Whitley signs with Rays

Garrett Whitley of Niskayuna signs a pro contract with the Tampa Bay Rays June 30, 2015, at the team's Tropicana Field. The Rays drafted Whitley earlier in the month with the 13th overall pick.

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This is one teen who has a great summer job.

Niskayuna’s Garrett Whitley officially joined the Tampa Bay Rays franchise today, just more than three weeks after he was selected No. 13 overall in the Major League Baseball amateur draft.

Whitley’s contract includes a reported $2.9621 million signing bonus, per MLB.com. That figure represents the full slot value for the draft pick at which Whitley was selected.

Whitley, 18, will now join the Gulf Coast League Rays.

“Garrett has all the tools we look for in a young prospect, both physically and mentally,” Rays scouting director R.J. Harrison said in a statement. “He has the tools to play center field and hit in the middle of a lineup, and has the potential to impact the game with his legs, bat and glove. On top of that, Garrett is an intelligent young man with a great mental foundation for playing our game. We are very excited to welcome him to the organization and get him started on his professional journey.”

Whitley was the 2014-15 Gatorade New York Baseball Player of the Year, while he shared Suburban Council Player of the Year honors with Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake’s Danny Maynard. Whitley also was named a American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings High School All-America second-team selection.

During his senior season of high school baseball, Whitley hit .356 with three home runs and 13 RBIs. He also walked 13 times on his way to a .487 on-base percentage. On the base paths, he was 15-for-15 in stolen base attempts.