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The Detroit Tigers have signed their first round pick, right-handed pitcher Beau Burrows, to a professional contract. Burrows, a high school pitcher from Texas, was the 22nd overall pick in this year's MLB draft, the Tigers' highest selection since Florida righthander Jonathon Crawford (at No. 20 overall) in 2013. Burrows himself broke the news, tweeting "I'm officially a Detroit Tiger" after signing his contract in Lakeland.
Unlike in previous years, the current MLB collective bargaining agreement (CBA) does not allow draft picks to be signed to major league contract. The Tigers exercised this option on high school players in the past, including Rick Porcello when he was drafted in 2007.
Burrows, and other recent first round picks, have been signed to minor league contracts, with their signing bonus determined by the slot value of the draft pick used on them. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, Burrows has signed for the full slot value of his pick, at $2,154,200.
Burrows, previously a Texas A&M commit, has one of the more electric arms in this year's MLB draft. He regularly works into the mid-90s with his fastball. Some scouts see his fastball-curveball arsenal as a potentially lethal one-two punch, while the development of his changeup will determine how far he goes within the Tigers' organization. Burrows was also praised for his command, an advanced tool given his violent arsenal and young age.
The Tigers also signed fifth round pick Cam Gibson, son of former Tigers outfielder (and current Fox Sports Detroit broadcaster) Kirk Gibson. Cam, an outfielder from Michigan State University, has a slot value of $319,700.
Let's get to work. pic.twitter.com/8nytncMus8
— Cam Gibson (@GibNasty_23) June 16, 2015