Top pick Bryce Harper, other baseball draft selections face midnight deadline

Top pick Bryce Harper faces midnight deadline

NEW YORK — Top draft pick Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals faced a midnight deadline to agree to a contract, putting agent Scott Boras in the spotlight once again as the final hours for a deal approached.

The 17-year-old power-hitting catcher from College of Southern Nevada, the first JUCO player taken with the top overall pick, was among 17 first-round picks who were unsigned at the start of the day.

With 3½ hours left before the deadline, only two of the unsigned first-round picks had announced agreements.

Kaleb Cowart signed for a $2.3 million bonus with the Los Angeles Angels. The infielder from Cook County High School in Adel, Ga., was taken with the 18th overall pick.

Gary Brown agreed with San Francisco on a $1.45 million bonus. The outfielder, selected with the 24th pick, had been one of four unsigned first-round choices represented by Boras.

Boras also was attempting to work out agreements for shortstop Manny Machado, selected third by Baltimore; pitcher Matt Harvey, picked seventh by the New York Mets; and outfielder Gary Brown, taken 24th by San Francisco.

Last year, Boras and the Nationals agreed to a $15.1 million, four-year deal for top pick Stephen Strasburg just before the deadline.