share-square-216019
ATLANTA AJ Smith-Shawver had a chance to play baseball and football at Texas Tech. But the seventh-round selection in the 2021 Draft will instead begin his professional baseball career courtesy of the near $1 million bonus the Braves have provided.
According to MLB.com’s Jim Callis, the Braves have signed Smith-Shawver with a $997,500 bonus. This is $795,900 above the multi-sport star’s slot value. It was also the cost needed to influence the 18-year-old Texan to decline the opportunity to pitch and play quarterback for Texas Tech.
“We love that he’s a two-sport star because we know he’s really athletic and a good, strong, physical kid,” Braves vice president of scouting Dana Brown said. “We think he has some upside to be pretty special.
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves wrapped up day two of the 2021 MLB Draft Monday by selecting nine more players, seven of which were college players. Atlanta began the day selecting a two-way player, Spencer Schwellenbach out of Nebraska in the second round with the 59th pick overall. Schwellenbach pitched and played shortstop but Braves scouting director Dana Brown made it clear that the team sees him as a pitcher going forward and were excited to get him.
“The plan was, of course, as always to take the best player available,” Brown said. “We were actually very excited, because we had some first round numbers on Schwellenbach and he was there in the second round so we were really excited to get him.”
Wetaskiwin News | Latest Local Headlines wetaskiwintimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wetaskiwintimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.