Report: Charlie Condon Ties MLB Draft Record, Gets $9.25M Bonus in Rockies Contract

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIJuly 19, 2024

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Former Georgia Bulldogs star Charlie Condon, who the Colorado Rockies selected with the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s MLB draft, landed a record-tying $9.25 million bonus in his contractual agreement with the team.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the news on Condon, whose bonus matches the deal No. 2 overall pick Chase Burns struck with the Cincinnati Reds. They now co-hold the MLB record for the most up-front money given to a drafted player, per Passan.

Both surpassed Pittsburgh Pirates ace and 2023 No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes’ $9.2 million bonus. This year’s No. 1 overall choice, Travis Bazzana, agreed to an $8.95 million bonus with the Cleveland Guardians.

Condon just amassed 37 home runs and 78 RBI alongside a .433 batting average and 1.575 OPS in his redshirt sophomore season.

Thanks to his prodigious power, Condon earned the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy as college baseball’s best player. He also earned top-player nods from Baseball America, D1Baseball and Perfect Game en route to consensus All-American honors as well.

Condon played third at Georgia but is expected to pay outfield for the Rockies, according to Passan.

Colorado could certainly use his bat on the pro level soon enough. The 34-63 Rockies are sitting last in the National League West, and their 4.15 runs per game are ninth-lowest in baseball. In the meantime, the 21-year-old now headlines a farm system that rose to 14th in Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report’s latest rankings. Condon also sits fifth on B/R’s latest MLB top-100 prospect rankings.