Addison Russell, the Oakland A's first round draft pick, has elected to sign with the team rather than attend Auburn University, according to CSN Bay Area. The 11th overall pick was the first high school player drafted by the Athletics since 2001, and he passed on a full scholarship to Auburn. The A's offered the shortstop out of Pace High School enough to compensate for that, as he told the Pensecola News Journal:
"They offered me a good chunk of change," Russell said, declining to go into specifics. "And my parents are all down for it. They're down with the California weather, so we're ready to go."
Specifics on that chunk of change aren't available, but it is at least the $2.265mil that a player drafted 11th overall was expected to receive. Russell is 6'2" and down to 190lbs from his listed 210, saying he's in "the best shape of my life." He's a serious hitting prospect, batting .500 or better in each of his high school seasons. His MLB.com scouting video is available here.
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