With the first overall selections of the previous two drafts,Chipper Jones andBrien Taylor, receivingsigning bonuses of $1.2 million ($2,888,130 in current dollar terms) and $1.55 million ($3,578,292 in current dollar terms) respectively, salary demands of new players became a factor in the 1992 draft.[1] Prior to the draft,Jeffrey Hammonds of theStanford Cardinal baseball team sought a signing bonus of $1.8 million ($4,033,246 in current dollar terms).[3]Derek Jeter, a high school player who had a commitment to playcollege baseball at theUniversity of Michigan, was believed to be seeking a bonus of at least $1 million ($2,240,692 in current dollar terms) to forego college.[1]
Five teams passed onDerek Jeter during the 1992 MLB Draft.[1]
The Astros, holding the first overall selection, were keenly aware of the bonus demands of Hammonds and Jeter, as they were unable to sign their first-round pick in the1991 MLB draft,John Burke, who held out for a bonus of $500,000 ($1,154,288 in current dollar terms) as the sixth overall selection.[4] They selectedPhil Nevin, the1992 College World SeriesMost Outstanding Player, with the first overall selection. In addition to perceiving Nevin as close to MLB-ready, needing little development inminor league baseball, Nevin also did not seek a large signing bonus. He agreed to sign with the Astros for $700,000 ($1,568,485 in current dollar terms).[4][5] Astros'scoutHal Newhouser quit in protest, as he had insisted to Astros' management that they should choose Jeter.[6]
The teams with the first four selections, the Astros,Cleveland Indians,Montreal Expos, andBaltimore Orioles, had the four lowest payrolls in MLB.[2] TheCleveland Indians selectedPaul Shuey out of theUniversity of North Carolina with the second selection, who they projected could develop into acloser comparable toRob Dibble. The Expos, who preferred Hammonds, draftedB. J. Wallace instead, as they were unable to afford Hammonds' salary demands.[2] The Orioles selected Hammonds with the fourth overall selection; he signed with the Orioles for $975,000 ($2,184,675 in current dollar terms), the largest signing bonus given out in the 1992 Draft.[1] With the fifth pick, the Reds choseChad Mottola from theUniversity of Central Florida (UCF), making Mottola the first UCF athlete to be chosen in the first round of aprofessional sports draft.[7] He signed with the Reds the day of the draft for $400,000 ($896,277 in current dollar terms).[1]
Yankees scoutDick Groch, assigned to scout in theMidwest, watched Jeter participate in an all-star camp held atWestern Michigan University, and came away sold by Jeter's talent.[8] Though the Yankees were also concerned that Jeter might attend college, Grouch convinced the team to select Jeter. Regarding the possibility Jeter would attend Michigan, Groch said "the only place Derek Jeter's going is toCooperstown", referring to the home city of theBaseball Hall of Fame.[9] Jeter signed with the Yankees for $800,000 ($1,792,554 in current dollar terms).[10]
