Astros sign Draft picks Schroeder, McKenna

HOUSTON -- The Astros announced they signed second-round pick Jayson Schroeder, a right-handed pitcher, and fourth-round pick Alex McKenna, an outfielder, on Friday. The club has signed each of its top 10 selections and 26 of 40 selections overall in the 2018 MLB Draft.
Schroeder signed for $1.25 million, according to MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis. Schroeder was committed to the University of Washington, but he instead chose to sign with the Astros above the 66th overall pick's slot value of $965,300.
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"It was a pretty difficult decision," Schroeder said. "I liked the guys at [Washington]. I like their campus and their coaches and all that. But I felt like this is ultimately the best thing for myself and my family. ... I have this great opportunity and I took it."
Schroeder, an 18-year-old power pitcher with two breaking balls and a developing changeup, held a 1.51 ERA with 110 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings (11 starts) during his senior season at Juanita High School in Kirkland, Wash.
Schroeder said he will travel to the Astros' Spring Training facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Saturday.
McKenna was named the 2018 Big West Conference Player of the Year after batting .339 with 15 doubles, five triples, five homers, 31 RBIs and a .930 OPS at Cal Poly. The 21-year-old was chosen with the 132nd overall pick and signed for $432,500, also above the 132nd pick's slot value of $410,400.
Rotation shuffle
Following a 122-pitch start on Tuesday, Justin Verlander will next start on Monday instead of Sunday, a swap manager AJ Hinch previously made in hopes of keeping Verlander on regular rest. Gerrit Cole, who started on Monday, also received an extra day of rest with the club's off-day Thursday and will start Sunday's series finale against the Royals.
"On the off day, I just started thinking about what's best for our team," Hinch said. "[Verlander] coming off of the 120-plus pitches, I didn't feel very good about my original decision to bring him back on the regular rest and push Cole back. So I just changed my mind. It's nothing more than that. There's no problem. There's no issue."