As the dust settles from the undrafted free agent signing time period in Major League Baseball, the landscape of talent in college baseball is becoming more clear. While success in the MLB Draft and in free agents signings obviously reflects well on a program, it becomes essential for these teams to quickly bring in talent to replace the players moving on to professional baseball.
Michigan saw seven players leave for the professional ranks between their four draft picks and three undrafted free agent signings. Vanderbilt was just behind the Wolverines with six picks. Michigan and Vanderbilt met in the 2019 College World Series Championship Series where all of this talent was on display.
In terms of talent coming into their programs, Vanderbilt and Michigan find themselves in very different positions. Vanderbilt is bringing in the top-ranked recruiting class (according to Perfect Game), while Michigan's recruiting class is ranked 37th. This marks the fourth straight year that Vanderbilt's class ranks number one.
Several teams lost five players to professional baseball, including Arizona State. All five of Arizona State's players were drafted in the shortened MLB Draft, earning Arizona State the title of "most successful college team" in the draft. They will look to replace their lost talent with the 22nd-rated recruiting class in the country.
TCU, Stanford, and Virginia all left the MLB Draft and signing period entirely unscathed; each of these teams is also brining in a top 25 recruiting class next year. See below for how all of the Top 50 classes in Perfect Game's recruiting rankings fared in the MLB Draft and signing period:
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