Fifth-Rounder Aidan Knaak Returns To Clemson Instead Of Signing With Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers don't often swing and miss with draft picks, but they did with one high-profile selection.

Right-handed starter Aidan Knaak announced on Instagram on Monday that he was returning to Clemson for his senior season, a blow to the Brewers, who had selected him in the fifth round. Knaak's decision also had an effect on the Brewers' bonus pool as his slot value of $425,400 was subtracted from their available money, which was $8,042,900 to begin with.

 

 

 

 

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Knaak was the 117th-ranked prospect by Baseball America and 210th by MLB Pipeline when he was taken by the Brewers with the 163rd pick of the draft.

Players had until Monday at 4 p.m. CT to sign.

However, Knaak was not the only draft pick the Brewers did not sign. Of their 20 selections, the Crew brought 17 into the fold. The two others who did not decide to begin their pro careers now are 14th-round left-hander Daunte Bell of Milliken High School in Long Beach, Calif., and 16th-round right-hander Bradyn Havard of George County (Miss.) High School. Bell has a college commitment to Houston and Havard to Pearl River Community College.

Here is a rundown of the Brewers' draft picks and their signing bonuses as reported by Baseball America:

1. Trey Ebel, SS, $2,800,000
2. Sawyer Strosnider, OF, $2,100,000
3. Kyle Jones, OF, $675,000
4. Julian Garcia, RHP, $1,497,500
5. Aidan Knaak, RHP, did not sign
6. Ryan Oshinskie, RHP, $222,500
7. Grant Hill, RHP, $200,000
8. Kellan Tom, 1B, $175,000
9. Chase Mora, RHP, $5,000
10. Andrew Gaines, RHP, $5,000
11. Gavin Perry, RHP, $150,000
12. Marcus Kruzan, RHP, $150,000
13. Carson Hart, OF, $380,000
14. Daunte Bell II, LHP, did not sign
15. Keaton Maiorana, RHP, $230,800
16. Bradyn Havard, RHP, did not sign
17. Chance Ruby, SS, $150,000
18. Brady Smith, RHP, $150,000
19. Sam George, LHP, $100,000
20. Carsten Sabathia III, 1B, $50,000

Players drafted in Rounds 11 to 20 did not count toward the Brewers' bonus pool unless they surpassed $150,000. For example, Maiorana, the 15th-round pick, signed for $230,800, but only $80,800 counted toward the bonus pool. Teams are allowed to surpass their bonus pool by 5% with a financial penalty of a 75% tax on the overage. According to Brewer Fanatic's Draft Tracker, the Brewers went $50,400 over their allotment.