Outfielder Nick Decker, a Maryland commit, was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft on Monday evening
Decker was the No. 74 MLB Draft prospect coming into the first day of the draft on Monday, but went 10 spots higher, as the Red Sox took him 64th overall.
With the 64th pick of the 2018 #MLBDraft, the @RedSox select @SENbaseballECA OF Nick Decker: https://t.co/I4XB50hdHx pic.twitter.com/AhV4mJa6my
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) June 5, 2018
Now, Decker, the 2018 Gatorade Player of the Year for baseball in New Jersey, has until 11:59 p.m. on July 13 to sign with his team or stay at Maryland, where he has to stay until at least his junior year or until he turns 21.
This season for Seneca High School in Tabernacle, New Jersey, he’s batting .492 with 29 hits, seven home runs, 24 RBIs, 30 runs scored and 34 walks. He leads Seneca in walks, runs, home runs, RBIs and average.
The question for Maryland baseball fans is whether Decker will sign a pro contract this year or come to college. Right now, consensus is heavily favoring MLB, mainly because of his large signing bonus—slot value for the 64th pick is $1,010,500. Not only that, but he would have to wait at least three years to become draft-eligible again.
He has over a month to decide, but expect that decision to come much earlier than that so that he can either get some playing time in the minors if he goes the way of MLB or prepare for college life if he decides to stay a Terp.