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The Detroit Tigers signed first overall draft selection Spencer Torkelson for a record signing bonuse of $8,416,300, breaking the previous record of $8,100,000 that the Baltimore Orioles gave last year’s first overall pick, Adley Rutschmann. Torkelson becomes the first No 1 overall pick to sign for above slot value, which was just $1,000 less.
The signing completes the contract work for the Tigers, who have inked all six of their draft selections for a total of $13,968,600 in signing bonuses. The previous record bonus given by the Tigers was $7.5 million which was paid to pitcher Casey Mize, the first overall selection two years ago.
No. 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson signs with @Tigers for $8,416,300 (slot value = 8,415,300). New @MLBDraft bonus record, also first No. 1 overall pick to get or top slot value in bonus-pool era. Perhaps the best all-around offensive talent to come out of Draft in 20 years.
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) June 30, 2020
Torkelson is expected to be added to the Tigers 60-man list of players who will participate in summer camp and become eligible to be called up to Detroit, although the club plans to try him out at third base, and he is not expected to play in the major leagues this season.
He joins a star studded cast of prospects that includes pitchers Case Mize, Matt Manning, Franklin Perez, Tarik Skubal, and Alex Faedo along with hitters Riley Greene, Isaac Paredes, and Derek Hill. Summer camp is expected to be under way at Comerica Park this weekend.
Here is a complete list of the Tigers 2020 draft picks and their signing bonuses.