Bortnick signs major league deal with Rays

Coastal Carolina product Tyler Bortnick said on Wednesday after he was taken by the Rays in the 16th round of the MLB draft that he wasn’t going to wait long to sign his first contract.  He wasn’t kidding.

Just two days later, Bortnick signed with Tampa Bay, officially making him a professional baseball player.  The signing bonus was a whopping $5,000, but that’s typical because graduated seniors don’t have a lot of bargaining power.  He’ll report Monday to the Hudson Valley Renegades of the New York/Penn League.  Bort played three infield positions at Coastal, but he will play shortstop for the Renegades.

Bortnick hired agent Joel Turner to represent him.  Bortnick is Turner’s first baseball client - he also represents CCU football players Quinton Teal and Tyler Thigpen.