As many expected, it came down to the wire tonight between the No. 2 draft pick and the Seattle Mariners. But it's official -- former UVa standout and Golden Spikes Award finalist Danny Hultzen has signed with the Mariners and will not be returning to Virginia to bring us back to the promised land known as Omaha.
The southpaw pitcher reportedly signed a five-year contract for $8.5 million guaranteed, plus a hefty $6.35 million bonus with maximum value of $10.6 million.
Hultzen is Virginia's highest MLB draft pick, an honor previously held by the Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman at No. 4. He finished this past year with a 1.37 ERA and a 12-3 record. In 118.0 innings pitched this season, Hultzen allowed 76 hits and just 26 runs (18 earned), while striking out 165 batters en route to becoming Virginia's all-time career leader in wins and strikeouts.
And of course, there's the final CWS game against South Carolina in which Hultzen struck out 8 batters in 3.0 innings pitched, before bowing out to the worst-timed plague of his life.
Congratulations to Hultzen for the big move! He joins teammates catcher John Hicks (4th round) and third baseman Steven Proscia (7th rounder) in the Mariners organization.
Wahoowa!