Carlos Cortes is ready to begin his professional baseball career, and he got a big bonus to do it.
Cortes has agreed to terms with the New York Mets, who selected him in the third round of the Major League Baseball draft. According to Baseball America’s Jim Callis, Cortes’ signing bonus is $1,038,000, more than $300,000 over the slot value.
Cortes is just a sophomore but was draft-eligible because of his age. He joins teammate Adam Hill, who signed with the Mets last week.
Cortes will begin either worth Brooklyn Cyclones or Kingsport Mets but could land back in Columbia with the Single-A Fireflies next year if things go well.