ST. LOUIS -- Devin Williams' decision has been made.
The 18-year-old pitcher from Hazelwood West High School in St. Louis has signed with the Milwaukee Brewers, the team that selected him with the 54th pick in this year's MLB Draft.
Williams will receive a $1.35 million signing bonus, his adviser told FOXSportsMidwest.com. That amount is $333,000 more than the recommended bonus for the 54th pick.
The news squashes the chance of the 6-foot-3 right-hander ever throwing a pitch for the University of Missouri. Williams, whose fastball can touch 96 mph, committed to the Tigers in January, and the likelihood of him fulfilling that commitment appeared to increase a bit when he was not selected in the first round. But the Brewers were intent on securing the young man Baseball America pegged as the 44th overall player in the draft.
"A high-upside talent," Brewers amateur scouting director Bruce Seid told FOXSportsWisconsin.com after Williams was selected. "... From Day 1, we were excited about the athleticism of the player."
Excited enough to offer a bonus Williams couldn't turn down.
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