The Minnesota Twins announced today the signing of their first overall selection, shortstop Royce Lewis from JSerra Catholic High School, whom they selected with the first overall pick in the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Lewis said he didn't know he would be selected by the Twins with the top overall pick until the moment his name was announced.
The 18-year-old high school senior was rated as a top prospect in the draft by MLB.com. A versatile position player, Lewis played third base and center field at the start of his high school career before playing solely shortstop as a senior.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Lewis was named the 2017 Gatorade Player of the Year in California and Trinity League Player of the Year for the third consecutive season.
The right-handed hitting Lewis was also named the Los Angeles Times High School Player of the Year as a junior in 2016, after hitting .429 with nine doubles and four home runs. He was named MVP of the 2016 Under Armour All-American Game at Wrigley Field and the Perfect Game All-American Classic MVP at Petco Park.
The Aliso Viejo, CA native was a member of the gold medal-winning USA Baseball 18U National Team in the fall of 2016 that defeated Cuba in October for the 2016 COPABE Pan American AAA Championship.The high school shortstop's dream was made a reality Saturday. Lewis, a native of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., officially signed a contract with the Twins between Games 1 and 2 of the team's doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians.
A source told MLB.com that Lewis signed a deal of $6.725 million, a record for a high school player. The club has not confirmed the details of the deal.
Reports are that the selection of Lewis had as much to do with his attitude and makeup as his ability to play baseball.
It is likely that Lewis will begin play in the Rookie League.