Huntsville Times Report
The Huntsville Phantoms have signed their top draft pick, along with one of their third rounders and a number of their later round selections.
Hao Hang, an 18-year-old corner outfielder from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, signed a minor league contract for a $2.25 million signing bonus and reported immediately to the organization’s Spike Nolan League affiliate, the Monclova Aqua Sox.
Scouts were high on Hang’s skills potential at the plate, although team officials were worried that he would be hard to sign.
“We offered him a bit more than his asking price in hopes we could bring him aboard quickly, and I’m happy say things worked out well,” said Assistant GM John Pruitt. “Signing Hao was a top priority for us.”
Robby Clements, who was taken with the second of Huntsville’s two third round picks, also signed last week. Clements, 18, of Mansfield, TX, accepted a $350,000 signing bonus and also has reported to the Aqua Sox.
BBN now ranks Hang as Huntsville’s No. 2 prospect, behind pitcher Amayas Moelling, who made his big league debut late last month. Clements, also an outfielder, was ranked as the organization’s No. 6 prospect.
| Player | Contact Pot. | Gap Pot. | Power Pot. | Eye Pot. | Defense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hao Hang | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Robby Clements | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
- Second rounder Paul Kemp, a possible two-way player with excellent skills potential both as an outfielder and as a pitcher.
- Closer James Matarazzo, a second round supplementary pick, with so-so stuff but outstanding movement and control potential.
- Closer Weston Etheridge, a third round pick with good movement on his cutter and changeup.
- Fourth rounder Danny Bennett, an outfielder with above average contact and power skill ratings.
- Fifth rounder Regan O’Nary, a center fielder with elite range and other defensive ratings but negligible offensive potential.
Negotiations with most of the unsigned draft picks are expected to be easy, with the exception of O’Nary – who reportedly demanded a $2.2 million signing bonus – and Bennett, who’s reportedly mulling college, as well.
“One thing I can tell you,” said Pruitt, in reference to O’Nary, “is that we are not in the business of paying 5th Round draft picks $2 million-plus bonuses. That will not happen.”