The Rangers used their checkbook to show how highly they regard right-hander Mason Englert of Forney.

The club completed work Tuesday on contracts for their first five picks from this month's draft. They shot past Major League Baseball's suggested slot value in signing Englert, taken in the fourth round.

The slot value was a signing bonus of $464,700. The Rangers went to $1 million for Englert, who had a commitment to Texas A&M.

"We've had a long history with Mason," scouting director Kip Fagg said. "We've been around him a lot and identified him a long time ago as a target for us. Ultra-competitive kid on the mound, with stuff."

The Rangers also went $242,500 over value for right-hander Owen White, a second-rounder from China Grove, N.C., and $152,900 over value for shortstop Jayce Easley, a fifth-rounder from Glendale, Ariz. Shortstop Jonathan Ornelas, a third-rounder from Peoria, Ariz., signed for slot value at $622,500.

The organization gained flexibility by getting right-hander Cole Winn, the first-rounder from Newport Beach, Calif., to sign below slot value. Winn accepted a $3.15 million signing bonus, $588,500 below value.

"I don't think there's more pressure," Englert said of signing with his hometown team. "It makes it more exciting to me. I think it's a really cool opportunity to play for where I'm from.

"It's a special thing, wearing Texas across my chest. It's the team I've always looked up to."

The Rangers were the only organization to take high school players with each of the first five picks. San Diego did that last year.

The Padres had two pitchers among their first five picks in 2017. The Rangers added more risk by selecting three pitchers.

The Rangers understand how difficult developing high school pitchers can be. From 2005-14, the Rangers drafted, signed and developed six high school pitchers who had at least 100 innings in the majors. The most prolific, in terms of innings, was left-hander Robbie Ross. He has had 330 2/3 innings in the majors.

Fagg said the club did not go into the draft looking to go all high school players early. He also believes in the player development operation that takes over from here.

"I have total confidence in our player development developing these kids to be bona fide good big leaguers for the Texas Rangers," Fagg said.

Full of the bravado of youth, the Rangers newly-signed high school pitchers ignore what has taken place before them and looked to an ideal future that would have them arriving as a group in the new ballpark.

"Drafting three pitchers in the top five rounds is really going to push us to be better," Winn said. "We're all going to push each other. It's going to be exciting."

Said Englert: "It would make it extra special if I could be in that position someday."

The journey starts Wednesday, with their first workout at the club's facility in Surprise, Ariz.

High school history

A look at the leaders in major league innings among high school pitchers drafted, signed and developed by the Rangers since 2005:

Twitter: @gfraley