Several state players sign as free agents

With the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft shortened significantly this spring, far fewer players from Connecticut were selected, but that does not mean they will not get their shot at a pro career.

Last season, the late rounds of the draft were littered with state high school players, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, MLB went with a shortened draft, placing a premium on each team’s picks.

Many players raked on top 100 prospect lists went undrafted this year with the draft moving from 40 to just five rounds.

Players not drafted were able to sign as free agents with any team they chose.

Players who have signed with MLB teams since the draft with ties to the state include: TT Bowens from Montville and Central Connecticut with the Orioles; Matt Chamberlain of North Branford and the University of New Haven with the Cardinals; Thomas Girard of Simsbury and Duke with the Orioles; Nick Krauth of UConn with the Rangers and Wallingford’s Jake MacKenzie, who attended high school at Choate and college at Fordham, with the Red Sox.

There were players who played in Connecticut drafted in the short format.

Aaron Sabato, an infielder from the University of North Carolina who was a 2018 Brunswick School graduate and resides in Rye Brook, N.Y., was taken with the 27th pick in the First Round by the Twins.

Hudson Haskin, an outfielder from New York City who played at Tulane after graduating from Avon Old Farms, was drafted by the Orioles in the Second Round.

Due to the coronavirus, there have been no major or minor league games played this spring or summer.

While MLB is scheduled to return by the end of July, it is unlikely minor league baseball will be played this year.

Players joining teams now will most likely join teams in the fall in instructional leagues.

College baseball was canceled in mid-March and many elite college summer leagues such as the Cape Cod League were canceled for the summer, leaving top college players without a showcase to display their talents.

Playing infield with CCSU, the 6-foot-4 Bowens hit .306 with 13 home runs and 72 RBIs in 96 games between 2016-2020, being named MVP of the 2017 NEC Tournament won by the Blue Devils.

Chamberlain started every game he played in at New Haven, capturing an NE-10 Conference championship in his freshman year as the starting center fielder in 2017 when he was named to the NE-10 All-Rookie Team.

A centerfielder, Chamberlain posted a career .297 batting average at New Haven, with a .471 on base percentage, 11 home runs, 80 RBIs and 120 runs scored. He recorded the most walks in UNH history with 126.

Girard, a righthanded pitcher had 13 career saves at Duke while sporting a 2.74 ERA and 90 strikeouts over 69 innings pitched.

Krauth, a 6-foot-3 junior college transfer to UConn had a 4-0 record and 0.36 ERA, striking out 24 batters in 24 innings before the college season was canceled.

In three seasons playing infield at Fordham, MacKenzie batted .306 with 12 home runs, 79 RBIs and 84 stolen bases. His 43 steals in 2019 ranked fourth in Division 1.

Sericson@stamfordadvocate.com; @EricsonSports