The Cincinnati Reds have officially signed their first-round draft pick, Steele Hall. According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, the 17-year-old infielder agreed to a signing bonus of $5.75 million, which is slightly below the approximate slot value of $6.51 million for the ninth overall pick.
Pre-draft rankings placed Hall variably among experts: Baseball America and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel considered him a mid-first-round talent, while Keith Law of The Athletic ranked him much lower, at 36th. The 5-foot-11 right-handed hitter is noted for his elite speed and is projected to remain at shortstop. Hall is seen primarily as a contact hitter rather than a power threat. Both Baseball America and McDaniel highlighted his aggressive approach at the plate, although Law raised concerns about how well he might handle breaking pitches.
While Hall’s evaluations vary, his youth and athleticism made him a clear candidate to sign rather than pursue his college commitment to Tennessee. His bonus aligns closely with the slot value of the 12th pick, allowing the Reds some financial flexibility for later selections. Cincinnati also drafted two other high school players within the top 10 rounds: second-round pick Aaron Watson and fifth-round pick Eli Pitts, both of whom may receive above-slot bonuses using savings from Hall’s deal.
