Report: Nationals nearing deal with first-round pick Erick Fedde

The Washington Nationals are close to signing first-round pick Erick Fedde, reports TheWashington Post. The two sides have a 5 p.m. ET Friday deadline to reach an agreement. 

The Nationals selected Fedde with the 18th pick in June's draft, after he slid out of the top 10 due to injury concerns. Fedde, a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher out of UNLV, played on the same high school team as Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper. 

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The slot value for the 18th pick in the MLB draft is $2,145,600. Fedde tore his ulnar collateral ligament during his junior season, and underwent Tommy John surgery two days before the draft. His junior year at UNLV, Fedde went 8-2 with a 1.76 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 76.2 innings. 

- Alex Hampl