No. 1 overall pick Casey Mize agreed Monday to a minor league contrac

Detroit Tigers that includes a $7.5 million signing bonus http://www.carolinapanthersteamonline.com/greg-little-jersey , the highest for any drafted player since 2011.

Detroit didn’t go into much detail about its 2018 plan for Mize, but it certainly sounds as if he’ll pitch in the organization at some point soon.

”We pretty much know what we’re going to do,” said Scott Pleis, the team’s director of amateur scouting. ”We’re going to figure that out – how many innings, how that’s going to work out, when he’s going to do it. So all the stuff will be mapped out.”

Alex Faedo, a right-hander drafted by the Tigers in the first round last year, did not start his minor league career until this season. He’s at Double-A Erie now.

In 17 starts at Auburn this year, Mize went 10-6 with a 3.30 ERA. The 6-foot-3 junior averaged 12.24 strikeouts per nine innings. The Tigers took him with the No. 1 draft pick earlier this month . His bonus in the highest for a player since Aug. 15, 2011, when pitcher Gerrit Cole agreed to an $8 million bonus with Pittsburgh and outfielder Bubba Starling struck a $7.5 million deal with Kansas City.

Mize’s bonus is below his $8,096,300 slot value. In three seasons at Auburn Will Grier Jersey , Mize went 20-13 with a 2.96 ERA, 324 strikeouts and 43 walks.

The Tigers also agreed with Texas second baseman Kody Clemens, the youngest son of seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens, on a deal with a $600,000 signing bonus. Detroit took him in the third round.

Shortly after Detroit announced the deal with Mize, the Tigers held a news conference with him at Comerica Park. He also had a chance to go on the field and interact with players.

”A little nervous to even go play catch,” Mize said. ”I felt a part of it a little bit, which was an awesome feeling. Even stepping in the dugout, and kind of just seeing the stadium. I don’t know – it was really cool.”

Mize was asked about any players he may have tried to emulate growing up. His answer never played for the Tigers – but it’s someone who did go to high school in Michigan.

”There is a guy that I grew up idolizing, but he’s not a pitcher,” Mize said. ”I loved Derek Jeter growing up, because I played shortstop as well.”

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RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Bradley McDougald’s versatility has proven to be one of his most valuable assets since joining the Seattle Seahawks before the 2017 season.While he’s still willing to use that adaptability to get on the field http://www.carolinapanthersteamonline.com/christian-miller-jersey , McDougald does have a preference on where he would like to play in Seattle’s defense.“I’m fully prepared to come in and play strong safety,” McDougald said. “I’m willing to compete and battle with whoever. I can do both but I prefer to play in the box closer to the line of scrimmage. There is more for me to do there in the run game and man-to-man coverages.”During his time in Seattle, McDougald has risen from being a little hyped free agent signing to one of the most important pieces of the defense. He’s started 25 of the 32 regular-season games he’s played with the Seahawks, splitting time between strong safety and free safety. Last season, McDougald started 14 games at strong safety and a pair at free safety.But with Seattle drafting safety Marquise Blair and safety/cornerback Ugo Amadi this year, it’s opened up the option of moving McDougald around.“I’m always willing to do whatever to make the team work and be an asset for the team, but I definitely intend to play in the box,” he said.McDougald has been a spectator for most of the offseason program after undergoing surgery to repair a partially torn patellar tendon. McDougald suffered the injury in Week 8 last season against Detroit and managed the pain and discomfort through the final half of the season, when he had 36 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble over the final eight games. McDougald said he was told there wasn’t much risk for a complete tear by continuing to play, it was more about how much discomfort he could handle.“I was willing to show the team I could play through a little injury,” he said. “We had to do some Band-aiding and a lot of resting. I didn’t get to practice as much as I wanted to, I didn’t get to see as many looks as I wanted to but I was still able to go out there and compete on Sundays Jordan Scarlett Jersey , which was most important.”McDougald and the athletic training staff opted to go into the offseason trying to avoid surgery. But when McDougald felt he wasn’t improving as fast as he wanted, surgery became the option.“The plan didn’t feel right in my heart and I kind of suggested ‘what about an operation?’ The rehab time is quick, I feel like my body recovers quick and that’s the route that we went. They came up with a plan, we executed it for a while, I just didn’t feel like I was healing fast enough.”McDougald seems to be on track to be ready when training camp begins in late July. He has recently started running and cutting at full speed.“I was playing through a lot of pain, a lot of grief, but I feel like I’m in a much better situation right now,” McDougald said. “My knee feels good, my body feels good. I’m ready to compete.”