Tigers sign top 2024 Draft pick Bryce Rainer

July 23rd, 2024

CLEVELAND -- The Tigers have signed shortstop , their first-round pick from last week’s MLB Draft, part of a slew of Draft deals Detroit announced on Monday.

Also announced were deals with right-handers Owen Hall (second round), Josh Randall (third) and Michael Massey (fourth); shortstops Jack Penney (fifth) and Woody Hadeen (sixth), lefty Ethan Sloan (eighth) and righty R.J. Sales (10th). Competitive Balance Round B pick Ethan Schiefelbein is the only Tigers pick in first six rounds yet to sign.

Rainer signed for a $5,797,500 million bonus, a bump from the $5.71 million slot value for the 11th overall pick, to forgo his college commitment to Texas, according to MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo. He’s expected to be introduced in Detroit later this week once the Tigers begin their homestand Friday against the Twins. It’ll be his first visit to Detroit.

Hall, a Vanderbilt commit, signed for a $1,750,000 bonus, just below the $1,893,700 slot for the 49th overall selection, according to MLB.com’s Jim Callis.

Every team's signings:

ALE: BAL | BOS | NYY | TB | TOR
ALC: CLE | CWS | DET | KC | MIN
ALW: HOU | LAA | OAK | SEA | TEX
NLE: ATL | MIA | NYM | PHI | WSH
NLC: CHC | CIN | MIL | PIT | STL
NLW: ARI | COL | LAD | SD | SF

Rainer had strongly hinted during his Draft night media session that he had agreed to terms after talking with teams in the top 10. In that sense, Monday’s news wasn’t a surprise, nor was the fact that he signed above slot value. Now that it’s finished, Rainer can begin his pro career and join a Tigers system that is accumulating offensive prospects.

Rainer joins Kevin McGonigle, last year’s supplemental first-round pick and currently the Tigers’ No. 4 prospect, as the top shortstop prospects in the organization. McGonigle, who some evaluators believe could eventually shift to second base, was just promoted to High-A West Michigan after batting .326 with an .877 OPS and 20 stolen bases for Single-A Lakeland.

Rainer’s 6-foot-3 height and left-handed swing has drawn natural comparisons to Rangers star shortstop Corey Seager. It’s a lofty expectation, but one that Rainer embraces having grown up as a Dodgers fan following Seager before he signed with Texas as a free agent following the 2021 season.

The Tigers believe Rainer’s athleticism for his size should allow him to stick at short, and they will give him every opportunity to prove that. Detroit has struggled to produce a shortstop through its system since trading then-prospect Willy Adames to Tampa Bay in the David Price deal a decade ago.

“This was the first year I’ve played shortstop in high school, and I think I grew a lot from the start of the season,” Rainer said last week. “I think with the help of this organization and their coaches, I think I can upgrade my playing of shortstop a lot more.”