clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Mariners agree to deal with 11th overall pick Kyle Lewis

Well that was fast

By Ethan Novak

The Seattle Mariners wasted no time making Kyle Lewis an official Seattle Mariner, reportedly agreeing to a deal less than 48 hours after selecting Lewis out of Mercer University with the eleventh overall pick in the draft.

The Mariners were helped by the fact that Mercer has long been eliminated from postseason competition, but the signing was still a sudden and pleasant surprise.

Lewis was considered by many to be the best bat available in the draft, and there were perhaps a few concerns that the Mariners would have to go above slot-value to get a deal done. Lewis signing for slot-value gives them flexibility in working towards a contract with second-round pick Joe Rizzo or  they select a prep prospect on Sunday who would need a significant amount of cash to abandon college plans.

In Lewis' junior year at Mercer, he hit .395/.535/.731 with a .336 ISO, winning Baseball America's Player of the Year honor in the process. Baseball folks have been overwhelmingly positive about the Mariners grabbing him:

Brendan Gawlowski also provided some great analysis on Lewis on Thursday. If you want to follow and comment on the draft's third day we have an open thread right here.

Good day for the team, who now have an exciting new prospect in the fold.

goms.

More From Lookout Landing