Steinbrenner High School alumnus and former University of South Florida (USF) shortstop Kevin Merrell has signed with the Oakland Athletics, inking a $1.8 million signing bonus on June 20.
(Courtesy of University of South Florida)
Merrell, the No. 33 overall selection in the 2017 MLB Draft, graduated from Steinbrenner in 2014 and played three seasons at South Florida.
Merrell was viewed as one of the fastest players in all of college baseball last season.
He led the American Athletic Conference with a .384 batting average and became the only player in USF history to lead the team in hitting for three consecutive seasons; he scored 48 runs and stole 19 bases in 2017.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Merrell also displayed gap power last season, notching 11 doubles, three triples and seven home runs.
At Steinbrenner, Merrell was a four-year letter winner in baseball for coach John Crumbley; he also lettered in golf and track, where he recorded a 10.6-second, 100-meter dash.
