The Seattle Mariners drafted third baseman Ace Reese with the 24th overall pick in Saturday’s draft. Today, they signed him for $3.5 million. The 24th overall pick has a $3,818,700 slot value. Seattle is typically known for drafting and developing pitching, but this season they took a bat out of Mississippi State. Reese may end up transitioning to being a big-league first baseman, but the Mariners lock up their guy.
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Reese, this past season in 62 games with the Bulldogs, hit .336 with a 1.152 OPS. He had 23 doubles, 24 home runs, 74 RBI, 73 runs scored, 41 walks, and a stolen base. He started his collegiate career at Houston, where in 48 games he hit .278 with a .901 OPS. Reese had eight doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 34 RBI, 33 runs scored, five stolen bases, and 29 walks.
He then transferred to Mississippi State, where in two seasons he played in 119 games, hitting .341 with a 1.144 OPS. He had 40 doubles, a triple, 138 RBI, 129 runs scored, 67 walks, and two stolen bases.
Reese spent two summers playing in the CACL and the CCBL. In 31 games, he hit .350 with a .936 OPS. He had eight doubles, a triple, three home runs, 29 RBI, 20 runs scored, a stolen base, and 17 walks.
