Jon Denney, considered by many to be a first-round talent, slipped to the third round of this year’s MLB draft. That’s where the Red Sox snatched him up with the 81st overall pick, although there was concern about whether they’d be able to sign the 18-year-old catcher.
It looks like that concern can be put to rest. According to Baseball America’s Jim Callis, the Red Sox have signed Denney for $875,000.
Since Denney was so highly touted, he figured to be an expensive sign, which meant that selecting him required the Red Sox to roll the dice a little bit. The $875,000 bonus that Denney reportedly is signing for is above the $671,200 slot value attached to the selection, but the difference isn’t too large, especially considering the immense talent that Denney is said to possess.
Callis notes Denney’s bat speed, power from the right side of the plate and arm strength, while also stating that he was the third-best catcher in this year’s draft. If Denney reaches his true potential, there’s a chance he could end up being a steal.
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