Tag: MLB Draft

Zebulon Vermillion inks deal with New York Mets

Vermillion has signed a money-saving deal with the New York Mets, which brings Arkansas’ signing total to seven players.

A former Arkansas reliever is the latest to sign his rookie contract.

[autotag]Zebulon Vermillion[/autotag], the No. 299 overall selection by the New York Mets, has agreed to terms with the organization according to Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline.

According to Callis, the deal is a money-saver for the Mets, who have signed Vermillion for $20,000.

Vermillion posted an overall record of 10-1 in five seasons at Arkansas, recording an even 100 strikeouts in 71 appearances. Vermillion saw his most action during the 2022 season, a season in which he used his extra season of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season of 2020.

In 24 appearances, Vermillion struck out 28 batters while walking ten and allowing 22 hits in 26.1 innings of work on the mound, posting a career-low in ERA with 2.39.

Vermillion becomes the seventh Razorback draftee to sign a rookie deal. At the time of this post, no deals had been reported for [autotag]Cayden Wallace[/autotag] (49th overall selection by Kansas City), and [autotag]Mark Adamiak[/autotag] (454th overall selection by Oakland).

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Chicago White Sox agree to terms with Michael Turner

Turner is set to join teammate Peyton Pallette in the White Sox organization

He may have only spent one season in Arkansas, but, wow, what a season it was.

[autotag]Michael Turner[/autotag], who transferred to Arkansas from Kent State ahead of the 2022 season, has officially signed a rookie deal with the Chicago White Sox, ending his career as a Razorback after one season.

According to Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline, the White Sox have signed Turner to a money-saving deal worth $35,000.

Turner was taken in the 9th round by the Chicago White Sox in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, becoming the second Razorback to the selected by the White Sox, joining RHP [autotag]Peyton Pallette[/autotag].

He became the seventh player from Arkansas selected out of nine overall. Those drafted before Turner have all signed with their respective organizations at the time of this post, with the exception of [autotag]Cayden Wallace[/autotag], who was drafted by the Kansas City Royals at No. 49 overall.

Turner enjoyed his best season in a college uniform at Arkansas in 2022 in a myriad of ways. He set career bests in RBI (53), walks (27), doubles (17), hits (83), at-bats (257), home runs (9), and total bases (129).

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Peyton Pallette officially signs with Chicago White Sox

Peyton Pallete’s first assignment following Tommy John surgery will be with the White Sox organization

One of Arkansas’ highest draft picks has officially signed his rookie contract.

[autotag]Peyton Pallette[/autotag], who missed the 2022 season to recover from Tommy John surgery, has signed his rookie contract with the Chicago White Sox, the organization that selected him with the No. 62 overall pick.

Pallette is in for a hefty payday. Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline is reporting that Pallette has signed with the White Sox for $1.5 million, which is just under slot value for the No. 62 overall selection.

In two seasons at Arkansas, Pallette struck out 70 batters while posting an ERA of 3.79. In 2021, Pallete appeared in 15 games, making 11 starts. He struck out 67 batters while issuing 20 walks in 56 innings of work.

Pallette was expected to become the anchor to the Arkansas weekend rotation in 2022, however, an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament forced him to miss what eventually was his final season at Arkansas, making the way for [autotag]Connor Noland[/autotag] to take the role.

Pallete was the second Razorback selected in the 2022 MLB Draft, and one of three selected in the second round. Cayden Wallace was taken 13 picks higher by the Kansas City Royals, and Robert Moore was taken with a compensation pick by the Milwaukee Brewers.

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Jalen Battles Signs With Tampa Bay Rays

Expect to see Jalen Battles’ glove in The Show in a few years after the Arkansas shortstop signed with the Rays.

Jalen Battles will be taking his defensive talents to the west coast of Florida, officially signing with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Battles has been touted as one of the best defensive prospects heading into the MLB Draft. He was drafted in the 5th round, 164th overall by the Rays, in a draft class that includes two other shortstops.

Battles’ journey to the majors is honest, being a junior-college product before Arkansas. The Philadelphia Phillies drafted Battles in 2019, but he elected to return to college.

As a Razorback, Battles had a .279 career batting average and 122 career starts at shortstop. Alongside Robert Moore, who signed with the Milwaukee Brewers, he created the best double-play duo in college baseball.

Jordan Sprinkle spurns Arkansas, signs rookie deal with Chicago White Sox

Jordan Sprinkle, who announced his intent to transfer to Arkansas following the 2022 season, has elected to turn pro.

Turns out that Jordan Sprinkle will not report to Arkansas after all.

Sprinkle, who announced his intent to transfer to Arkansas from UC-Santa Barbara earlier this month, was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Chicago White Sox.

On Tuesday, it was reported that Sprinkle has elected to sign a deal with the White Sox, and will forgo his commitment to Arkansas Baseball. According to MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, the White Sox signed Sprinkle for full slot value for the 131st pick for $452,900.

Sprinkle had an impressive three-season career for the Gauchos. He hit for a .319 average with 10 home runs, 67 RBI, and 51 stolen bases. He was known best for his ability to get extra-base hits. In his three year career, Sprinkle recorded 29 double and six triples.

Sprinkle joins four other Razorbacks who have signed their rookie contracts. Tuesday was the busiest day for draft signings, as [autotag]Robert Moore[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Battles[/autotag] also signed deals with the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays respectively. Pitchers [autotag]Connor Noland[/autotag] (Cubs) and [autotag]Evan Taylor[/autotag] (Marlins) have also signed rookie deals.

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Mason Barnett becomes latest Tiger to sign professional contract

The Kansas City Royals have agreed to terms with Mason Barnett, who recorded 83 strikeouts for Auburn in 2022.

[autotag]Mason Barnett[/autotag] becomes the fourth member of the 2022 Auburn Baseball roster to sign his rookie contract, as he has agreed to terms given by the Kansas City Royals, the club that drafted him with the 87th overall selection in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

According to Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline, Barnett has agreed to a rookie contract worth $697,500, which is just over $27,000 below slot value.

In three seasons at Auburn, Barnett posted a 5-7 record over 40 appearances with 21 starts. He made his most appearances during the 2022 season, where he started 14 games on the mound in a weekend-starter role.

In 63.2 innings pitched in 2022, Barnett struck out 87 batters while boasting a 4.38 ERA, and an opponent average of .256.

Barnett joins Blake Burkhalter (Braves), Sonny DiChiara (Angels), and Blake Rambusch (Mariners), as former Tigers to sign their professional contracts. Four more Tigers have yet to agree to terms with the organizations that drafted them. The next deal expected to be reported is for Brody Moore, who has penned a farewell tweet to Auburn fans after reportedly agreeing to terms with the St. Louis Cardinals.

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Former Notre Dame 3B/P Brannigan signs with Pittsburgh

Congrats Jack!

One of the most electric players in Major League Baseball is Anaheim Angels pitcher, outfielder, designated hitter Shohei Ohtani. With an fastball that touches 100 miles-per-hour and prodigious power, Ohtani has changed the way many teams view two-way players.

Notre Dame’s [autotag]Jack Brannigan[/autotag] is one of those, the regular Irish third-baseman over the last two seasons and occasional pitcher will get his opportunity to do what Ohtani does, play both ways. When drafted in the 3rd round by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Brannigan wasn’t given one position description, he was labeled as both, leading many to wonder if he will be able to do that at the highest level. After officially signing with the Pirates, it seems like Brannigan will.

It will be interesting to watch Brannigan during his professional career, especially how long the Pirates will allow him to play both ways and how they will handle it. Either way, the former Irish star will get his chance to play both ways at the professional level.

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Blake Rambusch inks rookie deal with Seattle Mariners

Another Auburn baseball player has officially signed with their MLB team.

Another former Tiger has made the decision to take the next step in their baseball career.

Just a day after the official announcements that Blake Burkhalter and Sonny DiChiara had signed their rookie contract with their respective clubs, it was reported that a third MLB Draft selection from Auburn had reached a deal.

Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline reported Saturday the Seattle Mariners have agreed to terms with their 15th-round selection in the 2022 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Auburn’s [autotag]Blake Rambusch[/autotag].

Rambusch, who was the 468th overall selection, has signed a rookie contract valued at $125,000.

In just one season on the Plains, Rambusch made an impact in both aspects of the game. At the plate, Rambusch had the team’s second-highest average with .327, fourth in RBI with 37, and stole 16 bases in 21 attempts.

In the field, Rambusch fielded at a .957 clip, committing just seven errors in 115 fielding attempts. He was also joins [autotag]Kason Howell[/autotag] as the only two players to start all 65 games of the 2022 season, staring primarily at third base.

Five of Auburn’s eight draft picks have yet to agree to terms with their respective franchises. MLB teams have until 4 p.m. CDT on August 1 to reach a deal with their draft picks.

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It’s official: Connor Noland signs with Chicago Cubs

Arkansas ace Connor Noland has signed with the Chicago Cubs after being drafted in the ninth round.

Connor Noland entertained the idea of returning to Arkansas for a sixth season. But in the end, few would blame him for his choice.

Noland, who was taken in the ninth round of the MLB Draft earlier in the week by the Chicago Cubs, signed with the franchise on Saturday.

Noland, a graduate of Greenwood High, arrived at Arkansas as both a quarterback and starting pitcher. He beat Tulsa on the gridiron as a redshirt freshman before focusing exclusively on baseball.

This past season, the right-hander had a 3.65 earned-run average with 113 strikeouts in 116 innings. During Arkansas’ postseason run, which saw the Diamond Hogs come within a game of the College World Series championships series, Noland had a 1.53 ERA in 29 1/3 innings.

Financial details of the deal with the Cubs organization are unknown, though the slot value for the pick is $164,500.

Noland was one of nine Razorbacks players from the 2022 roster to be taken in the draft. Arkansas also lost top pitching recruit Cole Phillips to the Atlanta Braves after Phillips signed close to the weekend.

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Burkhalter officially signs with Atlanta Braves

Blake Burkhalter joined the other Braves top draft choices on Friday by signing his rookie contract.

The Auburn Tigers had a total of eight players selected during the three-day Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft earlier this week. One of those picks has officially signed with the franchise that drafted him.

Right-handed pitcher [autotag]Blake Burkhalter[/autotag], who was used as the Tigers’ primary closer in 2022, signed his rookie deal with the Atlanta Braves on Friday, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline has reported.

According to Callis, Burkhalter signed with the Braves for under slot value.

Burkhalter’s signing shuts the door on his Auburn career. In three seasons on the Plains, Burkhalter struck out 104 of the 298 batters he faced, issuing just 26 walks and allowing 24 earned runs in 71.2 innings pitched.

Last season, Burkhalter recorded an SEC-best 16 saves, which was the second-highest in the country behind Tristan Stivors of Texas State. Burkhalter appeared in 30 games for Auburn in 2021, where he struck out a career-best 71 batters in 46.1 innings pitched.

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