Top 20 Nondrafted Free Agent Signings

Image credit: Cam Shepherd (Getty Images)

The shortened five-round draft this year gave teams an unprecedented opportunity. Players who normally would have been drafted as high as the sixth round were on the free market available to any team, all for a maximum signing bonus of $20,000.

Needless to say, teams jumped at the opportunity to add quality players at such a low cost. Nearly 150 nondrafted free agents were signed within a week of teams being allowed to contact them, with new batches of signees being reported each day.

Here are the top players teams have signed as nondrafted free agents through the first five days of the eligible signing period. This list will be updated as more signings are announced.

6/22 Update: This story has been updated to reflect signings through June 22.

1. Kale Emshoff, C, Royals

BA 500 rank: 174

Arkansas-Little Rock catcher has big power and is a solid receiver behind the plate. | Full report

2. Elijah Dunham, OF, Yankees

BA 500 rank: 186

Lefthanded-hitting outfielder mashed at Indiana and has few holes in his swing. | Full report

3. Noah Skirrow, RHP, Phillies

BA 500 rank: 249

Liberty righthander was a Cape Cod League all-star and boasts swing-and-miss stuff. | Full report

4. Adam Kerner, C, Padres

BA 500 rank: 288

Exceptional defensive catcher hit .305/.379/.472 in college career at San Diego. | Full report

5. Cam Shepherd, SS, Braves

BA 500 rank: 298

Steady, reliable shortstop was the top undrafted senior available. | Full report

6. Joe Donovan, C, Indians

BA 500 rank: 307

Michigan product is a stout defender behind the plate, but his bat is a question mark. | Full report

7. Drew Smith, 2B, Brewers

BA 500 rank: 308

Hard-nosed infielder is a gifted pure hitter with a long track record of success. | Full report

8. Tucker Bradley, OF, Royals

BA 500 rank: 317

Athletic outfielder showcased growing power-speed combo at Georgia. | Full report

9. Billy Sullivan, RHP, Phillies

BA 500 rank: 326

Delaware ace touched 98-99 mph before Tommy John surgery, is now fully recovered. | Full report

10. Buddy Hayward, RHP, Phillies

BA 500 rank: 346

Imposing (6-foot 6, 225 pounds) Harvard product has excelled when healthy. | Full report

11. John McMillon, RHP, Royals

BA 500 rank: 357

Big righty can reach 100 mph but struggled to throw strikes at Texas Tech. | Full report

12. Connor Pellerin, RHP, Yankees

BA 500 rank: 360

Tulane reliever racked up strikeouts with mid-90s fastball and potent slider, but control is inconsistent. | Full report

13. Blake Brown, RHP, Phillies

BA 500 rank: 375

UNC Asheville starter has a quality three-pitch mix, but extreme wildness is an issue. | Full report

14. Saul Garza, C, Royals

BA 500 rank: 379

Power-hitting backstop was a postseason star at Louisiana State. | Full report

15. Zack Matthews, RHP, Astros

BA 500 rank: 399

Hard-throwing reliever has loud stuff but hasn’t translated it into success yet. | Full report

16. Bradlee Beesley, OF, Cubs

BA 500 rank: 429

Speedy outfielder started all four years at Cal Poly and hit two years in a row on the Cape. | Full report

17. Jake McKenna, LHP, Phillies

BA 500 rank: 434

Projectable 6-foot-6 lefty was one of few high schoolers to sign, has room to add velocity. | Full report

18. Scott McKeon, SS, Cubs

BA 500 rank: 438

Solid defensive shortstop hit .344/.407/.500 over two seasons at Coastal Carolina. | Full report

19. Chase Wallace, RHP, Royals

BA 500 rank: 440

Sinker-slider righthander made the transition from relief to starting at Tennessee. | Full report

20. Harrison Ray, 2B, Blue Jays

BA 500 rank: 441

Vanderbilt product is versatile defender who can play around the infield. | Full report

 

OTHERS OF NOTE

Carter Loewen, RHP, Padres (BA 500 rank: 466) – Big righthander sits 93-95 mph with an upper-80s cutter in relief. | Full report

Chase Walter, RHP, Padres (BA 500 rank: 484) – Massive 6-foot-7, 260-pound reliever has big stuff but needs to harness his control. | Full report

Chase Antle, RHP, Phillies (BA 500 rank: NR) – Coastal Carolina closer touched 99 mph this spring. | Full report