Highest Bonuses, Draft History



Three of the five highest bonuses in draft history were paid in 2011, including a record $8 million to No. 1 overall pick Gerrit Cole by the Pirates. This year, the largest bonus went to No. 2 overall choice Byron Buxton, whose $6 million from the Twins tied for the 11th-most ever.

Player, Pos. Team, Year (Pick) Bonus
Gerrit Cole, rhp Pirates, 2011 (No. 1) $8,000,000
Stephen Strasburg, rhp Nationals, 2009 (No. 1) *$7,500,000
Bubba Starling, of Royals, 2011 (No. 5) +$7,500,000
Jameson Taillon, rhp Pirates, 2010 (No. 2) $6,500,000
Danny Hultzen, lhp Mariners, 2011 (No. 2) *$6,350,000
Donavan Tate, of Padres, 2009 (No. 3) +$6,250,000
Bryce Harper, of Nationals, 2010 (No. 1) *$6,250,000
Buster Posey, c Giants, 2008 (No. 5) $6,200,000
Tim Beckham, ss Rays, 2008 (No. 1) +$6,150,000
Justin Upton, ss Diamondbacks, 2005 (No. 1) +$6,100,000
Matt Wieters, c Orioles, 2007 (No. 5) $6,000,000
Pedro Alvarez, 3b Pirates, 2008 (No. 2) *$6,000,000
Eric Hosmer, 1b Royals, 2008 (No. 3) $6,000,000
Dustin Ackley, of Mariners, 2009 (No. 2) *$6,000,000
Anthony Rendon, 3b Nationals, 2011 (No. 6) *$6,000,000
Byron Buxton, of Twins, 2012 (No. 2) $6,000,000
*Part of major league contract.
+Bonus spread over multiple years under MLB provisions for two-sport athletes.


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