The Nationals announced Friday morning that the team had agreed to terms with first-round pick Seth Romero, a left-handed pitcher from the University of Houston.
Romero, a client of agent Scott Boras, received a $2.8 million signing bonus after being selected 25th in the 2017 First-Year Player Draft by Washington. In his junior season at Houston, the southpaw went 4-5 with a 3.51 ERA, striking out 85 batters, but was dismissed from the team in May after multiple violations of university and athletic department policy.
These violations reportedly included a failed drug test, breaking curfew on a road trip, and being photographed in full uniform holding a bong. Once considered a top-10 talent, Romero’s draft stock fell as a result of these character questions, sliding to No. 25 where he was selected by the Nationals.
The team also announced that as of 11:30 a.m. Friday, it had signed 33 of its 40 draft picks before the 5 p.m. deadline, including all of its picks through the first 14 rounds.
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