FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas third baseman Cayden Wallace, from Greenbrier, has signed with the Kansas City Royals for a bonus of $1.7 million, Jim Callis of MLB.com reported on Friday.
Wallace, a second-round pick at No. 49 overall, signed for more than the slotted value of $1,584,000, according to Callis.
Monday is the deadline for college players with eligibility left to sign professionally.
Wallace was eligible to be drafted as a sophomore this year under Major League rules because he turns 21 on Aug. 7, which is within 45 days of the draft that was held July 17-19.
Starting all 67 games for the Razorbacks this season, Wallace had a .298 batting average with team-highs of 16 home runs, 20 doubles and 60 RBI to help Arkansas advance to the College World Series.
Wallace batted .279 with 14 runs, 11 doubles and 44 RBI in 60 games as a freshman last season when the Razorbacks won SEC regular-season and SEC Tournament titles.
Wallace was the first of nine Razorbacks from this season's team to be drafted and the last one to sign. He was Arkansas’ highest-drafted sophomore since Andrew Benintendi was the No. 7 overall pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2015.
Other Razorbacks from the 2022 team who were drafted and signed are pitcher Peyton Pallette (Chicago White Sox, No. 62 overall pick), infielders Robert Moore (Milwaukee Brewers, No. 72) and Jalen Battles (Tampa Bay Rays, No. 164), pitchers Evan Taylor (Miami Marlins, No. 262) and Connor Noland (Chicago Cubs, No. 263), catcher Michael Turner (White Sox, No. 281) and pitchers Zebulon Vermillion (New York Mets, No. 299) and Mark Adamiak (Oakland Athletics, No. 464).
Pitcher Kole Ramage and outfielder Chris Lanzilli signed with the White Sox as undrafted free agents.