The Milwaukee Brewers picked Quintin Torres-Costa in the 35th round of the Major League Baseball draft, where player value and signing bonuses are not always equal. ADVERTISING The Milwaukee Brewers picked Quintin Torres-Costa in the 35th round of the Major
The Milwaukee Brewers picked Quintin Torres-Costa in the 35th round of the Major League Baseball draft, where player value and signing bonuses are not always equal.
The UH-Manoa left-hander is a draft-eligible redshirt sophomore with two more years of college eligibility, but he’s at the peak of his bargaining leverage.
Most 35th-round draft picks or those in lower rounds don’t sign or get a signing bonus of $1,000, said Dave Matranga, an agent for PSI Sports. Last year, just six of the 30 players selected in the 35th round of the draft signed.
“The normal range for that round is $1,000 to $20,000,” said Matranga, who’s serving as an advisor to the 2012 Waiakea graduate. “Most guys don’t sign or sign for $1,000.
“It’s Quintin’s best chance to make any money this year. I’m pushing for the top range, and get the rest of his school paid.”
As a 20-year-old (he turns 21 on Sept. 11), Torres-Costa is looked at as a college junior from a development standpoint in the eyes of scouting directors, Matranga said.
Unless Torres-Costa dominated during a summer collegiate league (he was planning to play in New England) and his UH junior year, he wouldn’t have the same value in the 2016 MLB draft.
MLB teams are assigned bonus pool money and slot values for the first 10 rounds. After the 10th round, there is up to a $100,000 signing bonus in each round through round 40.
If a team goes over $100,00 to sign a pick in rounds 11-40, it counts toward a team’s bonus pool amount. There is not only a penalty tax, but organizations can also lose a first-round draft pick.
Torres-Costa leaves for Arizona today to sign with the Brewers. He’ll be assigned to Milwaukee’s Arizona rookie league team with Jordan Yamamoto, last year’s 12th round pick from Saint Louis.
Matranga represented Yamamoto, a right-handed pitcher, and got him a $420,000 package, including college costs and a $330,000 signing bonus.
Yamamoto, who outpitched Medeiros in the 2014 HHSAA state semifinals, has been rehabbing a wrist injury.
The PSI agent also represents Kolten and Kean Wong and Campbell right-hander Ian Kahaloa, who was picked in the fifth round. (The slot value is $369,400.)
“He’ll sign for more than Yamamoto,” Matranga said. “You’ve got to know the market of a player, in your mind and stick to it. When teams start calling, you have to know when to say yes or no.
“A lot of teams were interested in Quintin, but didn’t want to pay him money, and wanted him to sign for $1,000 or $5,000. I told them he’s worth more than that.”
Matranga said a key in dealing with an MLB organization, much like buying a high-priced commodity such as house or car, is establishing trust.
“It’s important that an agent or advisor has experience in the industry and knows the scouting directors,” he said. “They trust me and know I’m not lying to them. I told the Brewers that Quintin is a 4.0 GPA student (in communicology), won’t get into trouble and is a good kid.
“He can throw 93 mph, has a decent slider, and with a little work will have good command of a changeup. He’s a good athlete and hard worker. At the 35th round, I think they’re getting a steal, and they agreed.”
If Torres-Costa pitches well and advances up the minor league ladder, he could join Kodi Medeiros, the team’s first-round pick in 2014 and a former Waiakea teammate.
Medeiros is pitching for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Milwaukee’s Single-A farm club in the Midwest League. He’s 2-2 with a 4.21 ERA in 51 1/3 innings with 43 hits allowed, 21 walks and 56 strikeouts.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity the Brewers gave me,” Torres-Costa said. “I want to perform for the organization and hopefully Kodi and I will be playing together in the big leagues one day.”
