Mason Edwards, the ace pitcher for the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans, has officially signed with the Oakland Athletics. Edwards, a highly touted prospect, was selected by the Athletics in the second round of the 2026 MLB Draft earlier this month.
The 2026 MLB Draft saw Edwards become the first USC player to go in the first two rounds since 2009. His impressive performance on the field has earned him numerous accolades, including a record of 8-0 and an ERA of 2.07 in the 2026 season. He also struck out 169 batters, the most by a USC pitcher since Mark Prior in 2001.
Edwards's deal with the Athletics includes a signing bonus of $2.4 million, slightly above the slot value for the pick, which was just over $2.13 million. This is a significant development for the young pitcher, who has been considered one of the top prospects in the draft.
Edwards is the first of USC's 2026 draft picks to sign with a professional team. The remaining three Trojans drafted—Augie Lopez, Grant Govel, and Adam Troy—have until Monday to decide whether they want to turn professional or return to college baseball for another year.
Source: Yahoo Sports