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Hochevar Signs Major League Contract

Red in the face after gaining some moolahAs was reported last week by MLB.com, Luke Hochevar (1st overall pick in the 2006 MLB draft) has been signed by the Kansas City Royals and now has a 4 year Major League contract [Royals agree with top pick Hochevar]. Why is it particularly important that Scott Boras got his client a Major League contract? The answer is that now Hochevar must be placed on the 40-man roster immediately and will have to be placed on Kansas City’s 25-man roster within three years, or Hochevar will be able to go to another team through waivers [Royals Sign No. 1 Draft Pick to Major League Contract]. Hochevar will be eligible for free-agency and arbitration earlier, as he should start his major league service in the near future.

The Kansas City Royals will benefit by being able to spread out the signing bonus over the duration of the contract instead of within 18 months (like minor league contracts provide for).

Hochevar is only the fourth No. 1 selection to sign a Major League contract in the past 20 years. The others are Alex Rodriguez (also represented by Scott Boras…surprised?), Pat Burrell (agent Greg Genske), and Delmon Young (agent Arn Tellem).

The belief is that the contract signed for Hochevar includes $5.2 million guaranteed over four years, with the ability to reach up to $7 million based on incentives.

This is the classic case of a Scott Boras holdout working in the end. Hochevar was selected in the 2005 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers after playing at the University of Tennessee. After failing to reach an agreement on a contract, Boras held him out a year and had Hochevar play for the independent league Fort Worth Cats. Boras was Hochevar’s advisor at the time. It looks like Boras strikes again, taking a risk that could have held Hochevar out for another year, but ending up with the nice reward for his client.

[tags]hochevar, sports agent, sports agents, luke hochevar, scott boras, boras, arn tellem, pat burrell, delmon young, alex rodriguez, kansas city royals[/tags]

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

2 replies on “Hochevar Signs Major League Contract”

Hochevar’s major league service only starts once he is on the 25 man roster or MLB disabled list.

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