MLB Draft 2013: First two Astros picks to sign

We got our first news of draftee signings on Monday. Two of Houston's 40 picks tweeted out that they had reached agreements with the club and would be shortly beginning professional baseball life.

The first is 21st round pick Jon Kemmer, a left fielder from Brewton Parker College in Georgia.

I sign the contract Wednesday and start playing ball next Monday. New York penn league here I come. #pumped

— Jon Kemmer (@kemkem24) June 10, 2013

Kemmer led the Barons in hits (53), batting average (.366), RBIs (41) and was fourth in the nation among NAIA schools in slugging percentage (.717) and seventh in home runs (12).

The other guy to sign is 34th round catcher Brett Booth out of the University of Alabama.

Officially part of the @astros family! Thanks again to everyone who made this day possible. #blessed

— Brett Booth (@bfbooth) June 10, 2013

Booth hit .290/.378/.411 with 6 home runs this season for the Crimson Tide. Incidentally, his coach there has a Texas connection, as head coach Mitch Gaspard led Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur to a state title a shortstop before becoming a successful baseball coach.

We'll continue to update here with info when other players sign.

Here's the complete list of Astros draftees.

1.1 (1): Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford (Signed)

2.1 (40): Andrew Thurman, RHP, UC Irvine (Signed)

3.1 (74): Kent Emanuel, LHP, UNC Chapel Hill

4.1 (107): Conrad Gregor, 1B, Vanderbilt (Signed)

5.1 (137): Tony Kemp, 2B, Vanderbilt (Signed)

6.1 (167): Jacob Nottingham, C, Redlands HS (CA) (Signed)

7.1 (197): James Ramsay, CF, South Florida (Signed)

8.1 (227): Jason Martin, CF, Orange Lutheran HS (Signed)

9.1 (257): Brian Holberton, C, UNC Chapel Hill

10.1 (287): Austin Nicely, LHP, Spotswood HS (VA)

11.1 (317): Devonte German, RHP, Bishop Manogue HS (NV)

12.1 (347): Chase McDonald, 1B, East Carolina University

13.1 (377): Kyle Westwood, RHP, University of North Florida (Signed)

14.1 (407) Chris Cotton, LHP, LSU

15.1 (437): James Farris, RHP, Arizona (Will not sign)

16.1 (467): Dillon Newman, RHP, Baylor

17.1 (497): Alex Schick, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (CA)

18.1 (527): Adam Nelubowich, 3B, Washington State

19.1 (557): Jake Rodriguez, C, Oregon State

20.1 (587): Daniel Pinero, SS, Western Tech Commercial School (Toronto, Canada)

21.1 (617): Jon Kemmer, LF, Brewton Parker College (GA) (Signed)

22.1 (647): Sebastian Kessay, LHP, Scotsdale CC (AZ) (Signed)

23.1 (677): Thomas Lindauer, SS, University of Illinois Champaign (Signed)

24.1 (707): Nathan Thornhill, RHP, Texas

25.1 (737): Albert Minnis, LHP, Wichita State (Signed)

26.1 (767): William Chrismon, RHP, East Carolina (NC) (Signed)

27.1 (797): Patrick Christensen, RHP, La Salle University (Signed)

28.1 (827): Jordan Mills, LHP, St. Mary's College (CA) (Signed)

29.1 (857): Randall Fant, LHP, Arkansas (Signed)

30.1 (887): Jorge Perez, RHP, Seminole State CC (OK) (Signed)

31.1 (917): Scott Burke, RHP, Glendora HS (CA)

32.1 (947): Zach Morton, RHP, Northwestern (Signed)

33.1 (977): Tyler White, 3B, Western Carolina University (Signed)

34.1 (1007): Brett Booth, C, Alabama Tuscaloosa (Signed)

35.1 (1037): Kacy Clemens, RHP, Houston Memorial HS (TX)-Draft Profile (Will not sign)

36.1 (1067): J.D. Osborne, LHP, Wofford (Signed)

37.1 (1097): Josh Melendez, CF, New Mexico

38.1 (1127): Ronnie Mitchell, CF, Dallas Baptist University (Signed)

39.1 (1157): Juan Santos, RHP, Arlington Country Day School (FL)

40.1 (1187): Tyler Brunneman, RHP, Hardin Simmons University (Signed)

Undrafted Free Agents:

• Troy Scribner, P, Sacred Heart University
• Jack Mayfield, INF, Oklahoma
• Ryan Connolly, RHP, Charleston (H/T Astros County)
  
• Parker Hipp, INF, New Mexico State (H/T Astros County)
• Brett Clements, C, Nova Southeastern University (H/T Astros County)
• Kevin Ferguson, LHP, Northeastern University (H/T Astros County)
• Tanner Mathis, OF, Ole Miss (H/T/ Astros County)