Tampa Bay Rays Sign 1st Round MLB Draft Pick Theo Gillen to Full Slot Contract
![Bowie Bulldogs pitcher Jonathan Gonzales (10) hurls a pitch to Westlake Chaparrals Theo Gillen (14) during the first inning at the District 26-6A baseball game on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Toney Burger Athletic Center in Austin, TX. Bowie Bulldogs pitcher Jonathan Gonzales (10) hurls a pitch to Westlake Chaparrals Theo Gillen (14) during the first inning at the District 26-6A baseball game on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Toney Burger Athletic Center in Austin, TX.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2400,h_1350,x_0,y_29/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/fastball/01j3rp928sjh3kp92h3j.jpg)
The Tampa Bay Rays have signed center fielder Theo Gillen to a professional contract, the club announced in a press release Friday evening.
Gillen was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft back on July 14. The Westlake High School (TX) product had been committed to the University of Texas.
According to MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis, Gillen is signing for his full slot value of $4,372,900.
MLB.com had Gillen ranked as the No. 28 overall player in the draft pool this year, as well as No. 20 among position players, No. 7 among high schoolers and No. 5 among high school position players.
Newest Flappy Boi 🤝 Current Flappy Bois
— Tampa Bay Devil Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 26, 2024
A big Rays welcome to our 1st round draft pick, Theo Gillen! pic.twitter.com/A23OqjcKiR
Gillen hit .415 with seven home runs, four doubles, six triples, 30 RBI, 38 runs and 29 stolen bases at Westlake this season. Baseball America awarded Gillen First Team High School All-America honors, and he made the All-Central Texas First Team for the second time as well.
The 18-year-old measures in at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds. He suffered a torn labrum and underwent shoulder surgery his sophomore year, and has since dealt with additional knee and groin injuries.
The Rays have now signed 19 of their 21 draft picks from last week.
Lincoln Way East High School (IL) shortstop Tyler Bell went to Tampa Bay in Competitive Balance Round B, but the No. 66 overall pick has yet to ink a contract. The Rays' 20th round selection, Louisville right-handed pitcher Kaleb Corbett, has not signed either.
Follow Fastball on FanNation on social media
Continue to follow our FanNation on SI coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.
You can also follow Sam Connon on Twitter @SamConnon.
Related Rays stories
- ZACH EFLIN TO ORIOLES:Â Zach Eflin, who has been the anchor of the Tampa Bay Rays' starting rotation for the past two seasons, is joining the Baltimore Orioles ahead of the trade deadline.
- YANDY DIAZ BACK WITH RAYS:Â First baseman Yandy DĂaz, who has been on the restricted list due to personal matters since the All-Star break, is back on the Tampa Bay Rays' roster against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.
- THOUGHTS ON RAYS SELLING: The pitching-depleted Tampa Bay Rays have been spinning their wheels throughout 2024, so it's no surprise they became sellers Friday when they traded Randy Arozarena and Zach Eflin. But why?