Baseball: Turnbull inks deal with Tigers
Spencer Turnbull is now a Tiger.
The former Alabama standout and second-round pick in last week's Major League Baseball draft signed a pro contract with the Detroit Tigers on Friday.
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Turnbull, a right-handed pitcher, picked up a $900,600 signing bonus, the exact slot value designated to the No. 63 overall selection in this year's draft by Major League Baseball.
Turnbull was at the Tigers' spring training facility in Lakeland, Fla. to sign the deal on Friday morning.
"You're excited to finally to get out there and play," Turnbull said. "It's different, it's not college, you're a professional now, you're being paid to play. It's a little different feeling, but it's the same goal. I'm excited and ready to get out there and get to the big leagues as fast as I can."
Turnbull will spend some time in Lakeland before heading to Norwich, Conn. to join the Tigers' short-season, single-A affiliate in the New York Penn League.
Turnbull went 5-7 with a 2.22 ERA for the Crimson Tide in 2013 and threw 6 1/3 innings of one-run baseball in his last outing, a 1-0 loss to Kennesaw State in the Tallahassee NCAA Regional
Turnbull's value is his velocity - he is between 93 and 97 mph with his fastball throughout his junior season while manning the top of Alabama's weekend rotation.
Two more Alabama draftees - Ben Moore (eighth round, Red Sox) and Justin Kamplain (18th round, Yankees) - are expected to join Turnbull by signing pro contracts in the coming days.
Reach D.C. Reeves at 205-722-0196 or dc@tidesports.com.