Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – July 27, 2024 – The Arizona Diamondbacks signed Valley View High School alum Slade Caldwell to his first professional baseball contract. Arizona chose Caldwell 29th in the draft earlier this month, their top pick.
The deal Caldwell signed today comes with a $3,087 million signing bonus. One news outlet called it the largest signing bonus for any high school player from Arkansas in history.
Caldwell took batting practice at Chase Field alongside the big leaguers today. The Arizona Republic reported Caldwell gushed about getting to hit in the same group as Randal Grichuk, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Caldwell’s favorite team as a kid.
The Republic says scouts believe Caldwell could develop in a top-of-the-order hitter with a chance to stick in center field.