Three local baseball players have signed their first major-league deals — DeLand grads Nick Fortes and Josh Dye and Deltona product Brian Rey.
Fortes, an Ole Miss junior catcher, agreed to terms with the Miami Marlins. Picked in the fourth round, Fortes will receive a signing bonus of $425,000, according to a report from MLB.com's Jim Callis.
"Rebel Nation, it's been an honor getting to wear our great university's name across my chest the past three years," Fortes said in a statement posted to his Twitter account. "The memories I've made are once in a lifetime and some I will never forget. I'm excited to move on to the next chapter of my life with the Miami Marlins organization, but Oxford will always have a special place in my heart. Hotty Toddy!"
Helping the Rebels win the SEC tournament and secure the No. 4 national seed, Fortes batted .319 with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs in 65 games. He added 14 stolen bases and 56 runs scored.
He's one of two members of DeLand's 2014 state semifinal squad heading to the pros this summer, along with Dye.
The Florida Gulf Coast left-handed pitcher went off the board in the 23rd round, selected by the Kansas City Royals. The 6-foot-5, 179-pound redshirt junior told The News-Journal he received a $60,000 signing bonus.
Named ASUN pitcher of the week twice during the 2018 season, Dye posted an 8-4 record with a career-low 2.40 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 93.2 innings.
"It's probably the best feeling I've had in my life, to be able to represent DeLand and be given the chance to play professional ball," Dye said.
Rey, a former Deltona shortstop, was listed among 21 confirmed signings by the Cincinnati Reds. A 13th-round pick, Rey told The News-Journal he received a $125,000 signing bonus, plus additional costs for school so he can pursue a bachelor's degree.
Rey became the everyday center fielder for Miami-Dade College and posted a .400 batting average as a sophomore. He opted to turn pro instead of fulfilling his college commitment to North Carolina State.
"From the beginning, I knew that I was ready, mentally and physically, to go pro," Rey said. "It was just a matter of timing and the fit. The Reds called me, believed me and showed they were confident in me."
Rey said he will report to the Reds' rookie ball affiliate in Greeneville, Tennessee, on Sunday. He'll become the third active Deltona product in the minors, joining reliever Montana DuRapau (Pittsburgh) and second baseman Jack Lopez (Kansas City).