Top 20 Nondrafted Free Agent Signings

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 just $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.

1. Kale Emshoff, C, RoyalsBA 500 rank: 174
The Arkansas-Little Rock catcher has big power and is a solid receiver behind the plate. | Full report

2. Elijah Dunham, OF, YankeesBA 500 rank: 186
The lefthanded-hitting outfielder mashed at Indiana and has few holes in his swing. | Full report

3. Noah Skirrow, RHP, PhilliesBA 500 rank: 249
The Liberty righthander was a Cape Cod League all-star and boasts swing-and-miss stuff. | Full report

4. Cam Shepherd, SS, Braves
BA 500 rank: 298
The steady, reliable shortstop was the top undrafted senior available. | Full report

5. Joe Donovan, C, Indians
BA 500 rank: 307
The Michigan product is a stout defender behind the plate, but his bat is a question mark. | Full report

6. Drew Smith, 2B, Brewers
BA 500 rank: 308
The hard-nosed infielder is a gifted pure hitter with a long track record of success. | Full report

7. Tucker Bradley, OF, Royals
BA 500 rank: 317
The athletic outfielder showcased growing power-speed combo at Georgia. | Full report

8. Billy Sullivan, RHP, Phillies
BA 500 rank: 326
The Delaware ace touched 98-99 mph before Tommy John surgery and is now fully recovered. | Full report

9. John McMillon, RHP, Royals
BA 500 rank: 357
The big righty can reach 100 mph but struggled to throw strikes at Texas Tech. | Full report

10. Connor Pellerin, RHP, Yankees
BA 500 rank: 360
The Tulane reliever racked up strikeouts with his mid-90s fastball and potent slider, but his control is inconsistent. | Full report

11. Blake Brown, RHP, Phillies
BA 500 rank: 375
The UNC Asheville starter has a quality three-pitch mix, but extreme wildness is an issue. | Full report

12. Saul Garza, C, Royals
BA 500 rank: 379
The power-hitting backstop was a postseason star at Louisiana State. | Full report

13. Bradlee Beesley, OF, Cubs
BA 500 rank: 429
The speedy outfielder started all four years at Cal Poly and hit two years in a row on the Cape. | Full report

14. Jake McKenna, LHP, Phillies
BA 500 rank: 434The projectable 6-foot-6 lefty was one of few high schoolers to sign and has room to add velocity. | Full report

15. Scott McKeon, SS, Cubs
BA 500 rank: 438
The solid defensive shortstop hit .344/.407/.500 over two seasons at Coastal Carolina. | Full report

16. Chase Wallace, RHP, Royals
BA 500 rank: 440The sinker-slider righthander made the transition from relief to starting at Tennessee. | Full report

17. Harrison Ray, 2B, Blue Jays
BA 500 rank: 441
The Vanderbilt product is versatile defender who can play around the infield. | Full report

18. Carter Loewen, RHP, PadresBA 500 rank: 466
The big Hawaii righthander sits 93-95 mph with an upper-80s cutter in relief. | Full report

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

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