WAKEFIELD, R.I. - The slot money of a fourth-rounder helped Ben Brutti decide the direction to take in his baseball future.

The 11th-round selection of Cincinnati in this year’s Major League Baseball Draft is now a professional after inking a $405,000 contract with the Reds.

“Obviously it’s big to get the same money as they do in the fourth and fifth rounds,” pointed out the recent graduate of South Kingstown High School. “That obviously went into my decision.”

The top-rated 2022 right-handed pitcher in New England was taking summer classes at South Florida, where he was committed to play college baseball, when he heard he had been drafted.

“My parents were there with me,” Brutti reflected. “It was an exciting moment. It was cool to see all the hard work I had put in my life was paying off and that I was one step closer to my goal of playing in the MLB.”

The selection was not a surprise for the 13th-ranked 2022 RHP in the nation, who was chosen with the 333rd pick of the draft.

“I had a good idea I was going to be taken, I had heard on day two,” Brutti said. “There were some offers, but not the right amount. After the second day a deal was worked out with the Reds.”

And Brutti was drafted at the start of day three.

“We were still negotiating after the draft,” Brutti related. “I decided to sign five days after the draft.”

There was also a matter of discussing the decision with South Florida.

“After the draft I was meeting with them,” Brutti noted. “They were understandable. They said it’s a decision to make as a family.”

Money was just part of the reason to go professional rather than head off to college.

“Besides the money, just getting into pro ball earlier was a factor,” Brutti pointed out. “Baseball will be my only focus. I feel that’s best for me to develop to make it to MLB.”

Being drafted by the Reds was not a surprise according to the 6-3 200-pounder.

“The Reds were probably one of the top teams that had been in contact with me,” Brutti said. “They had all their people go to my games in the spring.”

Brutti is now in Goodyear, Ariz., at the spring training facility of the Reds where he will remain until Thanksgiving.

“After that I will be home until Jan. 15, then go back for spring training,” Brutti explained. “I’m working out now, playing catch and making changes to my body to help me stay healthy for a full season. I’m not going to throw.”

A typical day consists of being at the facility from 11 a.m. until around 5 p.m. doing physical therapy, lifting and playing catch along with a meeting or two.

“It’s great to go to the field every day and do weights,’ Brutti said. “They teach a lot, it’s a detailed approach. I’m just trying to soak it all in and get my feet wet.”

With a long-range goal of playing with the Reds, Brutti has immediate goals first.

“Next year I want to play for an affiliate and then work my way up to play in MLB,” the 19-year-old concluded. “It’s about being on the field every day and competing. I also need to do everything I can off the field to stay healthy.”