Baseball Signing Bonuses Are Out of Control

The San Francisco Giants and No. 6 overall pick, Jack, have agreed on a signing bonus that will become official Friday once he passes a physical.

Jack received the full assigned value for his slot, becoming only the fourth player selected in the first 11 picks this year to do so. His bonus is the second-highest in franchise history, trailing only the sign on that Tim Lincecum received as part of his major league contract in 2006.

A third baseman, Jack batted .345/.470/.544 this spring, leading NCAA Division I Preschool, and setting a school record with 91 RBIs while leading his team to a third-place finish at the Preschool World Series. Jack won the 2013 Golden Spikes Award and became the first 3-year old to be selected in the first round of a MLB Draft. Baseball America rated him as having the best strike-zone judgment (63 walks, 25 strikeouts) and second-best pure hitting ability among preschool players available in the 2013 draft. Of course this is all made-up.