KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -Tim Melville, a promising high school pitcher taken in the fourth round of the amateur draft, agreed Friday to a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals for a $1.25 million signing bonus.
As the 11 p.m. CDT deadline approached, the Royals tried to sign their first-round pick, high school third baseman Eric Hosmer, who was the third selection overall.
Melville, a right-handed high school pitcher from Wentzville, Mo., was widely thought to possess first-round talent but slid to the fourth round because clubs thought he might be difficult to sign.
“I’m really excited,” Melville said during a conference call. “I’m going to Arizona tomorrow and get started.”
He admitted he was disappointed at first that he slid to the fourth round.
“But after draft day, I was happy. I came to realize that it always works out in the end,” he said.
Melville said he spoke with Hosmer a couple of weeks ago but declined to speculate on what he possible future teammate would do.
Hosmer, a power-hitter, has a scholarship waiting at Arizona State. He is being advised by Scott Boras.
A 6-foot-4 native of Plantation, Fla., Hosmer is a power hitter the Royals desperately need. Last year, Kansas City did not sign its first-round pick, Mike Moustakas, until minutes before the deadline. Moustakas, taken No. 2 overall, agreed to a $4 million signing bonus.
If Hosmer does not sign, the Royals would get a supplemental first-round selection next year.
Melville, 6-foot-5, 205, has a fastball in the mid-90s, a curveball and changeup. He was 8-1 as a senior with a 2.56 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 52 innings. Baseball America rated him 15th overall among this year’s prospects. He hopes to be in the majors in three years.
“We are very pleased to announce the signing of Tim Melville. Tim, his family, and adviser Jason Cook remained committed to this process from start to finish,” said the Royals’ director of scouting, Deric Ladnier. “Tim is a very talented young man and we are excited that we were able to add a player of his caliber to the Royals organization.”
Add A Comment