The Florida Gators lost two standout high school pitchers on Monday, as former Santaluces right-hander Kyle Smith and West Boca Raton right-hander Michael Kelly reached deals with the pro clubs that drafted them in June.
Around 20 minutes before the 11:59 p.m. Monday signing deadline, the San Diego Padres and Kelly reached a deal.
Terms were not immediately available.
Smith was nearly unhittable in his senior season. (Ray Graham/The Palm Beach Post)
Kelly, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound pitcher with a mid-90s fastball with plenty of movement, was drafted 48th overall (first round, supplemental) in June. Kelly and his family spent Monday in San Diego negotiating with the Padres.
The suggested signing bonus, or slot money, for this year’s 48th overall draft pick is $728,000. Jim Callis of Baseball Prospectus reported early Tuesday morning Kelly’s signing bonus is $718,000. A source told The Post the deal “is much more complex” than that figure.
Another former Gators commit, Smith, finalized a pro contract late Sunday night with the Kansas City Royals.
Smith, drafted in the fourth round (126th overall) of this year’s MLB Draft, signed a deal worth $695,000. His slot money was $227,000.
A 6-foot, 180-pound right-hander with a low-90s fastball and a biting curve, Smith pitched Santaluces to its first playoff win in three seasons and was named All-Area player of the year.
Both players will report to their teams’ rookie league affiliates in Arizona.
Smith and Kelly are at least the second and third area high school seniors drafted this year to turn pro, joining former West Boca Raton shortstop Tyler Greene (Philadelphia Phillies).
The Houston Astros and right-handed pitcher Jack Armstrong also reached a deadline deal. Armstrong, a junior at Vanderbilt, graduated from Jupiter High.
In mid-July, former Seminole Ridge and Palm Beach State shortstop Peter Mooney signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, who drafted him in the 21st round (649th overall). Mooney was a junior at South Carolina.
This post was updated Tuesday, Aug. 16 at 11:29 a.m.
