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Twins Sign No. 1 Pick Royce Lewis

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have signed shortstop Royce Lewis, the first overall pick in the draft this week.

The 18-year-old Lewis put his signature on the contract Saturday during a news conference at Target Field.

Lewis was the 2017 Gatorade Player of the Year for California, where he starred at JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano in Orange County. In 2016, Lewis won the Most Valuable Player award at the Under Armour All-American Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Lewis will start his professional career with Minnesota's rookie-level Gulf Coast League affiliate in Fort Myers, Florida.

MLB Draft 2017
(credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

Major League Baseball's recommended slot value for his bonus was $7.77 million, but the Twins were expecting to sign him for less than that for more money in the pool for later picks.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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