Adley Rutschman Receives Largest Signing Bonus in MLB Draft History

Adley Rutschman, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, has agreed to a record-breaking $8.1 million signing bonus with the Baltimore Orioles. This is the largest signing bonus in the history of the MLB Draft. He was advised and is now represented by Dan Vertlieb and Danny Horwits of Beverly Hills Sports Council. The Baltimore Orioles announced the signing on Tuesday at a press conference at Camden Yards.

Rutschman joins the Orioles after a stellar collegiate career with the Oregon State Beavers.  A switch-hitting catcher, Rutschman hit .411 with 17 HR for the Beavers in 2019, setting the school’s single season record for walks with 76. For his efforts, Rutschman won the 2019 Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s top amateur baseball player, the first Oregon State Beaver to win the award. He also received the Dick Howser Trophy as the Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s player of the year, and was named National Player of the Year by Baseball America, Perfect Game, Collegiate Baseball, and was a consensus First-Team All-American. He was named Pac-12 Player of the Year and is a finalist for the Buster Posey Award as the nation’s top collegiate catcher.

In 2018, Rutschman helped the Beavers to their third National Championship, and was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player after setting a CWS record for hits with 17. During the 2018 regular season, Rutschman set an Oregon State school record for hits in a single season with 102. In the summer of 2018, Rutschman joined USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, where he hit .355 in 9 games and received the Richard Case Award as USA Baseball’s top player.

A native of Sherwood, Oregon, Rutschman leaves Oregon State as a two-time All American and one of the most decorated players in NCAA history.