First-Round Pick Derek Hill Agrees To Terms With Tigers

By Ashley Dunkak

CBS DETROIT - Center fielder Derek Hill had a choice between going to the University of Oregon to play college baseball or going straight from high school to the pro game after the Detroit Tigers drafted him with the 23rd overall pick last week.

It did not take Hill long to make his decision.

Exactly a week after the first day of the 2014 draft, Hill has signed with the Tigers, according to MLB.com, and his deal includes a $2 million signing bonus.

Hill had made it clear almost immediately after being drafted that he leaned toward going pro versus going to college.

"I'm always going to have to talk it over with my parents and my adviser, weigh out the pros and cons of college and the pros and cons of pro game, but we're definitely feeling really strong about the pro side of it now," Hill said in a teleconference, "and we're definitely wanting to take it to the next level."

Hill hit .500 as a senior at Elk Grove High School in 2014 and turned in a .586 on-base percentage.