settled, the San Francisco Giants had their man, while their man had exactly what he’d always dreamed about: A chance to play major league baseball.
Leesburg native and former Florida State star Buster Posey signed a contract that included a $6.2 million signing bonus with the Giants late Friday night, making it the richest deal the team has even given to an amateur player by $3.7 million, as well as the largest signing bonus in MLB draft history.
His signing bonus was slightly more than the $6.15 million top pick Tim Beckham from Griffin (Ga.) High School received from the Tampa Bay Rays.
“It’s been a long summer,” Posey said during the early-morning press conference that also featured Giants director of player personnel, Bobby Evans, and scouting director John Barr. “Obviously being 21-years old, this is the first of this type of experience for me. It was different. I’m extremely excited to be a Giant and I can’t wait to get started.”
The full terms of the deal were not disclosed, per team policy, though the Giants did say that the former Florida State catcher and No. 5 pick overall in the June 5 MLB Draft received a minor league contract. Posey, who reportedly already passed his physical, will report to the Giants’ rookie league team in Arizona before being sent to a higher level minor league team. Because he received a minor league contract and not a major league deal, all that means is Posey will not be immediately added to the team’s 40-man roster and he’s not guaranteed an invite to spring training.
Of course, the Giants have zero plans to let Posey sit on the shelf.
“It’s been a long wait since the draft but well worth it to get him here,” Evans said. “I look forward to getting him started.”
And according to comments made by Giants GM Brian Sabean about current starting catcher Bengie Molina — the 33-year-old veteran whose contract runs out after 2009 — shortly after Posey was drafted, that could be sooner rather than later.
“We lack depth (at the catching position), especially at the higher levels,” Sabean said on the team’s Web site back on draft day. “He’s on the fast track and Bengie’s clock is winding down. It’s really up to him how soon he wants to get going and how soon he can get here.”
When he arrives, he’ll bring with him that hefty $6.2
million signing bonus that broke the Giants’ franchise, beating the previous high of $2.55 million that Dominican outfielder Rafael Ramirez got last month.
And according to Posey’s former coach at FSU, Mike Martin Sr., his star for the last three years — who once played all nine positions in a game back in May, including hitting a grand slam — is worth every penny.
“Buster Posey was the epitome of FSU Baseball. A great student, a great leader, a great person; his legacy will live forever as an all-time great Seminole,” Martin said late Friday in a statement released be the school. “Our best wishes go out to him, his fiancˇe Kristen and his entire family as he embarks on a new phase of his life.”
Of course, Posey — the highest draft pick in the history of Southwest Georgia baseball players who’ve made to to the pros — likely won’t be forgetting his days in Tallahassee, Fla., anytime soon.
“There is no doubt that I will miss playing at FSU,” said Posey, who joins Dawson’s Bob Jones (selected No. 20 overall by the Minnesota Twins in 1966) and Gerry Aubin (No. 21 overall by Pittsburgh Pirates in 1978) as the Albany area’s only first-round picks. “It was a fun three years and I couldn’t image playing ball anywhere else. FSU, in my opinion, is the best place to play college baseball.”
Some teams were scared away from picking Posey because of the big contract he wanted in order to leave Florida State after his junior season. But the Giants, who last year gave Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters a contract worth $200,000 less in the same slot as Posey, were gladly prepared to pay the price.
“We need to bring in lots of players like him,” Barr said. “That’s what we’re doing. I don’t like to put a timetable on anybody and I’m definitely not going to put one here on Buster. All I can say is he has the ability and the makeup to become a team player in our organization that can help us win.”
With Posey’s signing, the Giants have come to terms with 30 players from this year’s draft, including 27 of their first 31 selections. Posey also is just the third catcher taken by the Giants with their No. 1 pick, with the others being Dave Rader in 1967 and Bob Cummings in 1978.
Posey capped one of the greatest seasons in Florida State history by winning the 2008 Golden Spikes Award,which is given annually to the top amateur player in the country. He is the third Giant to receive the honor, joining Tim Lincecum (2006) and Will Clark (1985). The junior backstop also won every major collegiate award in 2008, capturing the Dick Howser Trophy and Brooks Wallace Award, while claiming the Johnny Bench Award for the nation’s top collegiate catcher. He was even named Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball, Baseball America and Rivals.com.
Posey, a 6-1, 205-pound right-handed hitter finished the season as the national leader in six offensive categories including batting average (.463), hits (119), RBI (93), total bases (226), slugging percentage (.879) and on-base percentage (.566). He also finished third in runs scored (89) and tied for third in home runs (26).
Posey was drafted as a pitcher and shortstop out of high school in 2005 by the Los Angeles Angels in the 50th round, but chose instead to head to college.
Now, he has his MLB future ahead of him.
"I’m excited to get started," Posey said."It’s a lifelong dream of mine. I’m excited to hopefully become an impact player for the San Francisco Giants for a long time."
— The Associated Press,
San Jose Mercury Star, San Francisco Giants and Canadian Press contributed to this story.