Kentucky pitcher, pair of Louisville stars sign free-agent MLB deals
University of Kentucky pitcher Carson Coleman and two University of Louisville stars — Justin Lavey and Danny Oriente — were among the first undrafted players to agree to contracts with Major League Baseball teams when post-draft free agency signings started on Sunday.
The league’s amateur draft was trimmed to five rounds over two days from the usual 40 rounds over three because of the coronavirus pandemic — a move that figures to save teams about $30 million. So, instead of more than 1,200 players celebrating the start of their professional careers, only 160 were chosen.
As part of a March 26 agreement between MLB and the players’ association, teams are permitted to sign an unlimited number of undrafted players. But, clubs are limited to offering maximum signing bonuses of only $20,000.
Coleman, a right-handed pitcher who starred in high school at Lexington Catholic, signed with the New York Yankees. He had been chosen by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 33rd round of the 2019 draft but opted to return to school.
“Thankful for the opportunity to put on the blue and white and represent the University of Kentucky the last 4 years!” Coleman tweeted Sunday. “I wouldn’t have traded it for anything! Go Cats.”
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound relief pitcher struck out 81 hitters in 53 2/3 career innings. That is a rate of 13.58 strikeouts per nine innings, the highest mark for any UK player with at least 50 innings pitched since 1979. He finished with a 5-5 career record and five saves to go along with a 4.19 earned run average and .211 opponent batting average, including .172 by left-handed hitters.
Thirteen of the 17 outs Coleman recorded in the shortened 2020 season were by strikeout, and he allowed just four hits and one walk with a 3.18 ERA in six appearances.
Three Louisville players were chosen in this year’s draft. Pitchers Reid Detmers (Los Angeles Angels) and Bobby Miller (Los Angeles Dodgers) were first-round picks, and outfielder/catcher Zach Britton (Toronto Blue Jays) went in the fifth round.
That was followed up by Lavey and Oriente, both seniors, signing with the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks, respectively.
Lavey, an infielder from Kenosha, Wis., batted .277 with 31 doubles, eight home runs and 88 RBI over four seasons.
Oriente, an outfielder from Downers Grove, Ill., batted .324 career with 30 doubles, three homers and 106 RBI during his Cardinals career. In two postseasons, Oriente hit .429 (21-for-49) with 15 RBI.
This story was originally published June 15, 2020 at 2:06 PM.