Yankees: New York Signs Undrafted Free Agents After Shortened MLB Draft

The New York Yankees picked up some college prospects on Sunday.

After an MLB Draft like no other, which only went five rounds deep, there’s a pool of collegiate talent left over the likes of which has never been seen before.

High school players who went undrafted can simply enroll in a college program next year and try their luck three years down the road, unless they feel jilted by the MLB’s process. But college players whose senior years have ended, or who have been squeezed off scholarship by incoming freshmen, have instead entered the minor-league system in unprecedented fashion, choosing their own destinations.

The free agency pool officially opened Sunday afternoon, and the Yankees made a splash quickly, adding three players.

Yes, the Yankees mined the Cape Cod League yet again for their first signing when they inked Kentucky righty Carson Coleman.

Coleman returned to Lexington for his redshirt junior season in 2020 after being drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 33rd round in 2019. Instead, he’s opted for a division rival when left to his own devices. The Kentucky native has the highest strikeout rate of any Wildcat since 1979 with a minimum of 50 innings pitched (13.58 per nine), and uses a low arm slot with a lot of sink to maximize his 92-94 MPH fastball, per analyst Conor Foley.

The Yankees signed three college pitchers as undrafted free agents on Sunday.

In addition to Coleman, New York imported two more righty pitchers: Central Florida’s Trevor Holloway and BYU’s Jarod Lessar.

Holloway marks New York’s second Trevor of the 2020 class, following the selection of their third-rounder, Trevor Hauver. Prior to a season-ending injury last March, his junior season went swimmingly, albeit with serious control problems: 2-0, 2.03 ERA, 26.2 IP, 15 BB, 29 K

Lessar was born for this honor — he was a childhood Yankee fan who sported A-Rod’s No. 13 throughout youth competition. Much like Coleman, he has the potential to eat up middle innings, if all goes well.

New York has made early inroads in the post-draft process, and still has their pick of the litter — whichever collegiate players are inherently attracted to the Yankees’ organization have the freedom to choose their own destination.

Hopefully, we never see this unique set of circumstances again, but the Yanks have made the most of the opportunity thus far.