Twins sign Draft picks Miranda, Benninghoff | MLB.com – MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins on Friday signed a pair of players taken in the 2016 MLB Draft, agreeing to terms with supplemental second-round pick Jose Miranda and 11th-rounder Tyler Benninghoff.
Miranda, a shortstop from Puerto Rico who is expected to move to third base, signed for $775,000, while Benninghoff, a Missouri high school right-hander who dealt with an early-season biceps injury, signed for $600,000, per MLB.com’s Jim Callis. Benninghoff received the highest bonus to date by any player selected outside of the first 10 rounds.
Miranda, who was selected from Leadership Christian Academy with the No. 73 overall pick in Lottery Round B, projects to be a power-hitting third baseman. The Twins saved slot money by signing him for $775,000, as the pick had a value of $878,500.
Minnesota has now signed six of its top 10 picks, including four of those players signing for under slot, which has freed up money to sign players like Benninghoff, from Rockhurst High School. Benninghoff was projected to be taken within the first three rounds, but he was limited to one outing because of the biceps injury.
The Twins have yet to sign first-rounder Alex Kirilloff, but it’s expected to happen soon, as he finished his high school career on Thursday, with the power-hitting outfielder’s Pittsburgh-area school losing in the championship game.
Kirilloff on being drafted 15th
Alex Kirilloff on being selected No. 15 by the Twins
Outfielder Alex Kirilloff reacts to being selected No. 15 overall by the Twins in the 2016 MLB Draft
Other Draft picks signed by the Twins include second-round catcher Ben Rortvedt for $900,000 (pick value: $1,141,600), supplemental second-round outfielder Akil Badoo for $750,000 (pick value: $865,200), third-round right-hander Griffin Jax for $645,600 (pick value: $645,600), sixth-round righty Alex Schick for $400,000 (pick value: $267,800) and seventh-round outfielder Matt Albanese for $180,000 (pick value: $200,900). Of the group, only Schick, who dealt with a knee injury at Cal that hurt his Draft stock, signed for more than slot.
Rhett Bollinger has covered the Twins for MLB.com since 2011. Read his blog, Bollinger Beat, follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
