THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,479 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,479 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Draft  | Signing Bonuses | 5/9/2011

Signing Bonuses: No. 1 Overall Picks Year-by-Year

Photo: Ryan Young

Baseball signing bonuses to first-round picks have grown exponentially since 1965, when the draft was instituted ostensibly to reverse the growth of bonuses. From a first-round average of less than $50,000 in the first several years of the draft, that average has grown to a figure consistently in excess of $2 million over the last several years.
 
Following is a year-by-year breakdown of signing bonuses, and includes the average first-round signing bonus each year, the annual percentage increase/decrease, the first overall pick in the June regular phase and his cash bonus, and the player that received the next-largest bonus (if the player differs from the No. 1 pick).
 
Year Round 1 Avg % Change First Overall Pick Bonus Largest Bonus (Pick Number) Bonus
1965 $42,516 n/a  Rick Monday, of, Athletics $100,000 Alan Foster, rhp, Dodgers (28) $96,000
1966 $44,430 4.5 Steve Chilcott, c, Mets $75,000 Reggie Jackson, of, Athletics (2) $80,000
1967 $42,898 -3.4 Ron Blomberg, 1b, Yankees $75,000 #Mike Adamson, rhp, Orioles $75,000
1968 $43,850 2.2 Tim Foli, ss, Mets $74,000 Lloyd Allen, rhp, Angels (12) $75,000
1969 $43,504 -0.8 Jeff Burroughs, of, Senators $88,000 Noel Jenke, of, Red Sox (13) $85,000
1970 $45,230 3.9 Mike Ivie, c, Padres $75,000 #Dave Kingman, 1b, Giants (sec./1) $80,000
1971 $45,197 -0.1 Danny Goodwin, c, White Sox Did not sign Ed Kurpiel, 1b, Cardinals (8) $83,750
1972 $44,952 -0.5 Dave Roberts, 3b, Padres $70,000 Jamie Quirk, ss, Royals (18) $78,000
1973 $48,832 8.6 *David Clyde, lhp, Rangers $65,000 ^Alan Bannister, ss, Phillies (Jan./1) $85,000
1974 $53,333 9.2 *Bill Almon, ss, Padres $90,000 Willie Wilson, of, Royals (18) $90,000
1975 $49,333 -7.5 *Danny Goodwin, c, Angels $125,000  
1976 $49,631 0.6 Floyd Bannister, lhp, Astros $100,000 Ken Landreaux, of, Angels (6) $82,000
1977 $48,813 -1.6 Harold Baines, of, White Sox $32,000 Paul Molitor, ss, Twins (3) $77,500
1978 $67,892 39.1 *Bob Horner, 3b, Braves $162,000 Kirk Gibson, of, Tigers (12) $150,000
1979 $68,094 0.2 Al Chambers, 1b, Mariners $60,000 Todd Demeter, 1b, Yankees (51) $208,000
1980 $74,025 8.7 Darryl Strawberry, of, Mets $152,500 Jeff Pyburn, of, Padres (5) $103,500
1981 $78,573 6.1 Mike Moore, rhp, Mariners $100,000 Terry Blocker, of, Mets (4) $127,500
1982 $82,615 5.1 Shawon Dunston, ss, Cubs $135,000 Kenny Williams, of, White Sox (78) $160,000
1983 $87,236 5.6 Tim Belcher, rhp, Twins Did not sign Kurt Stillwell, ss, Reds (2) $135,000
1984 $105,392 20.8 Shawn Abner, of, Mets $150,500 Mark McGwire, 1b, Athletics (10) $145,000
1985 $118,115 12.1 B.J. Surhoff, c, Brewers $150,000 Bobby Witt, rhp, Rangers (3) $179,000
1986 $116,300 -1.6 Jeff King, 3b, Pirates $180,000 Kevin Brown, rhp, Rangers (4) $174,500
1987 $128,480 10.5 Ken Griffey Jr., of, Mariners $160,000 Mark Merchant, of, Pirates (2) $165,000
          Jack McDowell, rhp, White Sox (5) $165,000
1988 $142,540 10.9 Andy Benes, rhp, Padres $235,000 Steve Avery, lhp, Braves (3) $211,500
1989 $176,008 23.5 *Ben McDonald, rhp, Orioles $350,000 *John Olerud, 1b, Blue Jays (79) $575,000
1990 $252,577 43.5 Chipper Jones, ss, Braves $275,000 *Todd Van Poppel, rhp, A’s (14) $500,000
          Tony Clark, 1b, Tigers (2) $500,000
1991 $365,396 44.7 Brien Taylor, lhp, Yankees $1,550,000 Shawn Green, of, Blue Jays (21) $725,000
1992 $481,893 31.9 Phil Nevin, 3b, Astros $700,000 Jeffrey Hammonds, of, Orioles (4) $975,000
1993 $613,037 27.2 *Alex Rodriguez, ss, Mariners $1,000,000 Darren Dreifort, rhp, Dodgers (2) $1,300,000
1994 $790,357 28.9 Paul Wilson, rhp, Mets $1,550,000 Josh Booty, ss, Marlins (5) $1,600,000
1995 $918,019 16.1 Darin Erstad, of, Angels $1,575,000 Jaime Jones, of, Marlins (6) $1,337,000
1996 $1,794,317 95.4 Kris Benson, rhp, Pirates $2,000,000 Matt White, rhp, Giants (7) $10,200,000
1997 $1,330,536 -25.8 Matt Anderson, rhp, Tigers $2,505,000 Rick Ankiel, lhp, Cardinals (72) $2,500,000
1998 $1,637,667 23.1 *Pat Burrell, 3b, Phillies $3,150,000 Corey Patterson, of, Cubs (3) $3,700,000
1999 $1,809,767 10.5 Josh Hamilton, of, Devil Rays $3,960,000 *Josh Beckett, rhp, Marlins (2) $3,625,000
2000 $1,872,586 3.5 Adrian Gonzalez, 1b, Marlins $3,000,000 Joe Borchard, of, White Sox (12) $5,300,000
2001 $2,154,280 15.0 Joe Mauer, c, Twins $5,150,000 *Mark Teixeira, 3b, Rangers (5) $4,500,000
2002 $2,106,793 -2.2 Bryan Bullington, rhp, Pirates $4,000,000 B.J. Upton, ss, Devil Rays (2) $4,600,000
2003 $1,765,667 -16.2 *Delmon Young, of, Devil Rays $3,700,000 Rickie Weeks, 2b, Brewers (2) $3,600,000
2004 $1,958,448 10.9 Matt Bush, ss, Padres $3,150,000 Jered Weaver, rhp, Angels (12) $4,000,000
          Stephen Drew, ss, Diamondbacks (15) $4,000,000
2005 $2,018,000 3.0 Justin Upton, ss, Diamondbacks $6,100,000 Alex Gordon, 3b, Royals (2) $4,000,000
2006 $1,933,333 -4.4 *Luke Hochevar, rhp, Royals $3,500,000 Andrew Miller, lhp, Tigers (6) $3,550,000
2007 $2,098,083 8.5 *David Price, lhp, Vanderbilt $5,600,000 Matt Wieters, c, Orioles (5) $6,000,000
2008 $2,458,714 17.2 Tim Beckham, ss, Rays $6,150,000 Buster Posey, c, Giants (5) $6,200,000
2009 $2,434,800 -1.0 *Stephen Strasburg, rhp, Nationals $7,500,000 Donovan Tate, of, Padres (3) $6,250,000
2010 $2,220,966 -8.8 *Bryce Harper, c, CC Southern Nevada $6,250,000 Jameson Taillon, rhp, Pirates (2) $6,500,000

* Signed major-league contract; cash bonus only reported
# Selected in June secondary phase
^ Selected in January draft
@ Includes four loophole free agents; White signed with Devil Rays
 
NOTE: The signing bonus average for first-round picks from 1965-82 includes the value of college scholarship plans and incentive bonus plans, in addition to the cash bonus paid. From 1983-2004, the amount represents only the cash bonus paid. 

Draft | Rankings | 6/19/2026

PG Draft: Top 500 Update

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Rk. Name Lvl Pos. B-T School Hometown State Commitment 1 Roch Cholowsky C SS R-R UCLA Chandler AZ 2 Grady Emerson H SS L-R Fort Worth Christian Argyle TX Texas 3 Vahn Lackey C C R-R Georgia Tech Suwanee GA 4 Jackson Flora C RHP R-R UC Santa Barbara Pleasanton CA 5 Jacob Lombard H SS R-R Gulliver Schools Miami FL Miami 6 Eric Booth Jr. H OF L-L Oak Grove Bassfield MS Vanderbilt 7 Drew Burress C OF R-R Georgia Tech Perry GA 8 Ryder Helfrick C C R-R Arkansas Discovery Bay CA 9 AJ Gracia C OF L-L Virginia Monroe NJ 10 Chris Hacopian C SS R-R Texas A&M Potomac MD 11 Gio Rojas H LHP L-R Marjory Stoneman Douglas Coral Springs FL Miami 12 Tyler Bell* C SS S-R Kentucky Frankfort IL 13 Cameron Flukey C RHP R-R Coastal Carolina Egg Harbor Township NJ 14 Ace Reese C 3B L-R Mississippi State Canton TX 15 Justin Lebron C SS R-R Alabama Miramar FL 16 Derek Curiel* C OF L-R LSU West Covina CA 17...
Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

14u/15u Midwest World Series Notes

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
Aiden Weishaar (2029, Geneso, Ill.) physical power bat put together one of the most productive offensive performances of the event, showing big impact off the barrel with advanced strength and leverage through the swing. Collected six hits including two doubles and two home runs while driving in 13 runs, consistently doing damage in run-producing situations. Creates loud contact with present pull-side juice and projects for significant power as the frame and strength continue to mature. Middle of the order offensive profile with the ability to change the game with one swing. Also stood out on the mound with a dominant 7 inning performance, punching out 11 hitters while working efficiently throughout the outing. Fastball ran up to 86 mph with good life through the zone and showed the ability to consistently attack hitters and miss bats. Highly intriguing two-way prospect whose combination...
Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

14u WWBA Returns to Hoover

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
One of the most anticipated events on the summer travel baseball calendar returns this week as the 2026 Perfect Game 14U WWBA National Championship gets underway in Hoover and the surrounding Birmingham area. Now in its 19th year, the tournament has established itself as the premier event for 14U players across the country, annually attracting some of the top young talent in amateur baseball. This year’s championship will feature 129 teams competing for a national title, continuing a tradition that has seen organizations such as East Cobb Astros, Team Elite, USA Prime, SBA Bolts National, and defending champion ZT National Prospects take home the trophy. As always, the field is loaded with elite prospects, many of whom are already becoming familiar names within the Perfect Game community. Starting off strong with Christopher Cabrera, the No. 1 overall player and No. 1 third baseman...
Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

UBC West Scout Notes: Days 5-7

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
UBC West Scout Notes: Days 1-2 | Days 3-4 Impressive performance on both sides from Cole Migaki, working 5 and striking out 3 w/o allowing a walk for the ND. FB 81-83 T85, BB 73-74 #UBCWest https://t.co/nSIx0UVQY7 pic.twitter.com/t2zXIpPLCO — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 16, 2026 Cole Migaki (2029, Vancouver, Wash.) Migaki is a high-end prospect, putting that on display with one of the more consistent performances at the 15u UBC West.  He totaled five hits, drove in four and walked six times to only two strike outs to help lead the Baum Bats to the title.  He has a projectable frame 6-foot-1, 170-pounds with strength throughout.  The right-hander made an appearance on the mound, throwing five-innings and striking out three without allowing a walk.  The fastball was up to 86 with run and coupled it with a sharp breaking ball in the...
Tournaments | Story | 6/19/2026

Road to the 2026 17U BCS Title

Emily Hicks
Article Image
This weekend, 11 teams will take the field for the 2026 17U BCS Challenge, a three-day event that brings together programs from across the country for a full slate of pool play and bracket action. With games beginning Friday and a champion crowned Sunday, the format leaves little room for slow starts, making every inning important from the opening pitch. The field features a mix of established programs and rising teams. With so many evenly matched rosters, there’s not much separation heading into the weekend, which puts importance on pitching depth, defensive consistency, and timely hitting. Pool play will quickly determine seeding, and even one loss can shift a team’s path heading into bracket play. One of the teams expected to be in the mix is Hawaii Elite 2G 17U National, a group that is 6-3 overall and ranked as “Honorable Mention” on the Perfect Games...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/18/2026

PG Softball Stars Over Florida Showcase 14U Division

Erica Beach
Article Image
PG Stars Over Florida Showcase Clearwater, FL June 13-14, 2026   CLEARWATER, FLORIDA- Perfect Game Softball made its official debut in the state of Florida this past weekend at Eddie C. Moore sports complex. The weather was perfect, and the atmosphere was right for some great softball. We had many college coaches of all levels attend and our National Scouting Director was on hand to evaluate and highlight the athletes. We are excited for future events and the ability to promote and highlight the great athletes in the southeast! Below we highlight the 14U division where we had teams representing three states.     14U Division   Zoey Salas (2030, RHP/1B Windsor, CO) of the Colorado Angels 14U Breed was a standout player all weekend. She was a strong two-way player who proved to be a consistent force on both sides of the ball. Offensively, this left-handed hitter starts...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/18/2026

PG Aggieland Showcase

Article Image
PG Aggieland Showcase College Station, Texas June 13-14, 2026 Scouts: Brynn Baca & Karlie Milburn COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS- Perfect Game Softball was excited to return to College Station for the second annual Aggieland Showcase last weekend.. Some great competition was seen over the three age groups. We had two scouts on site to evaluate and highlight some of the athletes who caught their eyes. Thank you to all teams and players who competed so hard! Below we highlight those athletes who impressed our scouts. 18U Division Elizabeth Posada- Elizabeth Posada is a 2028 two-way player from Houston, Texas, competing for Aztecs Premier who brings an intriguing combination of offensive upside and athletic versatility. At the plate, Posada recently went 4-for-8 on the weekend, continuing to show consistency and offensive awareness. She sets up with a slightly open, wide stance and does a...
Tournaments | Story | 6/18/2026

Big Talent on Display at City of Palms

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
The fifth annual PG City of Palms Championship is set to take place in Fort Myers, Florida, from June 19-22, featuring teams from the 15U-18U age divisions. The four-day event will showcase some of the top talent in the state, including several nationally ranked prospects who have already made their presence felt this summer season. Before tournament play begins, here’s a look at some of the highest-ranked players expected to compete this weekend. Leading the group is catcher Nico Ayars in the 16U division. Ayars enters the weekend as the No. 135 player nationally, the No. 3 catcher in Florida and the No. 20 catcher in the country. Through 22 games this summer with Turn 2 Garcia, the right-handed hitter owns a .887 OPS while batting .306 with a .438 OBP and a .449 SLG. Ayars has collected 15 hits while driving in 12 runs and scoring 13 times. Ayars’ teammate, right-handed...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/17/2026

Perfect Game Softball Route 66 Summer Showcase

Dave Durbala
Article Image
SPRINGFIELD, IL - Perfect Game Softball Route 66 Summer Showcase, June 13-14, 2026. Twenty-Seven teams, representing the 14u and High School Divisions, arrived at the newly opened all turfed Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe, for the opportunity to showcase their talent in a five game guarantee format. As with anytime we bring a group of players together for competition, there will be those players that rise to the challenge and turn in performances that earn them a place on our Top Performers list.  Below are some of the players, from both divisions, that were recognized as top performers. 14U Division Kinley Abrams (2030 Bloomington, IL) is a RHH for Texas Glory IL-2030 (Wyatt). Setting up in a slightly wide parallel stance, into her back leg, Abrams gains separation with a  push back to transfer weight, and then utilizes a small stride to launch her swing. Abrams works a...
Juco | Story | 6/18/2026

PG JUCO Awards & Final Top 25

Blaine Peterson
Article Image
Pitcher of the Year: Nathan Leffel - RHP - Fresno City College 2026 Stat Line: 89.1 IP | 12-1 | 1.91 ERA | .83 WHIP | 118 K An outstanding individual pitching season in California JUCO baseball this spring. A model of consistency on the mound making starts in January through May for Fresno City. Worked over 89 innings on the mound and made 14 starts where he threw at least 5 innings. Ranked in the top 5 of California JUCO in wins, ERA and strikeouts. And one of the only pitchers in all of JUCO to reach the benchmarks of 10+ wins (12), a sub 2.00 ERA (1.91 ERA) and 100 strikeouts (118 K). A consistent and dominant presence on the mound for a team that went 40-5 this past spring. Congratulations to Nathan Leffel, 2026 Perfect Game JUCO Pitcher of the Year. Ryan Bradford | FR | OF@JCCCBaseball Everything I have from this spring starting with HR’s 31 & 32 today. This is...
Loading more articles...