Borchard Signs for Record Bonus

Joe Borchard agreed to terms with the Chicago White Sox on Friday for a signing bonus that his financial advisor said is $5.3 million, a figure $2.3 million more than any draft pick has received this year.

As part of the agreement, Borchard, a former three-sport star from Camarillo High, will not play football at Stanford this fall. Borchard has been the backup quarterback for three seasons and probably would have been the starter.

“I’m obviously very excited to sign with the White Sox,” Borchard said. “It’s tough to decide not to play football, but I came to the conclusion that this was best.”

The bonus is the largest minor league contract in baseball history. Only a handful of major league contracts given to draft picks have been been worth more.

According to Jim McDowell, Borchard’s advisor, the money will be paid over 2 1/2 years. He will be paid $1.25 million upon signing and another $1.25 million on Jan. 1.

Payments would cease should Borchard decide to return to football, McDowell said.

“The White Sox asked what it would take, we gave them a range and they responded,” McDowell said. “There was NFL interest in Joe, the extent of which would have been more clear after the upcoming season.

“Joe loves football, but when you talk about this kind of money, it’s a business decision. All signs point to taking this and going to the diamond.”

Borchard, 21, will report to the White Sox rookie league team in Tucson in about a week and finish the season in Burlington, Iowa, of the Class-A Midwest League.

Borchard, an outfielder, was the 12th pick in the June draft after batting .333 with 21 home runs for Stanford.

The highest signing bonus had been the $3 million given to high school first baseman Adrian Gonzalez by the Florida Marlins. The only player drafted higher than Borchard still unsigned is Palmdale High right-handed pitcher Matt Harrington, who was taken by the Colorado Rockies with the seventh pick.