Despite their efforts, the Arizona Diamondbacks were unable to come to terms with their first-round pick form the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft.
Second baseman Matt McLain, from Beckhman High School in California, was the No.25 pick in MLB’s annual draft in June.
According to Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports, the teenager informed the Diamondbacks that would turn down their contract offer and honor his commitment to play baseball at UCLA.
D-Backs offered slot ($2,636,400) to top pick Matt McLain (No. 25 overall) but he has informed them he will be going to UCLA. a top HS infielder out of Calif.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 6, 2018
McLain, a right-handed batter, received the full slot offer for the No.25 overall pick of $2.63 million. Rather than take it, he opted to head to UCLA for the next few years and hope he can improve his draft stock.
As with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who saw their first-round pick turn them down in favor of college, Arizona will receive a compensatory first-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft next year.