MLB Draft: Why Maurice Hampton turned down signing bonus of $1.8 million to play for LSU
Multiple teams came calling for Maurice Hampton Jr. during the first two rounds of the MLB Draft on Monday, and the highest offer the Memphis University School outfielder received was a signing bonus of $1.8 million, his dad said.
But the 17-year-old turned down the money, deciding to go to LSU to play football and baseball.
"Emotionally it was tough, but in my head, I knew what I wanted and I didn’t get it. So it was a no-brainer," Hampton Jr. said.
On Wednesday, Hampton was selected in the 23rd round by San Diego.
Mock MLB drafts projected Hampton Jr. as a late first-round pick. He and his family agreed prior to the draft on how much money it would take for him to skip college.
"My bottom line number was around $2.75 million. My thing was if he could bring in at least $1.75 million home in net income, he could secure himself for 15 years," said his father, Maurice Hampton Sr. "We had a plan for him and if we couldn’t get there then we weren’t going to budge."
The plan was for Hampton Jr. to have enough net income from the bonus to pay himself a yearly salary of $98,000 over the next decade and a half.
"We looked it up. The upper class was $78-121 (thousand) per year so we put him right in the middle around $98,000 per year. He would invest half of his money and give himself a salary that he could live on and if he made it (to the MLB) he could add on to it," said Hampton Sr. "We wanted it to be where it could be secure for him and he wasn’t going to just go. There would be a reason behind why he was going."
Hampton Sr. still discussed the offers with his son and a pair of advisers. He identified the teams that called as Cincinnati, Arizona, Texas, Kansas City and St. Louis.
"I’ve always had a plan for him. And he has a 17-year-old mind, so I have to kind of be the guardian. I know it was disappointing for him," Hampton Sr. said. "If you throw that in front of some kids they’re going to say, ‘Just let me do it,' but I feel in my heart that I have to do the best thing for my son."
Hampton Jr. said that he will report to LSU this month. Hampton Sr. said that his son's commitment to LSU football may have affected the way some teams viewed him.
"A lot of advisers said that the Kyler Murray situation did do some damage to the two-sport athlete," Hampton Sr. said. "But from day one, I’d never change anything. He’s good in football, he’s good in baseball, he has excelled in both and the proof is in the pudding. I would never do anything different than what he did."
The four-star cornerback is the top-ranked football prospect in the state for the Class of 2019, according to the 247Sports Composite.
He was Tennessee Titans Mr. Football in Division II-AAA and led MUS to an appearance in the state title game with 1,835 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns as a wide receiver and returner.
He hit .480 with 10 home runs andwas named the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association's DII-AA Mr. Baseball.
He is the first Tennessee player to win Mr. Football and Mr. Baseball in the same season.
MLB Draft 2019:First-round picks, live instant grades, updates
Reach Khari Thompson at KAThompson@gannett.com and on Twitter @_KhariThompson.
Reach Tom Kreager at tkreager@gannett.com and on Twitter @Kreager.