FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas catcher James McCann has signed with the Detroit Tigers.
McCann was the Tigers' first overall pick in the second round of the MLB Draft in June. He signed for a bonus of close to $600,000, according to a source.
"It's real exciting and something I'm very proud of," McCann said last week of being the Tigers' first pick. "I'm very happy to be part of their organization. It kind of puts a little added drive in my mind to make me want to succeed. I want to prove them right for taking me with their first overall pick."
McCann signed with the Tigers Monday after reporting to the organization's spring training facility in Lakeland, Fla.
He is the fourth player from Arkansas' 2011 roster to sign a pro contract this summer, joining outfielders Jarrod McKinney (Houston Astros), and Kyle Robinson and Collin Kuhn (Chicago White Sox).
As a junior, the Santa Barbara, Calif., native batted .306 with six home runs and 38 RBIs for the Razorbacks. He was a three-year starter and two-year captain at Arkansas, helping the Razorbacks to 124 wins - the second-best three-year span in school history.
He was also named the Southeastern Conference's 2011 scholar athlete of the year.