The Baltimore Orioles have come to terms with DL Hall, their top pick in the 2017 MLB First-Player Draft.
BALTIMORE – The Orioles announced today that they have come to terms with their top pick in the 2017 MLB First-Player Draft, 18-year-old LHP DL Hall from Valdosta (GA) High School.
Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich and Hall met with reporters just before the start of tonight’s game with the Tampa Bay Rays. Hall will begin his professional career working out in Sarasota, Fl. as he has not pitched a game in nearly two months.
MASNsports.com’s Steve Melewski reported that Hall received a $3 million signing bonus, just over the usual $2,892,400 for the 21st pick.
Hall, the 21st overall pick, complied a 1.36 ERA in 51.1 innings with 105 strikeouts for Valdosta High School this season. He was named a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game First Team Senior Preseason All-American and to the Southeast – All Region First Team.
Hall went 6-1 with a 1.81 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 2016, helping Houston County High School to the GHSA Class AAAAA state championship. He participated in the Perfect Game 2016 National Showcase, the 2016 East Coast Pro Showcase, and the 2016 WWBA World Championships. As a junior, he was also named a Rawlings-Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American in 2016. As a sophomore, Hall was tabbed a Rawlings-Perfect Game High Honorable Mention Underclass All-American in 2015.
Hall was ranked the No. 8 overall pitching prospect and No. 13 overall prospect in Baseball America’s Top 200 Prospects, and No. 14 overall by MLB.com. He becomes the first high school player the Orioles used their top selection on since RHP Hunter Harvey (Bandys High School, Catawba, NC) in 2013.
Baltimore has now signed 31 selections from the 2017 First-Year Player Draft. Fifteen of their first 16 picks have signed, and they are expected to come to an agreement with that fourth-round pick, RHP Jack Conlon. Conlon was taken with the 128th pick despite committing to Texas A&M during the early NCAA signing period.
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