O's sign top draft pick DL Hall

The Orioles have signed their first-round selection in the 2017 First-Year Player Draft. The team has come to terms of a signing bonus with high school left-hander DL Hall.

Hall's bonus amount is exactly $3 million, which is just over the slot amount for that pick of $2,892,400, MASNSports.com has learned.

Hall was taken No. 21 in round one out of Valdosta (Ga.) High School. The 18-year-old Hall pitched to a 1.36 ERA this season. In 51 1/3 innings he allowed 24 hits for a .129 average against and struck out 105 batters. He also hit .349 batting third in his team's lineup.

But the Orioles drafted him to pitch. He throws a fastball that can sit between 92 and 95 mph, touching 96. He has a curveball that scouts rate as a plus pitch. He had a college commitment to Florida State, but he's going to be an Oriole.

The night Hall was drafted, MLBPipeline.com analyst Jim Callis said of Hall: "The Orioles got a steal at 21."

The Orioles have now signed 31 of their 41 draft picks, and 15 of their first 16 over the first 15 rounds. The only unsigned pick in that group is the club's fourth-round selection, right-handed high school pitcher Jack Conlon, from Sugarland, Texas. He was drafted No. 128 overall and the Orioles are expected to sign him as well.

Earlier today the Orioles announced the signing of their 19th-round selection, right-handed pitcher Adam Stauffer, from Coatesville Area (Pa.) High School. The 6-foot-7, 240-pound Stauffer was signed by area scout Nathan Showalter, the son of the O's skipper.

In a post-draft interview, Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich talked about Hall.

"He has a good arm and a good delivery," Rajsich said. "He's very athletic. He throws strikes with all his pitches. His command is good for a high school kid. He pitched against some of the very best hitters that were in this draft and was dominating, even against the best hitters. He has an advanced feel for pitching."

After the fastball and curve, Rajsich rates Hall's changeup as his third-best pitch, followed by his slider.

"I like his size and athleticism," Rajsich said. "He is very aggressive and he has everything you are looking for in a high school pitcher. He has mound presence and composure. He is a very confident kid and is a leader. Everything you are looking for when you go to a high school and look at a left-handed pitcher, you are going to see with this one."