Cleveland Indians sign Quentin Holmes, team’s top pick in 2017 MLB Draft

The Cleveland Indians have signed their top draft pick Quentin Holmes, leaving only one of their top ten picks unsigned.

The Cleveland Indians have officially announced the signing of their top 2017 draft pick, outfielder Quentin Holmes. He got slightly more than slot value, getting $988,970 as the 64th overall pick and a second-round pick. Not bad for the Indians considering Holmes was arguably a first-round talent.

Holmes was arguably the fastest player in the entire draft and has tools scouts love. He’s young, still just 17, but has the talent to dream on. He could be your prototypical center fielder and future leadoff hitter at the big league level if everything clicks.

He’s a bit raw though, coming from New York City high school where he didn’t get to play as much as kids in warmer weather states but the athleticism is real and the Indians have had success with New York kids (*cough* Manny Ramirez *cough*). Holmes will report to the Tribe’s Arizona Rookie League team to begin his professional career.

The Indians were very busy the last few weeks signing other top draft picks, including their second pick, high school infielder Tyler Freeman who got $816,500 (slot value for the 71st pick).

Freeman was considered one of the best defensive infielders in the draft and could play all three spots with many looking at second base as his best-fit long-term. Could be an above-average bat and potential gold glover at the position down the line. He will join Holmes in Arizona.

Here’s the complete breakdown of all the picks the Indians have signed in the top ten rounds:

With the signing of Holmes, the Indians have now signed nine of the ten players they drafted in the top 10 rounds of the draft, with only sixth-round pick Mike Rivera not signed. Rivera, of course, could not be signed until recently as he plays for the University of Florida who won the College World Series this past week.

I would expect him to be signed here very quickly now that the college season is over, finishing off the top of the draft for the Tribe.

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The Indians have also signed a number of picks outside the top ten rounds, most notably 11th-round pick Matt Turner, a high school left-hander out of Florida. Turner signed for $200,000, which is $75,000 over the limit for players drafted in rounds 11-40 ($125,000 limit). Because of this, that overage is charged against the Indians draft pool meaning they are currently $27,870 over their draft pool limit.

This is nothing new for the Indians though, as they always go over their limit and pay the penalty. They remain under the five-percent overage level ($191,450) which would result in a lost pick and even though they haven’t signed Rivera, it’s a safe bet he’ll come in around slot or under and not cause the club to lose any picks.

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In addition to Turner, the Indians also signed a Wolverine and a Buckeye, signing left-handed pitcher Michael Hendrickson and outfielder Tre Gantt. The Indians still have a couple of weeks to sign picks but outside of Rivera I wouldn’t expect many big signings but you never know, perhaps we’ll get a surprise late signing like we got with Luke Wakamatsu a couple of years ago.