The Detroit Tigers will sign first-round pick Matt Manning on Thursday, according to Elk Grove Citizen's John Hull. The 18-year-old will travel to Lakeland, Fla for a physical before signing with the organization for the No. 9 overall slot value, which comes in at $3,505,800.
Manning, a high school flamethrower out of Sheldon High School in Elk Grove, Calif., carried a high price. Doubly talented in both baseball and basketball, the Loyola Marymount commit was reportedly looking for a higher signing bonus, so as to deter him from going to college on scholarship.
While fresh out of high school, Manning already has three pitches and tops out at 98 mph.