Coffey Gets Unprecedented Deal

Houston Christian High School pitcher Cameron Bryan Coffey has agreed to a contract with the Baltimore Orioles that will pay him one of the largest signing bonuses ever given to any player taken outside the top ten rounds of the draft according to his agent Rob Martin.

Coffey was drafted in the 22nd round of the 2009 Major League Baseball First Year Players Draft.

"The Orioles are giving Coffey a $990,000 signing bonus," Martin said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "The deal also includes a college scholarship package worth $240,000 and an incentive bonus package worth $7500."

In fact the Orioles have given Coffey a contract worthy of a player taken in the first round.

The Chicago Cubs gave outfielder Brett Jackson, the 31st overall pick, a signing bonus of $972,000.

The Colorado Rockies gave outfielder Tim Wheeler, the 32nd overall pick, a signing bonus of $900,000.

"It is unprecedented in the sense that there has never been a contract of this size given to someone who just had Tommy John surgery," said Martin in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "The Orioles gave it to him because they have gotten to know Cameron, because of his talent, and because they believe his work ethic will allow him to regain and even surpass his previous potential."

Coffey, who is 6'5, 215 pounds, underwent elbow reconstruction surgery on March 19th.

Three months later the Orioles took Coffey in the draft.

"We are extremely excited to get this young man, " said Rich Morales, Baltimore's area scout for South Texas. "We saw him good one time during the high school baseball tournament at Minute Maid Park.

"It was one of the things I would tell my boss, Joe Jordan (Baltimore's Director of Scouting). "I would say remember Cameron Coffey. I told him I think we should stay on top of him and Joe was in agreement.

"He said let's lie in the weeds and see who else is on him. We liked Cameron because there are not a whole lot of 6'5 lefties who can throw 95 (mph)."

The Orioles and Coffey reached a contract agreement Wednesday.

"This is probably the most meaningful time of my life," Coffey said.

Coffey, who had signed to play college baseball at Duke, acknowledges the magnitude of the moment is starting to hit him.

"Slowly but surely it's coming on," Coffey said. "Before (Thursday) I didn't really comprehend what was going on."

When healthy Coffey's fastball has been clocked at 95 miles per hour and he is expected to be ready to go for the 2010 season.

"Duke was a great opportunity, but I'm thrilled to see him following his dream," said Kevin Coffey, Cameron's father. "He's worked very hard and his mother and I couldn't be happier for him."

Martin said his company, ICON, has always maintained "that character and work ethic should matter more to these teams as they entertain large investments in draft prospects."

It would seem the Baltimore Orioles got the message.

"This deal is proof positive that the Orioles value the outstanding character of Cameron Coffey and his family," Martin said. "When he is fully recovered everyone will see the Orioles seized the opportunity to sign one of the most talented pitching prospects in the 2009 Draft."