The MLB Draft League is an opportunity for draft-eligible players to improve their draft stock before the MLB Draft, and for the second half of the season, after the MLB Draft, it is an opportunity for professional players who exhausted their collegiate eligibility to play, improve their game, and impress scouts to earn an undrafted free agent contract.
One former WVU player, Jace Rinehart, is taking advantage of the MLB Draft League to attempt to earn an undrafted free agent contract. Rinehart recorded a hit in his 20th consecutive game earlier this month on September 1. Rinehart is coming off his final year of collegiate eligibility, where he spent at WVU after transferring from USC Upstate. Playing for the West Virginia Black Bears, Rinehartβs home field is none other than Kendrick Family Ballpark, the home of the WVU Mountaineers.
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β MLB Draft League (@mlbdraftleague) September 1, 2025
Jace Rinehart makes #MLBDraftLeague history by recording a hit in his 2β£0β£th straight game! π
In that span, Rinehart has gone 39-for-75 (.520) with a 1.191 OPS, 7 doubles, and 20 RBIs.@WVBlackBears | @JaceRinehart18 pic.twitter.com/3qiTm5ePyV
While he only spent one season at Morgantown, Rinehart was a key contributor for the Mountaineers as the Big 12 Regular Season Champions. Hitting .320 with a .962 OPS, adding 21 doubles, nine home runs, and 53 RBIs in 194 at-bats. Rinehart was a big reason why WVU was able to make its second Regional in two seasons and win the Big 12 Regular Season title.
Rinehart hopes to use success in MLB Draft League to earn a professional contract
While on his 20-game hitting streak, Rinehart was posting an average of .520 (39-75) and sporting a 1.191 OPS with seven doubles and 21 RBIs. He has been on an absolute tear to end the month of August and spilled over to the early part of September.
Rinehart must hope that his success in the MLB Draft League will lead to a chance for him to sign an undrafted free agent contract. There are previous stories of the MLB Draft League earning players an undrafted free agent contract, with more than 180 players signing an undrafted free agent contract, according to the MLB Draft League website.
The Mannington, West Virginia, native has been a great example for the state of West Virginia. After not being offered a scholarship by WVU coming out of high school, Rinehart enrolled at USC Upstate one day, hoping to return to his home state.
Could we see Rinehart earn himself a professional contract after his summer in the MLB Draft League? That answer will remain unanswered for a while, but one thing that we have learnedβRinehart is not going to easily give up on his dreams of playing baseball at the next level.