Pirates sign top draft pick Henry Davis for $6.5M: Source

The Pittsburgh Pirates have officially signed Henry Davis, the top pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, the team announced on Sunday. Davis, a catcher out of Louisville, will receive a $6.5 million bonus, a source tells The Athletic.

MLB's slot value for the No. 1 pick spot was a little over $8.4 million, and the last two No. 1 picks (Spencer Torkelson in 2020 and Adley Rutschman in 2019) each received over $8 million.

Davis hit .370/.482/.663 with 15 home runs in 50 games in his last season with the Cardinals. He is only the third catcher selected No. 1 since 2000. The Baltimore Orioles selected Rutschman in 2019 and the Minnesota Twins picked Joe Mauer in 2001.

The Pirates had the top pick for the first time since 2011 when they drafted now-Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole.

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Why such a low bonus?

Rob Biertempfel, Pirates beat writer: It makes it easier for the Pirates to spend their wealth — in this case, their $14,394,000 bonus pool, which is the largest in this year’s draft — and sign more of their picks. “The goal in any draft is to get as much talent as you possibly can out of your draft pool, however you do it,” general manager Ben Cherington said.

Davis signed for nearly $2 million less than the assigned slot value for the No. 1 pick. Three of the Pirates' other high picks signed for less than slot: sixth-rounder Mike Jarvis (bonus: $7,500, slot: $315,400); ninth-rounder Luke Brown (bonus: $72,500, slot: $162,000) and 10th-rounder Justin Meis (bonus: $127,500, slot: 149,500). Having that extra $2.3 million enables the Pirates to go over-slot on other guys.

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How good is the Pirates’ draft class?

Biertempfel: “We’ll see in about five years,” Cherington said with a smile. That’s true, but early indications are the Pirates put together a potentially blockbuster class.

There was no consensus, sure-fire top guy, but Davis was rated the best college hitter available and as a catcher fills a position of desperate need in the Pirates’ farm system.

The Pirates also got three prep players — left-hander Anthony Solometo (second round), outfielder Lonnie White Jr, (second supplemental) and right-hander Bubba Chandler (third) — who are regarded as first-round talent.

(Photo: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images)

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