August 1 was the deadline for Major League Baseball teams to sign their 2024 draft picks. CBA’s Chris Levonas has chosen to go the college route and pitch this spring for Wake Forest University
Chris Levonas was in North Carolina near the Wake Forest campus when he was selected with the 67th overall pick (Round 2B) in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers in mid-July. It was a precursor to his major life decision. When the August 1 deadline came to sign draft picks, Levonas turned down an attractive signing bonus and kept his commitment to play college baseball at Wake Forest University.
“I find myself in a precarious position,” Levonas told Jersey Sports Zone the night he was drafted. “The Brewers drafted my bargaining rights (but) I didn’t actually say yes to any offer.”
The signing bonus slot for pick 67 was nearly $1.3 million dollars. The Brewers positioned themselves to offer Levonas a signing bonus over the slot reserved for CBA’s ace. Heading into the final day of the signing window, Milwaukee had up to $3 million dollars which could have gone to the right handed pitcher. There was no report of the money offered but many pundits forecasted that the Brewers were ready to give Levonas the lion’s share of their available draft dollars. When he turned down the offer, Milwaukee pivoted quickly and signed three of their later draft picks to $1.6 million dollars in signing bonuses. There were 315 players selected in the first 10 rounds of the 2024 MLB Draft. 312 of 315 players signed to go the professional route. Fellow New Jersey high school pitcher Bryce Meccage of Pennington was selected 10 picks earlier than Levonas by the Brewers. He agreed to a signing bonus over $1 million dollars from his slot with a value of $2.5 million. NJ’s third high school draft pick, Luke Dickerson, signed a record $4.5 million dollar signing bonus with the Washington Nationals, the highest payday for a player drafted outside the first round.
Levonas is now committed to playing college baseball for the next three years and can re-enter the MLB Draft in 2027. Wake Forest is one of college baseball’s elite programs and has a stellar reputation for producing pro baseball talent. This year, Demon Deacons players earned over $25 million in singing bonuses, more than any other college baseball program.
Levonas pitched 31.2 innings in his senior season for CBA and was dominant, showing a fastball that topped out at 98 miles per hour. He had 68 strikeouts against just ten walks and only allowed nine hits during the 2024 season finishing with a 0.44 ERA and a 0.60 WHIP (walks and hits divided by innings pitched).
Professional aspirations are very much in play for this super talented flame thrower. Through a stressful two weeks, Chris is ready to put all of his energy to bring Wake Forest back to Omaha and the College World Series.
“I’m locked in. Can’t wait for Wake,” Levonas said.
