Former LSU pitcher Gage Jump signs with Oakland Athletics for nearly double slot value

Former LSU pitcher Gage Jump has signed his MLB contract with the Oakland Athletics and it’s a big one.

According to Jim Callis of MLB.com, Jump has signed for $2.0 million, which exceeds the slot value for his pick at No. 73 overall of $1,076,900 by a large margin. It’s the top deal over slot value so far, per Callis.

Jump starred at LSU after transferring in from UCLA.

He spent three seasons in college, battling injuries that included a Tommy John surgery and claimed his entire 2023 season. But Jump had a productive and healthy season at LSU in 2024.

Gage Jump finished his junior season with the Tigers sporting a 6-2 record and 3.47 ERA. He started 15 games, appearing in 17 in total. He struck out 101 batters in 83.0 innings, walking only 22.

That was a solid follow-up to his freshman season at UCLA, where he went 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA and struck out 22 in 16.1 innings pitched.

The offerings Jump produces, with plenty of movement on his pitches, were enough to get the Athletics to select him in the draft. But several MLB teams were likely interested based on the skill set.

What MLB scouts said about Gage Jump

Going into the 2024 MLB Draft, MLB.com provided in-depth scouting profiles on most of the top prospects and Jump was one of them. The scouting report offered a look at what he could bring at the next level.

Check out that report below.

“Hitters have a difficult time picking up Jump’s fastball, which ranges from 90-95 mph with significant induced vertical break and carry at the top of the strike zone. It pairs well with his upper-70s curveball that has significant downer break coming out of his high arm slot. He also spins a low-80s slider with more lateral movement and has some feel for a fading low-80s changeup.

“Jump lacks typical starter’s size but he has gotten stronger since having his elbow reconstructed and generates his stuff with arm speed more than effort. He attacks hitters and had a history of throwing four pitches for strikes before getting hurt. If he can maintain his stuff while upgrading his command, he could become a mid-rotation starter.”