Carter Stewart, a right-handed pitching prospect, has agreed to terms on a contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
MLB.com’s Jim Callis reported the deal is for over $4 million. A major league team likely would’ve had to select Stewart in the first 14 picks in June’s MLB draft for him receive that much money. He likely would’ve been a second-round pick, though.
Entering the spring, Stewart was considered a potential top-10 pick in June’s MLB draft after failing to sign with the Atlanta Braves last year when he was the eighth overall pick. Disagreements over Stewart’s post-draft physical led to a snag in negotiations, as the Braves reportedly discovered an issue with a ligament in his right wrist.
His draft stock fell this spring due to inconsistencies on the mound at Eastern Florida State Junior College and potential concerns over his medical reports.
Stay tuned to the Baseball Prospect Journal for more information on Carter Stewart as it becomes available.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for four years. He’s interviewed 133 of the top draft prospects in that period, including three No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today and The Arizona Republic, have quoted his work, while he’s appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
