Although no formal announcement will be made until next week, the Orioles have agreed to terms with their top pick, pitcher Hunter Harvey, for $1,947,600 – which is the suggested slot bonus for the 22nd pick overall, according to an industry source.
The agreement is pending a physical, which is planned for Monday in Baltimore.
Harvey, 18, is a 6-foot-4, 178-pound right-hander out of Bandys High School in Catawba, N.C. He is the son of Bryan Harvey, a former All-Star closer. It is expected that Harvey will begin his career with the Gulf Coast League Orioles in Sarasota, Fla.
Earlier in the day, the Orioles agreed to terms with supplemental first-round pick Josh Hart, according to an industry source.
The Orioles now have agreed to terms or signed 10 of their 11 picks in the first 10 rounds of the draft – the only one that has not agreed is seventh rounder Drew Dosch of Youngstown State.
Coming off knee surgery, the rising senior would not be able to play this summer. His signing, if it happens, likely would come closer to the July 12 deadline.
Of the top 11 picks, five were signed at slot, four below slot and one – Calvert Hall catcher Alex Murphy, taken in the sixth round – above slot. Murphy, who was slotted at $218,500, agreed to a $275,000 deal.
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The Orioles are expected to use the money saved to attempt to sign players deeper in the draft who dropped for financial reasons.