Twins sign fifth-round Draft pick Rosario
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins announced on Wednesday that they have officially signed Kala'i Rosario, their fifth-round selection from the 2020 MLB Draft. The high school outfielder from Hawaii was the fourth and final member of Minnesota's Draft class to agree to terms.
Rosario signed for a bonus of $270,000, according to a source, shy of the slot value of $330,100 for the No. 158 selection in the Draft. Three of the four signees went under-slot on their deals, with Rosario joining second-round selection Alerick Soularie ($900,000) and fourth-round pick Marco Raya ($410,000). Only first-rounder Aaron Sabato went over slot with his $2.75 million signing bonus.
The Twins used $4.33 million on the signing bonuses for this class, short of their $4.53 million allocation for their four picks.
One day shy of his 18th birthday, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Rosario hails from Waiakea High School on the Big Island of Hawaii and caught the Twins' eye with his big power potential. Minnesota did most of its scouting on Rosario during the Area Code Games in California last summer, though they were not present when he beat the massive power bat of top Draft prospect Blaze Jordan in the finals of the home run derby at that event.
"[Rosario] can do real damage to the baseball," said Twins scouting director Sean Johnson following the Draft. "He's strong. He's got a good swing. Much in line with the three hitters we took, these guys are hitters who can do a lot of damage with the baseball, and all have a chance for real power. To get him in the fifth round, we felt really good about."
Rosario likely tracks to a corner-outfield position in his professional future. He will forgo a commitment to Cal Baptist.