Jordyn Adams might be signed and sealed to play football for North Carolina this fall. As for the delivered part, there are at least 3.5 million reasons why the Green Hope High School star will never play a down for the Tar Heels.
That’s the slotted value in dollars of the 17th pick in the Major League Baseball draft and how much Adams will make after agreeing to contract terms Tuesday less than 24 hours after becoming the first round selection of the Los Angeles Angels.
Adams announced his decision to sign with a post on Twitter.
“God has blessed me with a Win Win situation and after talking to my family we have decided that it’s best for me to pursue my professional baseball career,” the 18-year-old athlete wrote. “I want to thank Coach (Larry Fedora) and Coach (Mike) Fox for their support during this process. I look forward to seeing what my future holds and what God has in store for me.”
Adams was one of five players with North Carolina connections to be taken on the first day of the draft.
Wake Forest junior pitcher Griffin Roberts was the only other first rounder, going to the St. Louis Cardinals in the Competitive Balance phase as the 43rd overall pick.
Outfielder Griffin Conine, whose father was a Major Leaguer in his own right, was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays at No. 52. The selection capped a productive day for Conine, who earlier hit three homers in two wins earlier to help Duke advance to its first NCAA Super Regional.
High school pitcher Owen White of Rowan County’s Jesse Carson High, was also taken in the second round, at No. 55 to the Texas Rangers, while UNCW catcher Ryan Jeffers was the 59th pick, going to the Minnesota Twins.
Sixteen more players with state ties were selected Tuesday on Day 2. The draft wraps up with rounds 11-40 on Wednesday.
Adams, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound Cary resident, is rated as a five-star wide receiver as well as being a top prospect as a baseball outfielder. He chose UNC over Clemson and was expected to make an immediate impact in both sports.
On the football field, he caught 54 passes for 1,062 yards and 12 touchdowns while earning a spot in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl all-star game. He hit .453 with five doubles, three triples, a home run and 15 RBI in baseball during his senior season at Green Hope.
His draft stock rose considerably this spring after a standout performance in leading his team to the championship game of the National High School Invitational tournament at the USA Baseball Training Center in Cary.
“Jordyn is somebody who is big and fast and strong. Somebody we can just continue to mold,” Angels scouting director Matt Swanson told the team’s official website Angels.com.
“When we feel like we can grab somebody like Jordyn and infuse our organization with talent such as his, that’s tremendous upside and tremendous athleticism, you take that. You take it and you bring that in. I think it’s just another very exciting pick for us.”
While Adams’ signing with the Angels would seem to to have been a no-brainer because of the financial aspects of his draft position, his situation was complicated by the fact that his father Deke is an assistant coach with the UNC football program.
But the youngster said his father didn’t try to exert any influence on his decision.
“He was behind me every step of the way,” Adams said during a conference call with reporters on Tuesday. “He was proud of me. He made it clear since all this started that what’s best for me is what’s best for him. He’s always been that kind of parent, been behind me, to find the best position for me.”
Adams isn’t the first UNC signee to have to make a decision between playing college football and signing a professional baseball contract. In 1997, Tyrell Godwin of East Bladen High turned down a contract after being drafted in the first round by the New York Yankees to play football for the Tar Heels.
After two seasons on the football team, during which he suffered a knee injury, and three on UNC’s baseball team he was drafted again. This time, he signed after being selected in the third round by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Adams, however, decided to follow a different path and begin his baseball career immediately.
“I feel really good,” Adams said. “Very blessed to be in this spot. I’m glad to make it official that I’m going to be part of the Angels organization. I’m ready to go to work.”
2018 MLB draftees with NC ties
Round 1
Jordyn Adams, OF, Green Hope HS, Cary, 17 overall (Angels)
Griffin Roberts, P, Wake Forest, 43 (Cardinals)
Round 2
Griffin Conine, OF, Duke, 52 (Blue Jays)
Owen White, P, Jesse Carson HS, China Grove, 55 (Rangers)
Ryan Jeffers, C, UNCW, 59 (Twins)
Round 3
Cal Raleigh, C, Cullowhee/Florida State, 90 (Mariners)
Jimmy Herron, OF, Duke, 98 (Cubs)
Round 5
Dwanya Williams-Sutton, OF, ECU, 141 (Padres)
Justin Jarvis, Lake Norman HS, Mooresville, 155 (Brewers)
Round 6
Andrew Moritz, OF, UNCG, 172 (Braves)
Warren Austin, P, UNCW, 181 (Angels)
Rodney Hutchison, P, UNC, 187 (Yankees)
Round 7
Brett Kinneman, OF, NC State, 204 (Pirates)
Andrew Wantz, P, UNCG, 211 (Angels)
Round 8
Ryan Conroy, P, Elon, 235 (Orioles)
Alex Royalty, P, UNCW, 253 (Indians)
Round 9
Brian Brown, P, NC State, 280 (Red Sox)
Josh McLain, OF, NC State, 284 (Dodgers)
Round 10
Brock Deatherage, OF, NC State, 285 (Tigers)
Clark Cota, P, UNCW, 293 (Athletics)
Josh Maciejewski, P, Charlotte, 307 (Yankees)
