Mountaineers in the Pros
WVU Product Aidan Major Agrees to Terms with Cleveland Guardians
Former Mountaineer Aidan Major has officially signed his MLB rookie contract with the Cleveland Guardians. Major inks the deal just under two weeks after being drafted by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
The Guardians announced signing all of their 2024 draft picks late Saturday night. While the financial terms aren’t public yet, but the 146th overall pick should come with a bonus of about $467,000.
The Cleveland Guardians today signed each of their remaining 20 selections from the recent Major League Baseball Draft, July 14-16 (all 21 picks were signed).
Additionally, the club reached agreement on a Minor League contract with NDFA RHP Xavier Martinez out of Southern Cal.… pic.twitter.com/LRV8R9zMhn
— GuardsInsider (@GuardsInsider) July 28, 2024
Major, who started Opening Day for WVU in 2024, posted a 5-4 record in 14 appearances in his final college season. He also carried a 5.59 ERA and struck out 77 batters. Major’s best statistical season was his freshman year in 2022, going 3-0 with a 3.49 ERA and holding opponents to a .175 batting average.
In three seasons as a Mountaineer, Major’s went 12-6 with a 4.93 ERA in 142.1 inning pitched.
Major, who was taken with one year of college eligibility remaining, was among five Mountaineers drafted this year.
Headlining the West Virginia players drafted was JJ Wetherholt, who was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals with the seventh overall pick in the firth round.
The Cardinals announced the signing of Wetherholt on July 24, awarding him a $6.9 million signing bonus as part of his rookie deal.
The Mars, Pa. native became the highest drafted player in program history. Prior to JJ Wetherholt, former West Virginia ace Alek Manoah tied ex Mountaineer Chris Enochs for the honor. Manoah was drafted 11th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019. Enochs was also taken at No. 11 in 1997 by the Oakland Athletics.
Find coverage of the all of the WVU baseball players drafted or signed by MLB teams at WV Sports Now.
