Signing Bonuses History - The Baseball Cube

Page Notes

Drafted Players are enticed to sign with their drafting Major League team via Signing Bonus. MLB provides slot values for draft positions as a guide for bonuses but ultimately its up to the MLB team to decide on how much to offer the player. A player who doesn't sign can re-enter a future draft provided he is eligible. Teams are also given a signing bonus salary cap for their picks in the first ten rounds.

Top 50 All-Time Bonuses

Signing Bonus data is purposefully vague on the site and not available for mass download with decimal detail. The full list of bonuses is available via a data product in our Data Store.

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Bonus information by Year

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Year	Bonus Records	Bonus Total	Bonus Top	Top Bonus $	Top Pick of Draft
2021	566	292,238,090	Jack Leiter	7,922,000	Henry Davis [Pittsburgh Pirates]
2020	160	235,457,829	Spencer Torkelson	8,416,300	Spencer Torkelson [Detroit Tigers]
2019	960	316,513,984	Adley Rutschman	8,100,000	Adley Rutschman [Baltimore Orioles]
2018	874	292,362,602	Casey Mize	7,500,000	Casey Mize [Detroit Tigers]
2017	453	262,314,870	Hunter Greene	7,230,000	Royce Lewis [Minnesota Twins]
2016	610	263,195,110	Nick Senzel	6,200,000	Mickey Moniak [Philadelphia Phillies]
2015	496	238,086,730	Dansby Swanson	6,500,000	Dansby Swanson [Arizona Diamondbacks]
2014	381	201,691,620	Carlos Rodon	6,582,000	Brady Aiken [Houston Astros]
2013	439	207,735,880	Kris Bryant	6,708,400	Mark Appel [Houston Astros]
2012	453	196,723,200	Byron Buxton	6,000,000	Carlos Correa [Houston Astros]
2011	405	218,566,550	Gerrit Cole	8,000,000	Gerrit Cole [Pittsburgh Pirates]
2010	380	184,320,900	Bryce Harper	6,250,000	Bryce Harper [Washington Nationals]
2009	380	181,791,450	Stephen Strasburg	7,500,000	Stephen Strasburg [Washington Nationals]
2008	372	174,704,900	Tim Beckham	6,150,000	Tim Beckham [Tampa Bay Rays]
2007	355	141,722,800	Matt Wieters	6,000,000	David Price [Tampa Bay Rays]
2006	361	146,689,200	Andrew Miller	3,550,000	Luke Hochevar [Kansas City Royals]
2005	313	133,776,500	Justin Upton	6,100,000	Justin Upton [Arizona Diamondbacks]
2004	313	135,172,000	Stephen Drew	4,000,000	Matt Bush [San Diego Padres]
2003	313	122,860,500	Delmon Young	3,700,000	Delmon Young [Tampa Bay Rays]
2002	284	127,918,500	B.J. Upton	4,600,000	Bryan Bullington [Pittsburgh Pirates]
2001	296	137,565,649	Mark Prior	4,600,000	Joe Mauer [Minnesota Twins]
2000	285	124,612,500	Joe Borchard	5,300,000	Adrian Gonzalez [Florida Marlins]
1999	116	99,341,000	Josh Hamilton	3,960,000	Josh Hamilton [Tampa Bay Rays]
1998	92	83,648,500	Corey Patterson	3,700,000	Pat Burrell [Philadelphia Phillies]
1997	52	51,477,500	Matt Anderson	2,505,000	Matt Anderson [Detroit Tigers]
1996	52	35,892,500	Bobby Seay	3,000,000	Kris Benson [Pittsburgh Pirates]
1995	61	34,782,100	Darin Erstad	1,575,000	Darin Erstad [California Angels]
1994	62	30,249,500	Josh Booty	1,600,000	Paul Wilson [New York Mets]
1993	71	25,172,700	Darren Dreifort	1,300,000	Alex Rodriguez [Seattle Mariners]
1992	31	13,788,000	Jeff Hammonds	975,000	Phil Nevin [Houston Astros]
1991	24	8,769,500	Brien Taylor	1,550,000	Brien Taylor [New York Yankees]
1990	30	6,884,000	Todd Van Poppel	500,000	Chipper Jones [Atlanta Braves]
1989	24	4,626,500	John Olerud	575,000	Ben McDonald [Baltimore Orioles]
1988	3	585,000	Andy Benes	235,000	Andy Benes [San Diego Padres]
1987	12	1,850,000	Jack McDowell	165,000	Ken Griffey [Seattle Mariners]
1986	4	317,500	Jeff King	180,000	Jeff King [Pittsburgh Pirates]
1985	26	3,075,000	Bobby Witt	179,000	B.J. Surhoff [Milwaukee Brewers]
1984	1	150,500	Shawn Abner	150,500	Shawn Abner [New York Mets]
1983	1	135,000	Kurt Stillwell	135,000	Tim Belcher [Minnesota Twins]
1982	1	135,000	Shawon Dunston	135,000	Shawon Dunston [Chicago Cubs]
1981	3	235,000	Terry Blocker	127,500	Mike Moore [Seattle Mariners]
1980	1	152,500	Darryl Strawberry	152,500	Darryl Strawberry [New York Mets]
1979	2	268,000	Todd Demeter	208,000	Al Chambers [Seattle Mariners]
1978	3	342,000	Bob Horner	162,000	Bob Horner [Atlanta Braves]
1977	3	409,500	Danny Ainge	300,000	Harold Baines [Chicago White Sox]
1976	2	135,000	Floyd Bannister	100,000	Floyd Bannister [Houston Astros]
1975	22	960,875	Danny Goodwin	125,000	Danny Goodwin [California Angels]
1974	2	180,000	Bill Almon	90,000	Bill Almon [San Diego Padres]
1973	4	205,000	David Clyde	65,000	David Clyde [Texas Rangers]
1972	3	228,000	Scott McGregor	80,000	Dave Roberts [San Diego Padres]
1971	2	158,750	Ed Kurpiel	83,750	Danny Goodwin [Chicago White Sox]
1970	2	102,000	Mike Ivie	75,000	Mike Ivie [San Diego Padres]
1969	1	88,000	Jeff Burroughs	88,000	Jeff Burroughs [Washington Senators]
1968	5	299,000	Lloyd Allen	75,000	Tim Foli [New York Mets]
1967	8	333,000	Ron Blomberg	65,000	Ron Blomberg [New York Yankees]
1966	5	340,000	Ken Brett	85,000	Steve Chilcott [New York Mets]
1965	21	830,000	Rick Monday	100,000	Rick Monday [Kansas City Athletics]
57 record(s)

Top 50 All-Time Signing Bonuses

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Grid Filters		Major Leaguers Hitters Pitchers Recently Active
#	Player Name	Year	Bonus	Team Name	Pos	Ht	Wt	Ba	Th	Born Date	Place Of Birth	Draft Info	HiLvl	MLB Years	Stat Years
1	Spencer Torkelson	2020	8,416,300	Detroit Tigers	1B-3B	6-1	215	R	R	1999-08-26	Petaluma,CA	2020- 1- 1-DET	AAA		2018-2021
2	Adley Rutschman	2019	8,100,000	Baltimore Orioles	C-1B	6-2	216	B	R	1998-02-06	Portland,OR	2019- 1- 1-BAL	AAA		2017-2021
3	Gerrit Cole	2011	8,000,000	Pittsburgh Pirates	P	6-4	220	R	R	1990-09-08	Newport Beach,CA	2011- 1- 1-PIT	MLB	2013-2021	2009-2021
4	Jack Leiter	2021	7,922,000	Texas Rangers	P	6-0	195	R	R	2000-04-21	Summit,NJ	2021- 1- 2-TEX	NCAA		2020-2021
5	Bobby Witt	2019	7,787,400	Kansas City Royals	SS-3B	6-1	190	R	R	2000-06-14	Colleyville,TX	2019- 1- 2-KCA	AAA		2019-2021
6	Bubba Starling	2011	7,500,000	Kansas City Royals	CF-RF	6-4	215	R	R	1992-08-03	Gardner,KS	2011- 1- 5-KCA	MLB	2019-2020	2012-2021
7	Casey Mize	2018	7,500,000	Detroit Tigers	P	6-3	220	R	R	1997-05-01	Springville,AL	2018- 1- 1-DET	MLB	2020-2021	2016-2021
8	Stephen Strasburg	2009	7,500,000	Washington Nationals	P	6-5	235	R	R	1988-07-20	San Diego,CA	2009- 1- 1-WAS	MLB	2010-2021	2007-2021
9	Hunter Greene	2017	7,230,000	Cincinnati Reds	P	6-3	195	R	R	1999-08-06	Los Angeles,CA	2017- 1- 2-CIN	AAA		2017-2021
10	Andrew Vaughn	2019	7,221,200	Chicago White Sox	LF-1B	5-11	208	R	R	1998-04-03	Satna Rosa,CA	2019- 1- 3-CHA	MLB	2021-2021	2017-2021
11	Joey Bart	2018	7,025,000	San Francisco Giants	C-dh	6-2	238	R	R	1996-12-15	Buford,GA	2018- 1- 2-SFN	MLB	2020-2021	2016-2021
12	Brendan McKay	2017	7,005,000	Tampa Bay Rays	P-DH	6-2	220	L	L	1995-12-18	Darlington,PA	2017- 1- 4-TBA	MLB	2019-2019	2015-2021
13	Austin Martin	2020	7,000,825	Toronto Blue Jays	CF-SS	6-0	170	R	R	1999-03-23	Jacksonville,FL	2020- 1- 5-TOR	AA		2018-2021
14	Kyle Wright	2017	7,000,000	Atlanta Braves	P	6-4	215	R	R	1995-10-02	Huntsville,AL	2017- 1- 5-ATL	MLB	2018-2021	2015-2021
15	Jackson Jobe	2021	6,900,000	Detroit Tigers	P	6-2	190	R	R	2002-07-30	Irving,TX	2021- 1- 3-DET	---
16	Royce Lewis	2017	6,725,000	Minnesota Twins	SS-2B	6-1	185	R	R	1999-06-05	Aliso Viejo,CA	2017- 1- 1-MIN	AA		2017-2019
17	Jordan Lawlar	2021	6,713,300	Arizona Diamondbacks	SS	6-2	185	R	R	2002-07-01	Carrollton,TX	2021- 1- 6-ARI	Rk		2021-2021
18	Kris Bryant	2013	6,708,400	Chicago Cubs	3B-LF	6-5	230	R	R	1992-01-04	Las Vegas,NV	2013- 1- 2-CHN	MLB	2015-2021	2011-2021
19	MacKenzie Gore	2017	6,700,000	San Diego Padres	P	6-3	195	L	L	1999-02-24	Whiteville,NC	2017- 1- 3-SDN	AAA		2017-2021
20	Max Meyer	2020	6,700,000	Miami Marlins	P	6-0	185	L	R	1999-03-12	Woodbury,MN	2020- 1- 3-MIA	AAA		2018-2021
21	J.J. Bleday	2019	6,670,000	Miami Marlins	RF-LF	6-3	205	L	L	1997-11-10	Danville,PA	2019- 1- 4-MIA	AA		2017-2021
22	Asa Lacy	2020	6,670,000	Kansas City Royals	P	6-4	215	L	L	1999-06-02	Kerrville,TX	2020- 1- 4-KCA	A+		2018-2021
23	Marcelo Mayer	2021	6,664,000	Boston Red Sox	SS	6-3	185	L	R	2002-12-12	Chula Vista,CA	2021- 1- 4-BOS	Rk		2021-2021
24	Carlos Rodon	2014	6,582,000	Chicago White Sox	P	6-3	250	L	L	1992-12-10	Miami,FL	2014- 1- 3-CHA	MLB	2015-2021	2012-2021
25	Dansby Swanson	2015	6,500,000	Arizona Diamondbacks	SS	6-1	190	R	R	1994-02-11	Marietta,GA	2015- 1- 1-ARI	MLB	2016-2021	2013-2021
#	Player Name	Year	Bonus	Team Name	Pos	Ht	Wt	Ba	Th	Born Date	Place Of Birth	Draft Info	HiLvl	MLB Years	Stat Years
26	Henry Davis	2021	6,500,000	Pittsburgh Pirates	C	6-2	195	R	R	1999-09-21	Bedford,NY	2021- 1- 1-PIT	A+		2019-2021
27	Nick Madrigal	2018	6,411,400	Chicago White Sox	2B-DH	5-8	175	R	R	1997-03-05	Elk Grove,CA	2018- 1- 4-CHA	MLB	2020-2021	2016-2021
28	Danny Hultzen	2011	6,350,000	Seattle Mariners	P	6-2	195	L	L	1989-11-28	Bethesda,MD	2011- 1- 2-SEA	MLB	2019-2019	2009-2019
29	Mark Appel	2013	6,350,000	Houston Astros	P	6-4	195	R	R	1991-07-15	Houston,TX	2013- 1- 1-HOU	AAA		2010-2021
30	Donavan Tate	2009	6,250,000	San Diego Padres	CF-LF	6-2	184	R	R	1990-09-27	Cartersville,GA	2009- 1- 3-SDN	A+		2010-2016
31	Bryce Harper	2010	6,250,000	Washington Nationals	RF-DH	6-3	210	L	R	1992-10-16	Las Vegas,NV	2010- 1- 1-WAS	MLB	2012-2021	2011-2021
32	Nick Senzel	2016	6,200,000	Cincinnati Reds	CF-2B	6-1	205	R	R	1995-06-29	Atlanta,GA	2016- 1- 2-CIN	MLB	2019-2021	2014-2021
33	Riley Greene	2019	6,180,700	Detroit Tigers	CF-RF	6-3	200	L	L	2000-09-28	Orlando,FL	2019- 1- 5-DET	AAA		2019-2021
34	Tim Beckham	2008	6,150,000	Tampa Bay Rays	SS-3B	6-0	188	R	R	1990-01-27	Griffin,GA	2008- 1- 1-TBA	MLB	2013-2019	2008-2021
35	Mickey Moniak	2016	6,100,000	Philadelphia Phillies	CF-RF	6-2	195	L	R	1998-05-13	Encinitas,CA	2016- 1- 1-PHI	MLB	2020-2021	2016-2021
36	Justin Upton	2005	6,100,000	Arizona Diamondbacks	LF-DH	6-2	205	R	R	1987-08-25	Chesapeake,VA	2005- 1- 1-ARI	MLB	2007-2021	2006-2021
37	Pedro Alvarez	2008	6,000,000	Pittsburgh Pirates	3B-1B	6-2	225	L	R	1987-02-06	New York,NY	2008- 1- 2-PIT	MLB	2010-2018	2006-2018
38	Matt Wieters	2007	6,000,000	Baltimore Orioles	C	6-5	235	B	R	1986-05-21	Charleston,SC	2007- 1- 5-BAL	MLB	2009-2020	2005-2020
39	Dustin Ackley	2009	6,000,000	Seattle Mariners	2B-LF	6-1	182	L	R	1988-02-26	Winston-Salem,NC	2009- 1- 2-SEA	MLB	2011-2016	2007-2018
40	Eric Hosmer	2008	6,000,000	Kansas City Royals	1B-DH	6-4	226	L	L	1989-10-24	Cooper City,FL	2008- 1- 3-KCA	MLB	2011-2021	2008-2021
41	Anthony Rendon	2011	6,000,000	Washington Nationals	3B-2B	5-11	170	R	R	1990-06-06	Houston,TX	2011- 1- 6-WAS	MLB	2013-2021	2009-2021
42	Byron Buxton	2012	6,000,000	Minnesota Twins	CF-DH	6-2	190	R	R	1993-12-18	Baxley,GA	2012- 1- 2-MIN	MLB	2015-2021	2012-2021
43	Tyler Kolek	2014	6,000,000	Miami Marlins	P	6-5	260	R	R	1995-12-15	Shepherd,TX	2014- 1- 2-MIA	A		2014-2019
44	Alex Bregman	2015	5,900,000	Houston Astros	3B-SS	6-0	192	R	R	1994-03-30	Albuquerque,NM	2015- 1- 2-HOU	MLB	2016-2021	2013-2021
45	Alec Bohm	2018	5,850,000	Philadelphia Phillies	3B-1B	6-5	218	R	R	1996-08-03	Lincoln,NE	2018- 1- 3-PHI	MLB	2020-2021	2016-2021
46	Emerson Hancock	2020	5,700,000	Seattle Mariners	P	6-4	213	R	R	1999-05-31	Cairo,GA	2020- 1- 6-SEA	AA		2018-2021
47	Jameson Taillon	2010	5,600,000	Pittsburgh Pirates	P	6-5	230	R	R	1991-11-18	The Woodlands,TX	2010- 1- 2-PIT	MLB	2016-2021	2011-2021
48	David Price	2007	5,600,000	Tampa Bay Rays	P	6-6	215	L	L	1985-08-26	Nashville,TN	2007- 1- 1-TBA	MLB	2008-2021	2005-2021
49	Brendan Rodgers	2015	5,500,000	Colorado Rockies	2B-SS	6-0	204	R	R	1996-08-09	Lake Mary,FL	2015- 1- 3-COL	MLB	2019-2021	2015-2021
50	Jacob Turner	2009	5,500,000	Detroit Tigers	P	6-4	205	R	R	1991-05-21	St. Charles,MO	2009- 1- 9-DET	MLB	2011-2018	2010-2018
50 record(s)

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