<o:p>
10 (307)           RHP Dustin Hunt                    Northeastern                              6-4/185                6/16<o:p>
11 (337)           RHP Chad Donato                   West Virginia                             6-0/195                6/20<o:p>
12 (367)           OF Carmen Benedetti              Michigan                                    6-2/225                6/16<o:p>
13 (397)           IF Ryne Birk                            Texas A&M                               5-9/185                6/20<o:p>
15 (457)           IF Alex Degoti                         Barry University                        6-0/195                6/15<o:p>
18 (547)           RHP Colin McKee                   Mercyhurst College                   6-3/225                6/15<o:p>
19 (577)           IF Taylor Jones                        Gonzaga                                     6-7/225                6/15<o:p>
21 (637)           C Chuckie Robinson                Southern Mississippi                  5-11/225              6/15<o:p>
25 (757)           RHP Kevin Hill                        South Alabama                          6-0/205                6/20<o:p>
30 (907)           IF Brody Westmoreland          College of Southern Nevada     6-3/200                6/16<o:p>
31 (937)           LHP Howie Brey                     Rutgers                                      5-11/195              6/15<o:p>
36 (1087)         RHP Ian Hardman                   Seminole State                          6-5/240                6/20<o:p>
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-ASTROS-<o:p>