The Tigers have reached an agreement with first-round draft pick Bryce Rainer on a $5.8 million bonus, as reported by Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com (X link). This amount slightly exceeds the approximate $5.71 million slot value for the 11th overall pick.
Rainer, a 6’3″ high school shortstop from Southern California, was previously committed to the University of Texas. He was the second high school player selected in a college-heavy first round, with Pittsburgh picking Konnor Griffin at number nine. Rainer was arguably the top high school talent in the class, with ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel ranking him as the best high schooler and the sixth overall draft prospect. Pre-draft rankings placed him ninth or tenth on lists from FanGraphs, Baseball America, and Keith Law at The Athletic.
Scouts praise Rainer for his potential plus power and the likelihood of remaining on the left side of the infield. His excellent arm strength is noted, making him a good fit for third base if he outgrows shortstop. While there are concerns about his hitting—Law mentions that Rainer lacks great bat speed and struggles with plus velocity—there is significant upside if he can stay at shortstop and develop 20+ home run power annually.
Detroit has five prospects in Baseball America’s most recent Top 100 update, including three in the top 30: Jackson Jobe, Max Clark, and Kevin McGonigle. While Rainer might not immediately join the upper half of that list, he adds another high-upside talent to the Tigers’ farm system.
