The Atlanta Braves selected pitcher Carter Stewart with the No. 8 pick in the 2018 draft, but he will reportedly play in Japan before ever lacing it up in Major League Baseball.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the 19-year-old Stewart has signed a six-year contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Pacific League in Japan. The deal will pay him nearly $6 million in guarantees, but it could triple depending on whether he hits performance incentives.
"Carter has a unique set of circumstances that placed him in position where MLB placed a detriment upon him," agent Scott Boras said.