The Upper Deck

Welcome to The Upper Deck, Baseball America’s daily look at the biggest stories around the game and some lighter fare. If you have videos, GIFs, photos or stories you want us to know about and feature in this space, hit me up on Twitter at @vincelara or email me here.

McKay Official A Ray

OFFICIAL: The #Rays have signed their first overall draft pick, LHP/1B Brendan McKay.

McKay will join Short-A @HVRenegades in July. pic.twitter.com/v0gdeZ9FfE

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 28, 2017

Brendan McKay, the Louisville two-way star who was our College Player of the Year, on Tuesday officially signed with the Rays, who made him the fourth overall pick on June 12. The slot value for that pick was $6,153,600 but the lefthander/first baseman reportedly got $7,007,500, a record bonus in the current draft slotting system. He’ll begin his career at short-season Hudson Valley, and the Rays say they’ll let him pitch and play first, at least initially.

NATIONAL CHOMPS

The Florida Gators are the Kings of College Baseball! 👑 pic.twitter.com/kSoJVbCQDM

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 28, 2017

Florida won its first national baseball championship. Mike Lananna and Teddy Cahill had the story here and here.

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY

A good tarp pull by a solid grounds crew is like a dance. The Red Sox’s grounds crew looked smooth as silk Tuesday night in a delay against the Twins

Time lapse of @fenwaypark grounds crew putting tarp on just now. @RedSox @Twins delayed again. #RedSox leading 2-0 top of 3rd. pic.twitter.com/PThrSf8HqN

— Tim Neverett (@TimNeverett) June 28, 2017

BOBBLE ELBOW

How impactful has Tommy John surgery been to the game of baseball? Enough that there is now a bobblehead giveaway planned as an homage to the procedure that has saved many an elbow, and career.

The Ode to Tommy John Surgery Elbow Statue Giveaway is Sat. July 8, presented by @AndersonClinic! First 1,250.
Tix: https://t.co/3mB99c38KH pic.twitter.com/tyZZVDhGKn

— Potomac Nationals (@PNats42) June 27, 2017

STARRY, STARRY NIGHT (AND DAYS)

The Tournament of Stars rounds up some of the best high school talent in the country, and with it taking place in BA’s backyard in Cary, N.C., BA staffers are giving it blanket coverage. We’ll have full coverage all week, which you can find here.

Will Banfield (Ga.) cranks a double off of Matthew Liberatore to RFC: pic.twitter.com/B8CrKNHSdD

— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) June 27, 2017

PAT ON THE BACK

Carlos Collazo has the high school beat covered, and on Tuesday he unveiled the High School Player of the Year and All-America teams; Also on Tuesday, with July 2 just around the corner, Ben Badler unveiled his top 50 international prospects list and scouting reports.