The Toronto Blue Jays have signed their first-round draft pick, Austin Martin, to a $7,000,825 million signing bonus according to multiple reports.
#BlueJays first round draft pick (5th overall), INF/OF Austin Martin deal to be finalized shortly. Expected to be in excess of $7M – second highest bonus in the 2020 draft. (slot $6,180,700.00)
— Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) July 8, 2020
The dollar value is higher than his slot value of $6,180,700, and is the highest bonus ever paid to a Blue Jays draft pick.
The prized prospect joined the Blue Jays organization last month, after he fell to Toronto with the fifth overall draft pick. Considered the “best pure hitter” in his draft class, Martin has the ability to play multiple positions.
The 21-year-old native of Jacksonville, Florida, led the SEC with a .392 batting average in 2019. Ranked second among all draft-eligible prospects by Baseball America, it was a surprise to many that he fell into the Blue Jays’ lap.