Oakland Athletics make their first undrafted player signing
By Justin Fried
The Oakland Athletics have made their first undrafted signing in catcher Will Simoneit.
The Oakland Athletics added five players to their quickly improving farm system this past week, and it looks like their work isn’t done just yet.
The A’s have reportedly made their first undrafted signing in the form of Wake Forest catcher Will Simoneit. Simoneit will join a draft class of just five players and is the first of possibly many undrafted signings to come.
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After all, the nature of this year’s draft has left a large portion of aspiring prospects searching for opportunities. The 2020 MLB Draft was cut down from the usual 40 rounds to just five rounds this year.
And Simoneit among many others went undrafted as a result. All undrafted players will be eligible to sign with any team for a maximum of $20,000 now that the draft is over. However, that’s a small percentage of the money they could have made if drafted after the fifth round.
Nonetheless, Simoneit is an intriguing pickup and another player to add to the team’s young catcher depth. Apart from the promising Sean Murphy who’s expected to take over the starting catcher role in 2020, the A’s will also have first-round pick Tyler Soderstrom.
Who is the Oakland Athletics’ first undrafted player signing?
At 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, Simoneit has a large frame but moves well for a player his size. He played three seasons at Cornell before transferring to Wake Forest for his senior season in 2020.
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And the 23-year-old was off to a blazing hot start through 17 games before the season was abruptly canceled. Simoneit hit .377 with three homers and five doubles in his senior season with the Demon Deacons.
Over his four-year career, Simoneit slashed .315/.385/.505 with 16 home runs and 14 stolen bases in 422 at-bats. That .385 on-base percentage is especially impressive and indicative of his patience at the plate.
At 23-years-old, Simoneit is definitely an older prospect which could limit his chances of reaching the majors. But he also has experience playing both first and third base which could give him an inside track to earning a roster spot at some point.
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At the very least, his stature should help him stand out and his bat could carry him to a shot in the majors. An intriguing first undrafted signing that helps build the A’s catcher depth.