ASU Baseball: Two drafted commits sign with MLB Teams
By Sam Ficarro
Friday was the signing day deadline for MLB teams to sign their drafted players as two ASU baseball commits signed with their respective MLB teams.
ASU baseball is coming off one of their worst seasons ever, but their recruiting classes the past two years has given the program optimism as these young players continue to develop.
Head coach Tracy Smith put together one of the best 2017 recruiting classes in the nation but arguably the top two prospects in the class have signed with MLB teams.
Left-handed pitcher Brendan Murphy from Mundeilein High School in Mundeilein, Illinois, selected in the fourth round by the Milwaukee Brewers signed with the team on an above-slot contract.
Brewers signed Murphy to a $500,000 signing bonus when the slot for the 114th overall pick is set for $468,800.
Murphy was ranked 157th overall by MLBPipeline.com.
4th-rder Brendan Murphy signs w/@Brewers for $500k (pick 114=$468,600). Illinois HS LHP, 88-93 w/life, fading CH, projectable. @MLBDraft
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) June 20, 2017
The other Arizona State commit to sign a professional contract was Pinnacle High School shortstop Jake Holmes who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies after he was selected in the 11th round.
Holmes went much lower than draft experts thought as he went 323rd overall after he was ranked 132nd by MLBPipeline.com as Holmes signed for a $500,000 bonus with $375,000 going toward the Phillies pool money for drafted picks.
#Phillies sign 11th-rounder Jake Holmes for $500k ($375k towards pool), per @JonathanMayo. No. 132 on Top 200: https://t.co/D8QzOoDh50 pic.twitter.com/nahFiUm8L8
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 17, 2017
Murphy and Holmes were the only two drafted ASU baseball commits who signed with their respective teams.
The five commits who didn’t sign was Brewers 14th-round pick and Basha High School shortstop Gage Workman, Yankees 32nd-round pick outfielder Alika Williams, Diamondbacks 36th-round pick and Skyline High School pitcher Boyd Vander Kooi, Royals 37th-round pick and Perry High School shortstop Trevor Hauver and Rockies 38th-round pick pitcher Drake Davis.
Also not signing is Arizona State pitcher Connor Higgins who was selected in the 35th round by the Texas Rangers as he’ll be back in Tempe for another season.
Thankful for the opportunity given to me by the Texas Rangers but we have some unfinished business in tempe! Can't wait to get back to work!
— Connor Higgins (@Connor_Higgins7) July 2, 2017
Higgins will look to potentially join the starting rotation next season after the graduation of pitcher Eder Erives.
Next: ASU Baseball: Connor Higgins Selected in MLB Draft
The Sun Devils will look to be competitive again in the Pac-12 conference next season as this young group will look to help the Sun Devils return to national prominence.