Just like they did four years earlier, the Rockies have paid an above-slot bonus to land a multisport star in the 14th round.

Colorado signed The Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tenn.) outfielder Tyler Massey on July 22 for $525,000, luring him away from a baseball scholarship from Virginia. Massey also starred in football as a linebacker and quarterback and was heavily recruited in that sport as well. As a result, the Rockies were able to take advantage of MLB provisions for multisport athletes and spread his bonus over four years.

Massey’s bonus is the highest so far this year for a player drafted after the 10th round.

Massey drew raves from scouts for both his athleticism and his competitive makeup. He has a short lefthanded stroke, good feel for hitting and natural power. Colorado plans on using him as a corner outfielder.

In 2004, the Rockies drafted Dexter Fowler in the 14th round and signed him that August. Now the system’s top prospect, Fowler has risen to Double-A at age 22.

Though 12 first-round picks remain unsigned a little more than two weeks before the Aug. 15 deadline, a number of above-slot deals were struck last week. In addition to Massey, players established new highs for the fifth through eighth rounds in this year’s draft:

• The Rangers signed Grace Prep Academy (Arlington, Texas) righthander Matt Thompson (seventh round) for $600,000 on July 21. The same day, the Yankes inked Edison High (Huntington Beach, Calif.) catcher Kyle Higashioka (seventh) for $500,000.
• The Rangers also nabbed Fallbrook (Calif.) High first baseman Clark Murphy (fifth) for $200,000 on July 22.
• The Padres landed Florida sophomore-eligible shortstop Cole Figueroa (sixth) for $400,000 on July 24, matching the $400,000 the Phillies gave CC of Southern Nevada righthander Colby Shreve (sixth) one week earlier.
• The Astros, whose fiscal conservatism led to several unsigned picks a year ago, spent $425,000 on Lake Travis High (Austin) lefty Brad Dydalewicz (eighth) on July 25.