These are the highest signing bonuses in the history of the Draft

July 23rd, 2024

For a second consecutive year, the record for the largest signing bonus in Draft history has been eclipsed by multiple players.

Two of the top three picks in 2024 -- Chase Burns (Reds, No. 2 overall) and Charlie Condon (Rockies, No. 3) -- agreed to deals worth more than the $9.2 million that No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes received from the Pirates in '23, while this year's No. 1, Travis Bazzana (Guardians), netted $8,950,000, well under the assigned pick value of $10,570,600. The $8 million deal No. 5 overall pick Hagen Smith agreed to with the White Sox would become the largest bonus for a left-handed pitcher in history.

The assigned pick values in 2024 rose 8.7 percent, mirroring the growth in industry revenues.

Four players have received larger guarantees via big league contracts, which were prohibited for draftees when the bonus-pool system was instituted in 2012. Stephen Strasburg (Nationals, 2009, No. 1 overall) commanded a deal that promised him $15,107,104, a figure that won't be topped for many years to come. Mark Prior (Cubs, 2001, No. 2) landed a $10.5 million contract, Bryce Harper (Nationals, 2010, No. 1) signed a $9.9 million deal and Mark Teixeira (Rangers, 2001, No. 5) inked a $9.5 million contract.

A complete list of drafted players who signed for bonuses of $7 million or more:

$9,250,000: Chase Burns, Reds, 2024 (No. 2 overall)
RHP, Wake Forest

$9,250,000: Charlie Condon, Rockies, 2024 (No. 3)
OF, Georgia

$9,200,000: Paul Skenes, Pirates, 2023 (No. 1)
RHP, Louisiana State

$9,000,000: Dylan Crews, Nationals, 2023 (No. 2)
OF, Louisiana State

$8,950,000: Travis Bazzana, Guardians, 2024 (No. 1)
2B, Oregon State

$8,416,300: Spencer Torkelson, Tigers, 2020 (No. 1)
3B, Arizona State

$8,190,000: Jackson Holliday, Orioles, 2022 (No. 1)
SS, Stillwater (Okla.) HS

$8,189,400: Druw Jones, Diamondbacks, 2022 (No. 2)
OF, Wesleyan School (Peachtree Corners, Ga.)

$8,100,000: Adley Rutschman, Orioles, 2019 (No. 1)
C, Oregon State

$8,000,000: Gerrit Cole, Pirates, 2011 (No. 1)
RHP, UCLA

$8,000,000: Wyatt Langford, Rangers, 2023 (No. 4)
OF, Florida

$8,000,000: Hagen Smith, White Sox, 2024 (No. 5)
LHP, Arkansas

$7,922,000: Jack Leiter, Rangers, 2021 (No. 2)
RHP, Vanderbilt

$7,787,400: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals, 2019 (No. 2)
SS, Colleyville (Texas) Heritage HS

$7,700,000: Max Clark, Tigers, 2023 (No. 3)
OF, Franklin (Ind.) HS

*$7,500,000: Stephen Strasburg, Nationals, 2009 (No. 1)
RHP, San Diego State

+$7,500,000: Bubba Starling, Royals, 2011 (No. 5)
OF, Gardner-Edgerton HS (Gardner, Kan.)

$7,500,000: Casey Mize, Tigers, 2018 (No. 1)
RHP, Auburn

$7,230,000: Hunter Greene, Reds, 2017 (No. 2)
RHP, Notre Dame HS (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)

$7,221,200: Andrew Vaughn, White Sox, 2019 (No. 3)
1B, California

$7,219,000: Termarr Johnson, Pirates, 2022 (No. 4)
2B, Mays HS (Atlanta)

$7,144,200: Walker Jenkins, Twins, 2023 (No. 5)
OF, South Brunswick HS (Southport, N.C.)

$7,025,000: Joey Bart, Giants, 2018 (No. 2)
C, Georgia Tech

$7,005,000: Brendan McKay, Rays, 2017 (No. 4)
1B/LHP, Louisville

$7,000,825: Austin Martin, Blue Jays, 2020 (No. 5)
OF/3B, Vanderbilt

$7,000,000: Kyle Wright, Braves, 2017 (No. 5)
RHP, Vanderbilt

*Part of Major League contract.

+Bonus spread over multiple years via two-sport athlete rule.