UCLA Baseball: Bruins Lose 3 Recruits and 3 Underclassmen to MLB Teams

Hunter Greene will be a Bruin, after all.

While that may sound like good news for UCLA Baseball, it really isn’t. That’s because Greene has signed with the Cincinnati Reds for a $7.23 million signing bonus.

According to Eric Sondheimer of the LA Times, Greene has a stipulation in his contract that says that the Reds will pay for four years of college at UCLA after his professional baseball career is over. So, while Greene will eventually have a diploma from UCLA, he will never play baseball for the Bruins.

Two other Bruin recruits elected to sign pro contracts after being drafted. Hagen Danner, another Bruin recruit who was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, has also signed a pro contract with a $1.5 million signing bonus and will not play for the Bruins next year. Meanwhile, sixth round pick Jeremiah Estrada signed with the Cubs for a $1 million signing bonus plus the “full cost of attending UCLA”, according to the Desert Sun.

The three current Bruin underclassmen who were drafted have all opted to sign with their respective teams. Griffin Canning who was chosen in the second round by the Angels signed for the slotted value of $1,459,200, Sean Bouchard signed with the Colorado Rockies for $143,400, and Nick Valaika signed with the Pirates for $100,000.

All three Bruin seniors who were drafted have signed with their respective teams as well. Scott Burke signed with the Baltimore Orioles while Brett Stephens and Moises Ceja both signed with the Rockies.

The good news for UCLA fans comes in the fact that junior Jake Bird was not drafted and the three Bruin recruits who were drafted did not sign by Friday’s deadline.

Garrett Mitchell, the 14th round of the Oakland A’s, Sam Glick, the 39th round of the Baltimore Orioles and Chase Farrell, who was selected by the Houston Astros in the 40th round, did not sign with the teams who chose them and, as a result, they should end up in UCLA uniforms next season.


Go Bruins!!!