A's sign first-round draft pick

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -The Oakland Athletics have signed first-round pick Michael Choice to a minor league contract.

The team announced the deal with the University of Texas-Arlington outfielder on Friday. Choice was drafted 10th overall in June, the highest the A's have picked since taking Barry Zito ninth in 1999.

Choice was picked as the top player in the Southland Conference after hitting a league-leading .383 with 16 homers and 59 RBIs in 60 games. He led the nation with a school and conference-record 76 walks, and finished second in the country with a .568 on-base percentage.

Choice will report to the A's training facility in Phoenix. He will eventually join Oakland's Class A affiliate in Vancouver.