The Diamondbacks today signed Trevor Bauer, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, to a four-year major league contract worth a guaranteed $4.45 million. The deal includes a $3.4 million bonus and a potential value of slightly over $7 million. The net present value of the deal is $4,352,554.

MLB's recommended bonus for the third overall choice is estimated as $3 million. Bauer is the first player from among the top nine selections in this year's draft to have come to terms. 

Baseball America's College Player of the Year  Award and USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award, Bauer went 13-2, 1.25 with a Pacific-10 Conference-record 203 strikeouts in 137 innings this spring. He led NCAA Division I in whiffs for the second straight season and set UCLA career records for wins (34) and strikeouts (460 in 373 innings).

Bauer had the deepest repertoire of any pitcher in the draft, featuring a 91-96 mph fastball, sharp curveball and plus changeup while mixing in a splitter and two versions of a slider. He could be the first player from this draft to reach the majors, and it's not out of the question that he could help Arizona in the stretch drive this year.

"September is not unrealistic. It's a definite possibility," said Jerry DiPoto, Diamondbacks executive vice president for scouting and player development. "It's not something we promised him but it's something we've discussed. We believe it's possible. He believes it's possible.

"Is it likely? We'll see. As he said during the press conference, he has no expectation of it. He wants to go out and earn it. A guaranteed callup doesn't exist. At the same time, the value of Trevor is so much more than the value of what he could do in September. We're not going to take any chances."

As reported by BA correspondent Jack Magruder (FoxSportsArizona.com), Bauer will begin his pro career with a two-inning start for high Class A Visalia on Saturday.