Blue Jays and top pick Arjun Nimmala agree to terms on contract.
The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to terms with shortstop Arjun Nimmala, their first-round pick in the recent MLB draft.
Nimmala, 17, was chosen 20th overall last Sunday by the club from Strawberry Crest High School, just outside of Tampa.
Shi Davidi of Sportsnet and Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline report that the contract includes a $3 million signing bonus, which is less than the $3.746 million slot value assigned to the 20th overall pick.
The Blue Jays have a signing bonus pool of $6,529,700, which is one of the smallest in baseball, so the Nimmala signing will provide flexibility when negotiating with other players in the draft class.
Nimmala became the highest-selected first-generation Indian American when the Blue Jays chose him, and he hopes to be the first player of Indian descent to play in Major League Baseball. Prior to signing with the Blue Jays, he had committed to playing collegiate baseball at Florida State.
“It’s just the overall tool package combined with the player’s age and overall potential,” Blue Jays amateur scouting director Shane Farrell said shortly after the selection.
“The power, arm strength, defensive actions, and playing at a premium position make him a really exciting player, and I’m very happy to have him in the farm system.”
It is unclear where Nimmala will report now that he has signed, but the Blue Jays did post a video message from him on their social media channels, appearing to show him outside the team’s development complex in Dunedin, Fla.
“I can’t wait to get to work,” Nimmala states in the video.
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