BREAKING: San Francisco Giants sign 11th-round pick Trevor McDonald

The San Francisco Giants have come to terms with 11th-round pick Trevor McDonald, signing the prep right-hander to an above-slot deal.

After locking up their early draft picks a few days ago, the San Francisco Giants turned their attention to 11th-round pick Trevor McDonald.

While McDonald is committed to the University of South Alabama, he will not be making it to campus this spring. Instead, he has agreed to terms with the Giants and will begin his pro career.

A source familiar with the situation has told Around the Foghorn contributor Marc Delucchi that he has officially signed for an $800,000 signing bonus.

McDonald comes with much more luster than the average 11th-round prospect. Prior to the draft, he was considered a third-to-fifth round talent. Keith Law was very bullish on the righty, ranking him No. 81 on his big board.

While he was listed as an outfielder as well in high school, McDonald’s long-term prospects were always on the mound. As a junior, he made waves by striking out 88 batters and posting a 1.49 ERA. Back then, his main tool was pitchability and an advanced feel for a breaking ball that he paired with a high-80s fastball that touched 91 mph.

He took some time off from throwing to give his arm a break following the summer of his junior year, and he also added 20 pounds of muscle. That approach paid off. As a senior, he maintained 91-93 mph velocity on his fastball and touched 95 mph, while his curveball continued to look like a potential plus pitch.

He’s also thrown a changeup occasionally that he will need to further develop if he’s going to stick in the rotation. He’ll also need to smooth out a violent delivery that has led some to believe he is destined for the bullpen.

As I wrote in my draft review, McDonald is the third-best prospect and the best pitcher that the Giants have signed from this draft class thus far.

One final fun fact: McDonald comes from a strong high school baseball program in Mississippi. The highest player ever drafted out of George County High School was former San Francisco Giants first-round pick Wendell Fairley. Even though they’ve had a number of players drafted, McDonald still has a chance to become the first player from his high school to reach the majors.

Looking to the team’s remaining unsigned draft picks, Puerto Rican second baseman Richard Rodriguez is probably the best bet to go pro. Regardless, the Giants have now signed their top 24 selections to round out another solid draft.