What to know about Alabama baseball's top recruit Bryce Eldridge in the 2023 MLB Draft
Alabama baseball's top recruit, first baseman and righthanded pitcher Bryce Eldridge, is also one of the top high school prospects in this year's MLB draft, ranked 23rd overall in MLB.com's top 250. Despite committing to play for the Crimson Tide in April of 2020, the 6-foot-7, 233-pound Virginia native is projected to go in the first round of Sunday's draft. However, being selected does not necessarily mean that Eldridge will bypass college.
Here's what you need to know about Eldridge's process in the MLB draft:
What are Eldridge's options?
He can either sign with the team that selects him or turn down its offer to play collegiately for Alabama. If he chooses to go pro, he forfeits his college eligibility. But if he does choose college, he's eligible to be drafted again after his junior season.
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How much money is on the table?
Last year, the player selected 23rd was Brandon Barriera, a lefthanded pitcher from American Heritage High School in Florida. He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays, and turned down college by signing a contract with a $3,597,500 signing bonus. This year, the value of the 23rd pick has gone down, with the Cleveland Guardians owning the pick at a $3,380,600 value.
Can Eldridge sign for more than that?
Yes he can, and it's more common than you may think. Last year, former Alabama pitcher Connor Prielipp signed with the Minnesota Twins for a $1,825,000 signing bonus, about $200,000 over the slot value as the 48th pick in the draft. Less common is players signing for below slot value, although this is still possible. 2022's first overall pick, Jackson Holliday, signed with the Baltimore Orioles for an $8,190,000 signing bonus, below the slot value of $8,846,900.
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How long does he have to make his decision?
The signing deadline for this year's MLB draft is August 1. If Eldridge and the Team come to an agreement before then, he'll likely be sent to the team's rookie-level affiliate, the lowest level of Minor League Baseball, for the rest of the season. If they can't come to an agreement before then, he'll likely suit up for the Crimson Tide in 2024.
Is there anything else I should know?
The odds of Eldridge turning down the professional ranks are slim. Per Major League Baseball, only three players picked in the first 10 rounds of the 2022 draft failed to sign. However, by no means is it impossible. Former Vanderbilt pitcher Kumar Rocker turned down the New York Mets after being drafted 11th overall in 2021 to play independent baseball, then re-entered the draft and signed with the Texas Rangers as the third overall pick the next season.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What to know about top Alabama recruit Bryce Eldridge in MLB Draft
