The abbreviated 2020 draft set the stage for the most talent-laden undrafted free agent class in history. As the UDFA signing period kicks into gear, who are the top options teams could target? It’s not as simple as ranking the players who went unselected on talent. Kevin Parada and Tommy Mace surely are not signing for $20,000. With the NCAA granting spring sports players an extra year of eligibility, even college seniors can return to school next season in lieu of turning pro.
Nevertheless, some college players will join the affiliated ranks in the coming days and weeks. With many MLB teams increasingly reliant on age in their models, there may not be much higher earning potential for some players in next year’s draft anyway. Others will simply decide they’re ready for a new challenge. With that in mind, let’s run through some of the top four-year college players (seniors and redshirt juniors) who went unselected last week and could, entirely speculatively, be signable as a UDFA. I’ve excluded some players (e.g. Virginia’s Logan Michaels, Michigan State’s Mason Erla) who would’ve fit in this category but already indicated they’re planning on return to school.
Trevor Holloway, Central Florida RHP (RS JR)
Holloway missed most of his 2019 season at UCF, reportedly with biceps tendinitis. His stuff was back this spring. Holloway’s fastball is 90-93 mph with sink, and he leans heavily on an above-average slider that plays better its raw movement because he’s so adept at locating it down and to his glove side. He didn’t show much feel for a changeup in my look, so I think he probably fits best in relief long-term. Eno Sarris of the Athletic recently found that slider command is more important than one might think, though, and guys like Jhoulys Chacín have turned this kind of profile into strong careers at the back of a rotation
Brian Van Belle, Miami (FL) RHP (RS SR)
Van Belle saw a velocity spike this spring; after previously sitting in the mid-high 80s, he jumped into the low-90s as a fifth-year senior. He’s still lean and loose, so perhaps there’s room for another tick or two even though he’s already a 23-year-old. Springy and athletic, Van Belle throws a high volume of strikes despite a pretty pronounced head whack, leaning heavily on a plus changeup along the way.
John McMillon, Texas Tech RHP (SR)
McMillon backs up a mid-high 90s fastball with an above-average slider. He’s unsurprisingly run strong strikeout rates all four years in Lubbock, but control issues (career 6.8 BB/9) have kept him from emerging as a truly dominant weapon at the back end of the Tech bullpen. McMillon’s not a great athlete and will probably always have trouble throwing strikes, but he’s got huge stuff.
Jonathan Hughes, Georgia Tech RHP (RS SR)
Hughes was a second-rounder of the Orioles back in 2015, but he matriculated to Georgia Tech, where injuries (including an elbow procedure) knocked him off track. Still, Hughes looked healthy this spring at 91-94 mph with some cut on his fastball out of the rotation. He also worked with a pair of average secondaries in his low-80’s slider and changeup, as well as a show-me curveball. Between his age (he’s already 23), injury history and high-effort delivery, Hughes has a lot working against him, but he’s got interesting stuff.
Cam Shepherd, Georgia SS (SR)
Shepherd has been Georgia’s everyday shortstop all four years on campus. He’s always been passable but unspectacular at the plate (career .262/.350/.417 slash) and doesn’t project to hit for much power. He’s a fantastic defender, though, among the most sure-handed infielders in the country and athletic and rangy enough to make the occasional spectacular play. He’s got a shot to be a glove-first utility guy.
Sam Ferri, Arizona State C (RS JR)
Ferri has had a laundry list of injuries at ASU (wrist as a freshman, Tommy John in 2018, a season-ending knee injury this spring). The injuries have ruined any chance he’s had at building a track record, but he’s an athletic, instinctual catcher with a plus arm. Both Ralph Lifshitz and Jason Pennini considered him the top defensive catcher on the Cape last summer. Jason expressed concern about Ferri’s lack of bat speed, and his most recent injury does him no favors, but his glove could inspire some teams to inquire on his signability.
Matt Mervis, Duke 1B (SR)
A left-handed hitter, Mervis has big raw power that played last summer with wood bats on the Cape, where he hit four homers and seven doubles in just 91 plate appearances. His bat doesn’t stay in the hitting zone all that long, and his 2.32 K:BB ratio as a junior is a bit higher than ideal for a bat-first player. (A 40 runner, he’s fine defensively at first base but probably not athletic enough to move anywhere else on the diamond). Mervis is still new to hitting, though, having served almost solely as a reliever his first two years on campus. That context provides some hope for late development in his approach at the plate.
Harrison Ray, Vanderbilt 2B (SR)
Ray struggled offensively as a junior, his only year as a full-timer at Vandy, undercut by strikeout problems. He’s got somewhat surprising pull-side power, though, and his max exit velocity in 2019 was one of the best in the nation. Coupled with above-average defense at second base, there’s some raw material for a pro development team to work with.
Grant Judkins, Iowa RHP (SR)
Judkins doesn’t have huge raw velocity, working 87-91 MPH this spring. His deceptive, over-the-top arm slot gives the heater some carry through the zone and helps the pitch play above its radar gun readings. The arm slot creates heavy vertical action on his changeup and 11-5 curveball, each of which is fringe-average. Judkins throws a fair amount of strikes, although he doesn’t have pinpoint in-zone command. It’s not an overpowering mix on paper, but he has shown a solid enough combination of stuff, deception and feel to succeed in the Big Ten since moving to the Hawkeyes’ rotation in 2019.
McClain O’Connor, UC Santa Barbara SS (SR)
O’Connor had some draft buzz after a strong finish to his junior season at UCSB. He’s not particularly physical or toolsy, but he’s athletic enough to fit somewhere on the infield. UCSB people rave about his work ethic and leadership skills.
Others of Note
Zac Fascia, Purdue C (SR)
Tucker Bradley, Georgia LF (RS SR)
John Baker, Ball State RHP (SR)
Bradlee Beesley, Cal Poly CF (SR)
Carson McCusker, Oklahoma State LF (SR)
·Riley King, Georgia 3B (RS JR)
Matt Scheffler, Auburn C (SR)
Dylan Harris, North Carolina CF (SR)
Jake MacKenzie, Fordham SS (SR)
Colton Johnson, Illinois State LHP (SR)