Reds agree with six undrafted free agents
Mark Sheldon
@m_sheldonCINCINNATI -- Following the conclusion of the abbreviated five-round 2020 MLB Draft last week that had the Reds' organization select six players, amateur scouting director Brad Meador expected to add more several non-drafted free agents.
That process has already begun. As of Sunday, teams were eligible to sign any non-drafted free agent for $20,000. So far, the Reds have agreed to terms with six players. Cincinnati has not made any of the agreements official because the players still must pass a physical exam before contracts can be finalized.
Tyler Keysor, RHP, Univ. of Miami (Fla.)
Keysor came to Miami after transferring from the junior-college circuit. The 6-foot-5 right-hander has mostly been a reliever for the Hurricanes. In 2019, he was 6-1 with a 3.78 ERA in 22 games (five starts), scattering 52 hits, walking 16 and striking out 38 over 47 2/3 innings. In eight relief appearances in '20, Keysor posted a 5.87 ERA.
Leo Nierenberg, RHP, Univ. of Washington
Another reliever, Nierenberg was off to a good beginning to his senior season with 2 2/3 scoreless innings over four appearances with the Huskies. In 2019, he was 3-1 with a 6.84 ERA in 21 appearances. The six-foot, 190-pound native of Oakland, Calif., was also a '20 Pac-12 academic honor roll student.
James Proctor, RHP, Princeton
In 28 starts during his three-plus years at Princeton, Proctor was 2-16 with a 5.88 ERA. But he appeared to turn a corner during his junior season in ¡¯19. He was 1-5 with a 4.65 ERA in 10 starts with two complete games. He strikeout rate soared that year, with 66 Ks over 50 1/3 innings.
Proctor¡¯s grandfather, Jim Proctor, was a pitcher who appeared in two big league games with the Tigers in 1959. He also played for the Indianapolis Clowns in the Negro League.
Braxton Roxby, RHP, Univ. of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
Roxby was 5-3 with a 4.95 ERA in 11 starts for Pitt-Johnstown but racked up a lot of strikeouts -- 67 over 56 1/3 innings. Despite a 9.68 ERA in five games (four starts) during the 2020 season, he had 28 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings.
"He made a name for himself in the Cape Cod League last summer, and the past school year, he had scouts meeting with him weekly,¡± Pitt-Johnstown head coach Todd Williams said via the school¡¯s website. ¡°He is one of the hardest working student-athletes we have had here at Pitt-Johnstown. Braxton has a great arm and a very bright future.¡±
Carson Spiers, RHP, Clemson
Spiers was 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA and four saves in nine relief appearances this season. Over 15 1/3 innings, he allowed five hits, three walks and struck out 17 while opponents batted .098 against him. The Tigers' co-captain was 2-5 with a 3.59 ERA and 11 saves during the 2019 season. He allowed 39 hits and 16 walks while striking out 44 over 47 2/3 innings.
There is a Major League connection here too, as the right-hander is the son of Bill Spiers, who played 13 seasons with the Brewers, Mets and Astros. The elder Spiers was the 13th overall pick by Milwaukee in the 1987 Draft.
Francisco Urbaez, 2B, Florida Atlantic Univ.
Over two seasons (77 games) at FAU, Urbaez slashed .315/.426/.500 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs. The native of the Dominican Republic was also part of back-to-back junior college national championships at Chipola College. During the 2019 season -- his first with the Owls -- Urbaez batted .322 and was among the leaders of several offensive categories in Conference USA.