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Frederick Alfred "Rick" Porcello III (born December 27, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He was drafted #27 overall in the first round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. Porcello has been described as an "ace" who could be a "bona fide No. 1 starter." In 2009, he was the youngest player in the major leagues. His choice of sports agent Scott Boras to advise him may have scared away other teams and knocked him down to the 27th spot.
Porcello graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange, New Jersey in 2007. In his senior season, he compiled a 10–0 record with 103 strikeouts and a 1.44 ERA in 63 innings pitched. He threw a perfect game on May 12, 2007 against Newark Academy.
Although Porcello signed a letter of intent to attend the University of North Carolina, he later declined in order to pursue his professional career in Major League Baseball. Porcello was signed by the Tigers to a $7.28 million, four-year deal with two one-year options. The total contract is worth $11.1 million, making Porcello the highest-paid high schooler ever. He also received a $3.5 million signing bonus, the second-largest ever given out by the Tigers, surpassed only by the $3.55 million given to 2006 first round pick Andrew Miller.