Zack Gelof drafted by Oakland A’s in second round with 60th pick

Zack Gelof of Rehoboth Beach, Cape Henlopen High School and the University of Virginia was chosen by the Oakland Athletics in the second round with the 60th pick of the Major League Baseball Draft.

Gelof is a third baseman with size, power and speed, all athletic upside overridden with high character. 

The slotted signing money for the 60th pick is pegged at $1,157,400. That amount can be moved up or down depending on how each club is allocating this money. 

Gelof was on the 2018 Cape baseball team that claimed the school’s only state championship with a 5-3 final-game victory over Caravel. Flashback highlights from that historic and monumental win include Zack going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while his brother and UVA teammate Jake Gelof had two RBIs. 

“We are extremely proud to have Zack as a Cape baseball alumni,” said Cape baseball coach Ben Evick. “His hard work through high school, which continued at UVA, led to him going in the second round. He is a legit talent, and Oakland got a great one that will continue to develop in their system. We can’t wait to watch him progress through their system and on to the bigs. He has made the entire Cape community proud.”

Gelof was also an all-state, dynamic soccer player while at Cape. 

“I am very excited for Zack,” said soccer coach Patrick Kilby. “I was very fortunate to coach him on the soccer field. As a soccer player, he was a phenomenal athlete who could run the field for 80-plus minutes. Zack was superior in the air, winning every head ball. His physical presence coupled with his technical ability on the ball was a big part of him being a regional all-American for Cape soccer. The best part about Zack achieving his dream of being drafted into the major leagues is that it couldn’t have happened to a better person. He is such a humble young man who knows what it takes to be a professional athlete. I can’t wait to see where his career takes him.” 

According to mlb.com and Major League Rule 3(b), “All minor league uniform player contracts shall be for a term of seven minor league playing seasons.”

But when players are called up, they then sign a Major League contract that is its own separate negotiation.