The top prospects coming out of the MLB Draft, and the best amateur free agents, tend to get considerable signing bonuses when they commit their future to a team.
These bonuses often surpass $2, $3, and even $4 million.
That’s not a realistic number that the majority of aspiring major leaguers can get, however.
The “middling” prospects and the modest international signings make much less than that: $100,000, $50,000, or even less than that.
In the specific case of Houston Astros starter Cristian Javier, he couldn’t even reach those heights back when he was an aspiring minor leaguer.
Javier is the same pitcher who threw six no-hit innings with just two walks and nine strikeouts on Wednesday night, as the Astros tied the World Series 2-2 against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Houston ended up completing a World Series no-no, with a combined effort after the bullpen took over for Javier.
Can you guess how much money Javier received when he signed?
Javier Has Gone A Long Way
Very little, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.
“Cristian Javier received a $10,000 signing bonus to turn pro, as the great @TMacPhils noted on the #Phillies radio broadcast. Important context on an extraordinary story,” he tweeted.
Cristian Javier received a $10,000 signing bonus to turn pro, as the great @TMacPhils noted on the #Phillies radio broadcast.
Important context on an extraordinary story.@MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 3, 2022
As a major league pitcher, his work paid off, because he is making way more than that.
The beginnings had to be hard, though.
Now, Javier is a legitimate major league star, having finished the regular season with a 2.54 ERA in 148.2 frames.
He struck out an amazing 194 hitters in those 148.2 innings, mainly using an excellent “rising” fastball and a phenomenal slider.
In the postseason, he has a 0.71 ERA in 12.2 innings, so it’s fair to say he has been the best and most reliable Astros starter so far.
What a story he has been.
NEXT: 2 Astros Aces Own Legendary MLB No-Hit History