Tyler Gibson News

Gibson agrees to terms on pro contract
By Chris Vannini / MLB.com | 08/15/11 8:17 PM ET

DETROIT -- The Tigers' early draft signings left them little to do ahead of Monday night's deadline for reaching deals with picks, but they got a big bonus signing Monday afternoon. Tyler Gibson, a 15th-rounder who was expected to play college ball at Georgia Tech, decided to turn pro and agreed to terms on a contract, according to a source with knowledge of the talks.

The Tigers have not officially announced the deal.

The deal was pending a physical Monday afternoon. Baseball America and TigsTown.com first reported the agreement, including a $525,000 bonus that ranks well above slot recommendations for that round.

With regard to his talent, Gibson was projected well above that spot, but the expectations that he would go to college barring a favorable contract caused him to drop through the early rounds coming out of Stratford Academy in Georgia. Many teams projected him as a third- or fourth-round talent, if not for signability.

He's a left-handed hitter with projectable power, according to scouting reports, and a chance to make the big leagues as a corner outfielder.

The deal means the Tigers have deals with each of their top 15 selections, a haul that helps makes up for the lack of a first-round selection.

Chris Vannini is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Last Updated: August 15. 2011 7:02PM
Tigers beat clock, sign prized pick Tyler Gibson
Lynn Henning/ The Detroit News

Detroit— Although they didn't have a first-round pick in June's draft, the Tigers might have gotten the next-best thing Monday when they signed Georgia prep slugger Tyler Gibson.

Gibson was steered away from a scholarship offer at Georgia Tech when the Tigers signed him hours ahead of Monday's midnight deadline for coming to terms with 2011 draft picks.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound left-handed batter hit .443 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs this spring for Stratford Academy in Macon, Ga. He was paid heavily over slot for a 15th-round draft pick; Baseball America reported it to be $525,000.

Gibson's father, Craig, is head baseball coach at Mercer University and confirmed that his son had signed even as the Tigers waited on a Monday night physical before they made any official announcements.

Craig Gibson said his son turned down the Dodgers when they approached Gibson just ahead of the draft with thoughts of making him their second-round pick. The Dodgers learned what other clubs came to realize: It was going to require significant money, above and beyond commissioner Bud Selig's slot "recommendations," to sign an athlete who otherwise would opt for Georgia Tech.

The Tigers had forfeited their first-round pick in June as compensation for signing free agent Victor Martinez last November.

It provided the Tigers with some latitude as they took a chance on Gibson in the 15th round and negotiated with him ahead of Monday's cutoff.

"He's still 18, but he has the physical tools, and mentally and emotionally, he's as ready as any 18-year-old to play professional baseball," Craig Gibson said during a Monday phone conversation. "I went and watched a Gulf Coast League (Tigers rookie league) game and he's ready for that level right now.

"He's between 6-2 and 6-3 and he's a very good athlete who can run," added Gibson, putting his son's 60-yard dash time at 6.5 seconds. "He's a big, long strider, and he hits for power.

"He's been working out and practicing with the (Mercer) college team since he was in the seventh grade. He's a low-maintenance guy who's gonna do whatever it takes. He knows the value of hard work."

Tyler Gibson played shortstop for Stratford, although scouts have suggested Gibson likely will move to the outfield.

Gibson was followed closely by the Tigers' Florida-Georgia scout, Jim Rough. He also had a series of workouts ahead of June's draft in Georgia and at the Tigertown complex in Lakeland, Fla.

"He had a (contract) number picked, and we came off that number quite a bit," Craig Gibson said, adding that negotiations were cordial between the family and the Tigers' executive team of David Chadd and Scott Pleis, who worked with Rough to secure Monday's deal.

"From Day 1, he wanted to be a Detroit Tiger. We made some concessions, they made some concessions, but in the end he wanted to play in Detroit."

The Tigers were in the running for another potential deadline signing Monday. Mitch Moormann, a 6-6, 250-pound right-handed pitcher who is slated to pitch this season for Wichita State, was being courted by the Tigers after they selected him in the 25th round of June's draft.

As with Gibson, it was expected that the Tigers would pay significantly beyond slot to sign Moormann.

lynn.henning@detnews.com

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110815/SPORTS0104/108150384/Tigers-beat-clock--sign-prized-pick-Tyler-Gibson#ixzz1VALWcTc9