Holbrook expects Max Schrock to sign with Nationals
Max Schrock’s wait took longer than expected – but a payday to convince him to turn pro might still be there.
South Carolina’s junior second baseman was drafted in the 13th round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Wednesday, going 404th overall to Washington.
Projected as a fourth- or fifth-round pick, Schrock fell below the slot-money projections (first 10 rounds). Bonuses for players outside the 10th round are capped at $100,000, unless teams want to add more money from their bonus pool.
Coach Chad Holbrook said Wednesday that Schrock might sign.
“There might be some negotiation going on there,” Holbrook told the SportsTalk Radio Network. “If I had to guess, Max will probably be offered second- or third-round money. If that’s the case, which I think it will be the case, I think Max will sign a professional contract.”
Holbrook said the Nationals coveted Schrock and that coaches felt the likelihood of him signing increased over the last week. The lowest bonus money in the third round is $548,600.
“It’s not a total surprise or shock,” Holbrook said. “We didn’t expect Max, when the year started, to come back for his senior year. We recruited accordingly with the thought process that Max would sign a professional contract.”
Schrock has until July 17 to decide.
The recruits that were drafted Wednesday all likely will attend college.
L.T. Tolbert (34th round) and Adam Hill (39th) said during the draft that they were coming to school, Cody Morris (32nd) told other outlets that he was fully committed to USC and prep catcher Chris Cullen (38th), who set his price tag so high that MLB teams hardly negotiated with him, is a virtual lock to be in school.
Outfielder Dom Thompson-Williams wasn’t drafted. D.J. Neal (32nd), who signed with USC for football and already is on campus, wasn’t picked until well after his third-round line for going pro. Holbrook believes that all of Wednesday’s draft picks will be in school.
S.C. Draftees
(Name, position, school, round (number), MLB team)
*Nick Neidert, RHP, Peachtree Ridge (Ga.), 2 (60), Mariners
Taylor Clarke, RHP, College of Charleston, 3 (76), Diamondbacks
Zack Erwin, LHP, Clemson, 4 (112), White Sox
Kyle Martin, 1B, USC, 4 (114), Phillies
Carl Wise, 3B, College of Charleston, 4 (122), Blue Jays
Tyler Krieger, SS, Clemson, 4 (124), Indians
Dylan Thompson, RHP, Socastee, 4 (125), Mariners
Jack Wynkoop, LHP, USC, 6 (167), Rockies
Steven Duggar, OF, Clemson, 6 (186), Giants
Matthew Crownover, LHP, Clemson, 6 (194), Nationals
Luke Leftwich, RHP, Wofford, 7 (204), Phillies
*Logan Allen, LHP, 8 (231), Red Sox, SIGNED, June 9
Casey Schroeder, C, Coastal Carolina, 8 (232), White Sox
Sean Miller, SS, USC Aiken, 10 (290), Twins
James Reeves, LHP, The Citadel, 10 (303), Yankees
Kep Brown, OF, Wando, 10 (311), Cardinals
Skylar Hunter, RHP, The Citadel, 12 (354), Phillies
Max Schrock, 2B, USC, 13 (404), Nationals
Blake Butler, 2B, College of Charleston, 15 (445), Reds
Austin Mason, RHP, The Citadel, 17 (496), Diamondbacks
Brady Koerner, RHP, Clemson, 17 (513), Yankees
Andrew Tomasovich, LHP, Charleston Southern, 21 (638), Athletics
Joey Strain, RHP, Winthrop, 22 (665), Mariners
Adam Boghosian, RHP, North Greenville, 22 (674), Nationals
Albert Baur, 1B, Newberry, 28 (847), Pirates
Will Stillman, RHP, Wofford, 29 (861), Red Sox
Tyler Moore, 2B, USC Aiken, 29 (867), Padres
Clate Schmidt, RHP, Clemson, 32 (951), Red Sox
*Cody Morris, RHP, Reservoir (Md.)), 32 (973), Orioles
**D.J. Neal, OF, Stephenson (Ga.), 32 (960), Atlanta
C.D. Pelham, LHP, Spartanburg Methodist, 33 (978), Rangers
*L.T. Tolbert, RHP, IMG (Fla.) Academy, 34 (1,019), Mets
Eli White, SS, Clemson, 37 (1,117), Pirates
*Braden Webb, RHP, Owasso (Okla.), 38 (1,144), Indians
*Chris Cullen, C, West Forsyth (Ga.), 38 (1,148), Athletics
*Adam Hill, RHP, T.L. Hanna, 39 (1,167), Padres
*–USC commit; **–USC football commit
This story was originally published June 10, 2015 at 1:02 PM with the headline "Holbrook expects Max Schrock to sign with Nationals."