University of Arkansas pitcher Hagen Smith has signed with the Chicago White Sox for an $8 million bonus, as reported by Major League Pipeline’s Jim Callis on Monday night.
This marks the largest signing bonus ever for a left-handed pitcher according to Major League Pipeline.
Smith, the No. 5 overall pick in the MLB Draft on July 14, surpassed the previous record of $7,005,000, set by Brendan McKay when the Tampa Bay Rays selected him fourth overall in 2018. McKay won the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s top amateur athlete.
Smith, from Bullard, Texas, signed for an amount above the slotted bonus of $7,763,700 for the No. 5 pick. He will turn 21 on August 19.
As a junior, Smith had a 9-2 record with a 2.04 ERA in 16 starts, setting an Arkansas single-season record with 161 strikeouts in 84 innings. In SEC games, he was 7-0 with a 1.35 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 60 innings.
Smith was one of four Razorbacks to sign on Monday, along with second baseman Peyton Stovall, first baseman Ben McLaughlin, and pitcher Jake Faherty.
Stovall, a left-handed hitting second baseman from Haughton, La., signed with the Cincinnati Reds for $625,000. He was drafted in the fourth round as the No. 117 pick overall, slightly above the slotted figure of $618,000.
Stovall batted .340 in 48 games as a junior after missing the first 12 games due to a broken foot. He had 9 home runs, 12 doubles, 38 RBIs, and 39 runs scored. In 30 SEC games, he batted .315 with 6 home runs and 20 RBIs, committing only two errors for a .998 fielding percentage.
McLaughlin, a senior from Golden, Colo., was selected in the ninth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks at No. 284 overall and signed for $75,000. His bonus is below the slot value of $187,600, but as a senior, he lacked leverage to return to college. He played in 60 games, batting .302 with 9 home runs, 42 RBIs, and 50 walks.
Faherty, a junior right-hander from Georgetown, Ky., signed for $220,000 after being drafted in the 11th round, No. 334 overall, by the Miami Marlins. He signed above the slotted bonus of $150,000. Faherty pitched in 16 games out of the bullpen with a 1.84 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings.
Smith is the 12th player to sign for a bonus of $8 million or more according to Major League Pipeline, and the fourth this year. Others include right-handed pitcher Chase Burns from Wake Forest at $9,250,000 as the No. 2 pick by the Reds; Georgia outfielder Charlie Condon at $9,250,000 as the No. 3 pick by the Colorado Rockies; and Oregon State infielder Travis Bazzana at $8,950,000 as the No. 1 pick by the Cleveland Guardians.
Burns and Condon tied for the highest signing bonuses ever. Paul Skenes, a rookie pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who started in the MLB All-Star Game last Tuesday night, signed for $9,200,000 after being the No. 1 overall pick last year.