These are the highest signing bonuses in the history of the Draft
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.
2024 Draft presented by Nike:
Draft Tracker | First-round signings | All-time biggest bonuses
Pick-by-pick analysis: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
Bazzana goes No. 1 | Wake Forest makes history | Mariners nab switch-pitcher | Top 7 Day 1 storylines | Best hauls | Our favorite picks | Famous family ties | Biggest steals | These picks could be new club No. 1's | Picks who could be quickest to bigs | Sons of Manny, Big Papi selected | Complete coverage
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.