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Jeff Passan, ESPNJul 19, 2024, 04:23 PM ET
- ESPN MLB insider
Writer of “The Arm: Contained in the Billion-Greenback Thriller of the Most Helpful Commodity in Sports activities”
The Colorado Rockies and slugger Charlie Condon are in settlement on a deal that features a $9.25 million signing bonus, tying the Main League Baseball document for up-front cash to a drafted participant, sources advised ESPN.
Condon, taken with the No. 3 choose in Sunday’s draft, matches the bonus given to the No. 2 choose, Chase Burns, by Cincinnati on Thursday. The primary total choice, Travis Bazzana, agreed to an $8.95 million bonus with Cleveland this week, in accordance with sources.
The 21-year-old Condon, who performed third base on the College of Georgia however is predicted to be an outfielder with the Rockies, hit 37 residence runs this yr, essentially the most because the NCAA began mandating BBCOR bats in 2011.
With top-of-the-scale energy and elite swing choices, Condon batted .433/.566/1.009 and drove in 78 runs with 57 walks and 41 strikeouts this season. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel ranked Condon because the No. 1 participant on his 2024 draft board.
The bonuses given to Condon and Burns — each represented by Vayner Sports activities — exceeded the $9.2 million Pittsburgh gave to 2023 No. 1 choose Paul Skenes, who began the All-Star Recreation for the Nationwide League this week.
In Condon, the Rockies locked down the type of participant whose prodigious energy does not want the enhance Coors Area will present. Whereas the Rockies’ biggest energy could also be younger outfielders — together with heart fielder Brenton Doyle in addition to left fielders Nolan Jones, Jordan Beck and Zac Veen — the chance for a game-changing bat similar to Condon’s was too attractive to cross up.
Evenly recruited out of highschool, the 6-foot-6, 220-pound Condon starred instantly at Georgia in 2023 after redshirting his freshman season. He was unanimous nationwide freshman of the yr and adopted with a good higher 2024 season, profitable the Golden Spikes Award as the very best participant in faculty baseball. As a result of Condon was 21 on draft day, he was eligible to be chosen as a sophomore.
Amongst Condon, Iowa right-hander Brody Brecht, Texas outfielder Jared Thomas and South Carolina catcher Cole Messina, the Rockies’ draft acquired plaudits all through the business and will strongly bolster the farm system of a workforce whose 34-63 document is a half-game forward of Miami for worst within the NL.
