Toffey, Delay Ink Six Figure Deals

Last night, Jim Callis reported both Vanderbilt 4th rounders signed, with Jr. 3B Will Toffey signing for the exact slot value of the 111th pick ($482,600) with the Oakland Athletics, and Sr. C Jason Delay signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates for an under slot deal for approximately the same bonus he was offered last year ($100,000).

Toffey was drafted last year in the 25th round by the Baltimore Orioles, and Delay was taken in the 11th round that year by the San Fransisco Gigantes.

Both third base and catcher should prove to be intriguing position battles for the Dores next year, with power hitting incoming freshman Jayson Gonzalez the odds on favorite to lock down the hot corner. Gonzalez will likely have to hold off a charge from incoming freshman SS Austin “Spy Car” Martin, rising junior middle infielder Alonzo Jones (who is perhaps Vanderbilt’s most talented, yet frustrating player) who hit just .221 in ‘17, and rising sophomore Alex Brewer, who went 0-15 on the year.

At catcher, rising sophomore Ty Duvall, who hit .375 in just 24 ABs in ‘17 as Jason Delay’s primary back-up, will have to battle to hold off incoming freshman, and Perfect Game 1st Team All American, Philip Clarke. It is possible the duo will split catching responsibilities. Both have advanced left-handed bats, so defense will likely be the separator.

These signings follow Kyle Wright’s record breaking $7,000,000 bonus from the Atlanta Braves last week. Collin Snider and Reed Hayes signed with the Orioles and Royals, respectively, for undisclosed amounts. Outfielders Jeren Kendall and Ro Coleman, as well as relief pitcher Matthew Ruppenthal, remain unsigned.

Not one of our commits has signed yet. The deadline for teams to get draft picks under contract is July 15th. We may well get them all to campus.

*Note: I am linking you to these two tweets, as SB Nation is glitching all over the place, and posting every single tweet by each team instead of the specific tweets by Jim Callis I want. The hell?