Tyler Ferguson Signs With Texas

After a season that could be called "trying" at best, and "a harrowing, Kafka-esque journey through the dark recesses of the mind" at worst, RHP Tyler Ferguson's million dollar arm is apparently worth one fifth of that.

Ferguson (pictured below) became the first member of the 2015 Vanderbilt Commodore baseball team to sign a pro contract, as the 6th rounder agreed to terms on a $200,000 bonus with the Texas Rangers.  It's an under slot deal, but, more than that, Ferguson represents a great value lottery ticket of sorts.  Even with his horrid case of Rick Ankielitis this year, Turd Ferson can throw 96mph+ and spike a curve with the best of them.  That's a high end major league arm - at the very least a back of the bullpen guy - if their minor league development staff can help him put it all together.  In short, Ferguson represents the Platonic ideal of the term "boom or bust," and the Rangers are taking a calculated, and in my opinion, smart risk in signing him.

It's an oversized hat.  It's funny.

Finally, for those of you about to type, "$200,000?!?!  Why didn't he come back to school, work on his control, and improve his draft stock?"... I urge you to consider this.  3B Josh Tobias, who had an All-American season his senior year at Florida, just signed with the Phillies for $10,000.  The way the system is set up, you sign after your junior year, or you sign for peanuts after your senior year when you have no leverage.  He had to take the offer.

Here's the updated draft signings list:

2015 MLB Draft Signings Tracker (Vanderbilt Edition):

1. ARI Dansby Swanson - SS Vanderbilt

8. CHW Carson Fulmer - RHP Vanderbilt

24. LAD Walker Buehler - RHP Vanderbilt

33. KC Nolan Watson - RHP Lawrence North HS (Ind.) - $1,825,200 (exact slot value)

42. CLE Triston McKenzie - RHP Royal Palm Beach HS (Fla.) - $2,302,500 ($834,100 over slot)

66. STL Bryce Denton - 3B Ravenwood HS (Tenn.) - $1,200,000 ($264,600 over slot)

101. LAD Philip Pfeifer - LHP Vanderbilt

103. WSH Rhett Wiseman - OF Vanderbilt

113. CHC Darryl Wilson - OF Canton South HS (Ohio) - $1,300,000 ($800k over slot)

168. TEX Tyler Ferguson - RHP Vanderbilt - $200,000 ($96,000 below slot)

Rounds 11-40

12th. MIN Zander Wiel - 1B Vanderbilt

19th. TEX Xavier Turner - 3B Vanderbilt - Signed on 6/15 (amount not known)

24th. TOR Reggie Pruitt - OF Kennesaw Mountain HS (Georgia) - $500,000 ($400k over slot)

29th. MIL Donny Everett - RHP Clarksville HS (Tenn,)

30th. CLE Chandler Day - RHP Watkins Memorial HS (Ohio)

36th. CHC Alonzo Jones - SS Columbus HS (Georgia)

39th. CHC John Kilichowski - LHP Vanderbilt