OAKLAND -- The A’s were satisfied with how the 2020 MLB Draft played out, not only because of what they believe was a steal in Turlock High School catcher Tyler Soderstrom at No. 26, but the overall value acquired with their five selections. However, the work is not done yet.
A’s vice president Billy Beane and his scouting department have become known for their late-round finds and turning lesser-known Draftees into Major League contributors. The club began the search for that next wave with the addition of a pair of catchers on Sunday when non-drafted free agents could sign with any team for a bonus capped at $20,000.
With more undrafted talent than usual now in a free-for-all with a bonus cap, finding that diamond in the rough becomes more difficult for A’s scouting director Eric Kubota. But the strategy he developed along with scouts before the shutdown lends confidence that the team can land some of the players still left on its radar.
“There are lots of guys remaining on our board. We’ll see how this all shakes out,” Kubota said at the conclusion of their final Draft pick. “There's 30 teams trying to sign a bunch of the same guys. We’ve talked about guys in generalities, but now that we have specific names, we’ll have a better idea.”
Here’s a look at the non-drafted free agents who have agreed to terms with the A’s. The deals have not yet been made official by the club and details are pending.
Will Simoneit, C/IF, Wake Forest
Simoneit played his first three seasons at Cornell before joining Wake Forest for a limited time before the shutdown. He batted .377 in 17 games for Wake Forest this season and slashed .315/.385/.505 with 16 home runs over four college seasons.
The 6-foot-4 Simoneit continues the trend of taller catchers in the organization. Soderstrom, Sean Murphy and Jonah Heim are also well over 6 feet. In addition to catching, Simoneit spent time at both corner infield spots over his college career.
Cooper Uhl, C , Loyola Marymount University
Uhl got off to a hot start this season before the shutdown, batting .361 and drawing 14 walks over 16 games. In four years at Loyola Marymount, he combined to hit .254 in 164 games.
Uhl comes from an athletic family. His mother, Sharon, played softball at Long Beach State and is now the athletic director at Costa Mesa High School in Southern California.