2020 Undrafted Free Agent Signings

[Eye Black]

We will use this thread to track all of the Brewers undrafted free agent signings. This first post will keep an updated list of the Brewers free agent signings among players that were draft eligible this year. Please use this thread to discuss those player signings including sharing any features or other information on the players.

 

Another good resource is Baseball America's 2020 MLB Undrafted Free Agent Tracker: Agreements For All 30 Teams

 

 

Brewers Undrafted Free Agent Signings Tracker

 

[pre]Name Pos. School Height Weight

TJ Shook RHP South Carolina 6'3 226

Drew Smith 2B Grand Canyon 5'10 190

Jason Munsch LHP Concordia (NE) 6'2 235

Brandon Knarr LHP Tampa 5'10 215

Evan Reifert RHP Cent. Missouri 6'4 200

Noah Campbell 2B/OF South Carolina 6'0 208[/pre]

[Eye Black]

For those looking for a little more information regarding this year’s process, on Sunday MLB teams will be allowed to begin signing undrafted players as free agents for up to $20K. While it’s not uncommon for players left out of the draft process to sign as free agents, this year is unique in the sheer number of quality players that didn’t hear their name called during the 5 round modified draft (a mere 160 selections in total). Many players will obviously exercise alternative options to remain in amateur baseball (barring unique opportunities such as NPB comes calling). Still, many good players will decide to sign as free agents and enter pro ball even during this time of great uncertainty for minor league development. When asked about the UDFA signing period beginning Brewers Scouting Director Tod Johnson admitted, "It will probably be an exciting Sunday."

 

I’ve heard speculation on certain teams having advantages connecting with this free agent market (i.e. Reds connection with Driveline) and others with disadvantages (A’s initially balking at paying minor leaguers). Ultimately, I am not sure what factors will matter the most in signing these free agents. Hopefully the Brewers perceived thinness of the farm system will lead to some players viewing it as a good opportunity. We should begin hearing some names connected to the Brewers in the very near future.

[JDBrewCrew]

Jr RP, had option to return.

 

TJ Shook

@tj_shook

· 14m

Big thank you to the Brewers organization for giving me the opportunity to play professional baseball. Can’t wait to start my career and pursue new goals. ⚾️

 

Will Sammon

@WillSammon

6s

RHP, 92 Ks, 35 BBs in his South Carolina career

 

https://gamecocksonline.com/sports/baseball/roster/tj-shook/6844

 

https://www.si.com/college/southcarolina/baseball/shook-signed-by-brewers

[JDBrewCrew]

Drew Smith

@Smith7Drew

·

3m

Dreams do come true! Thanks to everybody who has helped me along the way. Today I have officially agreed to play for the Milwaukee Brewers Organization!

 

https://gculopes.com/sports/baseball/roster/drew-smith/5823

 

https://northeasthawks.com/sports/bsb/2018-19/releases/20190626lt94e6

 

Richard Obert

@azc_obert

Feb 17

GCU second baseman Drew Smith drove in 11 runs in his first NCAA Division I college baseball weekend -- in 3 games vs Oklahoma State. One of five players nationally with 11 RBIs after three games

 

Joe Healy

@JoeHealyBA

Feb 15

A nice side benefit of coming to GCU today is that their second baseman Drew Smith uses "Pop, Lock & Drop It" by Huey as his walkup song, and I'd forgotten how catchy that song is.

 

 

GCU Baseball

@GCU_Baseball

Feb 14

Bot 2 | If you haven't learned Drew Smith's name yet, now's probably a good time. 3 RBIs in the first two innings of his D-I debut.

@Smith7Drew

GCU 5, OSU 1

 

The Brewer Nation

@BrewerNation

38s

Drew Smith was ranked in @BaseballAmerica's draft prospects list.

 

#308 in there top 500, seems to be a good get. highest non drafted top 500 player to date.

 

https://northeasthawks.com/sports/bsb/2019-20/releases/20200614w1sugw

 

https://gculopes.com/news/2020/6/14/baseball-smith-inks-deal-with-brewers.aspx

[Eye Black]

From Baseball America's BA 500 Draft Rankings:

 

308. Drew Smith

Grand Canyon, 2B

 

Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Age At Draft: 21.8

 

The Nebraska native stayed in-state for his first three post-scholastic seasons, playing in just six games as a freshman at Creighton before heading to Northeast Community College for his redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons. Smith earned the 2019 Spalding National Junior College Athletic Association D-II Player of the Year award after hitting .465/.538/.897 slugging percentage at Northeast. His career at Grand Canyon got off to a bang when he went 7-for-14 in the opening weekend series against Oklahoma State. Smith is described as being a second baseman in the mold of former big league infielder Andy Stankiewicz, who happens to be his coach at GCU. He’s got a strong, stocky frame with no flashy tools but with a gritty-gamer approach. He’s a good contact hitter with plate discipline, taking good at-bats with a line-drive swing. Smith has below-average raw power, is an average runner and an above-average fielder at second base, and an instinctual defender with good hands. Smith could be taken in the top 10 rounds by a team valuing this profile and his performance.

[Eye Black]

From Baseball America's JJ Cooper:

 

Source tells Baseball America that MLB has sent a memo warning teams to not offer "exorbitant" amounts in the continuing education scholarship program when trying to sign undrafted free agents (limited to $20,000 bonuses).

 

 

Given the perceived timing of the memo (today) I assume there were teams attempting to do this? Seems like a mess if those type of guidelines weren't already ironed out at this point.

[clancyphile]

Could Smith be a Hernan Perez with plate discipline?

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Could Smith be a Hernan Perez with plate discipline?

 

His upside is probably Jody Reed. Perez is not an apt comparison, as in addition to the terrible plate discipline, Perez always had more power potential.

[markedman5]

[JDBrewCrew]

NAIA Ball

@NAIABall

1h

Concordia (Neb.) SP Jason Munsch signs with the Milwaukee Brewers! Munsch was absolutely filthy this season! Held opponents under three hits in 3 of his 4 starts without allowing an earned run in all of 2020

 

Rob Friedman

@PitchingNinja

Mar 20

Jason Munsch Concordia University - Nebraska (Senior).

@munschabunch

 

6’2”, 230 lb, LHP 20yo

FB: 90-92 T94

SL: 78-81

SPL: 80-82

 

2020 Stats:

26 IP

0.00 ERA

59K/6BB (20.42K/9)

OBA: .103

Led NAIA in K/9 & ERA

 

Looking for Professional (preferably) Affiliated opportunities

[Mass Haas]

Elkhorn grad Drew Smith signs with Milwaukee Brewers to 'make a dream come true'

 

Quotes are within...

[Mass Haas]

Brief video with quotes from the Brewers latest non-drafted free agent signing LHP Jason Munsch. This report was from just after the draft, prior to today's signing.

[Kelbysdaddy]

Excited to see what Jason Munsch can do. Small sample and small pond but his 2020 stat line is filthy.

[Eye Black]

I have to give these athletic department social media teams credit, the graphics accompanying their student-athlete's free agent signing announcements have been very well done.

 

 

 

 

 

GCU's second go around for Drew Smith which includes photoshopped Brewers uniforms is my favorite so far...

 

[brewmann04]

Hope to see Munsch in the rotation in the minors.

[clancyphile]

Could Smith be a Hernan Perez with plate discipline?

 

His upside is probably Jody Reed. Perez is not an apt comparison, as in addition to the terrible plate discipline, Perez always had more power potential.

 

Reed's OBP/doubles type of bat couldn't be a bad thing... but I'd hope Smith can show the kind of versatility that Perez had.

 

Not that a Jody Reed in his prime would be a bad thing... it's just you have Hiura at second (hopefully for a decade-plus - I really hope a long-term extension gets finalized sooner rather than later).

[CheeseheadInQC]

I know it is more fun to compare to big leaguers, but gritty guy who played a lot of positions but is best at second, better average/OPS than power ... the first thing that came to mind were the scouting reports after the Brewers acquired Mark Mathias.

[Mass Haas]

LHP Brandon Knarr, University of Tampa

 

Scout comment from last fall

 

More background via UTampa's roster page, just turned 22 years old earlier this month

 

Video from Feb. 2019 when he was with College of Central Florida, a junior college:

 

[JDBrewCrew]

Tampa Spartans

@tampaspartans

Brandon Knarr signs as an undrafted free agent with Milwaukee Brewers. Led @UT_Baseball

with 4-1 record with 2.55 ERA. Struck out 64 hitters in 35.1 innings as Spartan ace. #Brewers

@BaseballAmerica

 

Zach Bove

@ZachBove12

·

Oct 14, 2018

Uncommitted LHP Brandon Knarr

@bknarr2017

Transfer from @NDBaseball

FB 87-91(92)

CV- 74-78

CH- 75-77

Spins it very well

@PBR_JUCO

 

Ben Jansen

@BenJansen__

Feb 28

How do you follow a 7 IP, 15K start? How about 14 Ks over 5.2 shutout innings. That’s what #MLBDraft LHP prospect Brandon Knarr (JR. UTampa) did tonight. Here’s #29 in his last two outings.

 

Kyler Peterson

@KPeterson813

Feb 6, 2019

LHP Brandon Knarr of @cfpats also looking good. 89-91 T93 showing ability to command good high 70’s curve #mlbdraft

[brewcrewdue80]

LHP Brandon Knarr, University of Tampa

 

Scout comment from last fall

 

More background via UTampa's roster page, just turned 22 years old earlier this month

 

Video from Feb. 2019 when he was with College of Central Florida, a junior college:

 

 

Not the best at hiding the ball. I would guess the ability to locate down low for strikes is appealing, but at the FB speed and easy to see pitches, he may just be a warm body.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers' call changed former Concordia pitcher Munsch's plans

Timothy Gray, Lincoln (NE) Journal Star

[Mass Haas]

5th signing --

 

RHP Evan Reifert

[JDBrewCrew]

Travis Hergert

@CoachHerg

Jan 23, 2019

Evan Reifert 95 heater with 82 slide piece.

 

Travis Hergert

@CoachHerg

Jan 24, 2018

Freshman RHP Evan Reifert creating some high spin rate on his 92.5 mph fastball today with

@rapsodo Opening day 1 month away! Visit http://niacctrojans.com to see our schedule.

 

PBR JUCO

@PBR_JUCO

Sep 15, 2018

Evan Reifert @NIACCBaseball #DiamondHeels Up to 94, sat 92 93 from stretch and windup. Scattered FB. Flashed avg 82 slider, potential future + pitch.

 

Brian Sakowski

@B_Sakowski_PG

Nov 2, 2018

North Carolina picks up one of the higher-upside #JuCoRoute arms available in NIACC’s Evan Reifert. Great size/arm speed, works in 89-93 mph range with projection, good breaking ball as well.

[brewmann04]

keep adding the arms Brew Crew

[Mass Haas]

Concordia pitcher Jason Munsch excited for opportunity with Milwaukee Brewers

Gene Schinzel, Omaha.com