1st-round pick Rodriguez agrees to $4.3M bonus
Scott optioned; Davis sits vs. righty he owns
Tanner Scott was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to make room on the roster for fellow Orioles reliever Darren O’Day. Scott, 23, has a 4.96 ERA in 13 major league appearances this season — 3.60 in his past five outings. (Patrick Semansky/Associated press )
TORONTO — The Orioles have agreed to terms with their first-round draft pick, Texas high school right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. It’s a deal with a $4.3 million signing bonus that was just below what is slotted for the No. 11 overall selection, Orioles scouting director Gary Rajisch confirmed Saturday morning.
The bonus slot for Rodriguez’s pick at 11 was $4.3751 million.
Rodriguez will report to the spring training facility in Sarasota, Fla., to begin his first professional workouts and will likely join the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League team, which starts play this month.
Referred to as the top “pop-up” prospect in the draft, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Rodriguez made dramatic strides the past year, adding 20 pounds of muscle to his frame the offseason before his senior season. His fastball velocity climbed from the low 90s in summer showcases to 97-98 mph during his senior season.
The Orioles’ next two top picks — Oregon State shortstop Cadyn Grenier and Arkansas right-hander Blaine Knight — are still playing in the NCAA playoffs, so they can’t be signed yet, but the club is confident both will agree to terms quickly.
After selecting Rodriguez on Monday, Rajsich said the high school pitcher was the Orioles’ consensus top target.
“We love him and we were just thrilled he was there for us at pick 11,” Rajsich said. “The first thing you notice is that he’s got a big, strong, durable body and he’s an advanced high school pitcher that is a unique combination of power and polish. … He’s got a good advanced delivery that he can repeat. His arm action is nice and clean and the ball comes out of his hand very well. He’s got advanced command of four pitches and he just pounds the strike zone.”
While the selection of Rodriguez has drawn some skepticism, especially after other pitchers projected to go in the top 10 were available at their pick, ESPN analyst Keith Law supported the Orioles’ selection of Rodriguez and competitive balance pick Grenier at No. 37 overall.
“I vehemently disagree with any claim that Grayson or Grenier were reaches,” Law said.
O’Day activated, Scott optioned: Despite making significant strides in his most recent stint in the Orioles bullpen, left-hander Tanner Scott was placed on the Triple-A Norfolk shuttle before Saturday’s game in Toronto to make room for right-hander Darren O’Day, who returned from a hyperextended elbow injury that cost him five weeks.
Scott, 23, had started to be groomed for a late-inning role in recent weeks, and he could play a more significant role sooner than later if the Orioles trade relievers leading up to the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline. He has a 4.96 ERA in 13 major league appearances this season — 3.60 in his past five outings.
Davis out again: First baseman Chris Davis was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game Saturday afternoon, a move manager Buck Showalter said was a manager’s decision.
Davis, batting .152, sat Saturday despite strong numbers against Blue Jays starter Aaron Sanchez. He is hitting .348 (8-for-23) with four homers and five RBIs against Sanchez.
Latest on Harvey: The Orioles publicly remain mum on top pitching prospect Hunter Harvey’s shoulder injury that prompted him to miss Friday’s scheduled start for Double-A Bowie.
“He’s got some shoulder discomfort that they’re looking at, nothing done throwing a baseball, just a kind of freakish thing,” Showalter said before Saturday’s game.
According to a source, Harvey didn’t hurt his shoulder pitching, but it popped out of its socket as he attempted to dodge a ball that came into the dugout.
Around the horn:Chance Sisco was 2-for-4 with a walk and RBI on Saturday for his first multihit game since May 11. … Jace Peterson reached base three times (two singles and a walk) Saturday, doing so for the first time this season. … After his two-hit game Saturday, Danny Valencia is hitting .348 over his last 26 games. … After a one-inning outing with Norfolk on Friday, Zach Britton is scheduled to be activated from the DL before Monday’s home game against the Boston Red Sox. “He’s checked every box, and some of them twice,” Showalter said. … Outfielder Colby Rasmus posted the first multihit game of his minor league rehabilitation assignment Friday, going 2-for-5 with an RBI for High-A Frederick. He entered Saturday 3-for-23 on his rehab. … Triple-A Norfolk outfielder DJ Stewart (hamstring) is expected to return from the minor league DL on Monday.
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