Jay Harry went without an agent during 2023 MLB Draft but found a home with Minnesota Twins

CEDAR RAPIDS — Jay Harry decided to go it alone.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels infielder went sans agent last year when it came to the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft. There was no buffer between himself and big league clubs.

He handled everything on his own.

“It was pretty stressful,” Harry said. “I just wanted to play. I didn’t want to give teams any reason to try and negotiate. I just wanted to get here and work my way into moving up levels.”

He’s at the high-Class A level to begin this season after the Minnesota Twins drafted him in the sixth round and inked him to a contract that included a $150,000 signing bonus. Again, he didn’t have to share any of that money with an agent.

Harry had another season of college eligibility at Penn State, where he was the Nittany Lions’ shortstop. But, as he said, he was full bore pro baseball.

“The months prior to the draft there were a good amount of calls. I had a bunch of meetings,” Harry said. “The day before draft day, there were a couple of teams that said they were going to take me. I’m waiting, watching on TV, they don’t take me, I’m freaking out. But the Twins called, and it all worked out perfectly.”

By the way, Harry has an agent now: Tom O’Connell of O’Connell Sports Management in Florida. There’s a reason for that.

Agents make deals with equipment manufacturers to provide gloves, bats, spikes, etc. for their clients. That stuff’s not cheap.

“It would have been tough to pay for all the gear,” Harry said with a smile. “But my agent has been great. He knows a bunch of people in the organization, and he’s been a blessing.”

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Harry has played around the infield for the Kernels thus far, as utility is probably his ticket to the big leagues. He’s a left-handed hitter, which makes him a bit more valuable.

He tore it up in his professional debut late last season to the tune of a .339 combined batting average for the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Twins and low-A Fort Myers. He was off to a .220 start in 16 games for Cedar Rapids, with two home runs and nine RBIs.

“Good defender, good arm, has good at-bats,” said Kernels Manager Brian Dinkelman. “He can run into a baseball once in a while, hit a long home run last (homestand). He’s a ballplayer. I like Jay.”

Being called a ballplayer is a compliment here.

“I’ve never had the tools that other guys did,” Harry said. “I’ve always just tried to find a way to help the team win. Play whatever position, getting on base however.”

Harry made an impression on his organization in spring training, getting into a handful of games on the major-league side and going 5-for-9 at the plate. Especially early in spring training, big leaguers get a couple of ABs in, then call it good for the day, allowing an opportunity for minor leaguers to come and fill in late in games.

Harry was one of those fill-in guys. His first at-bat, ironically came against another former Penn State player in Boston Red Sox farmhand Justin Hagenman.

One of his five hits came against Cole Irvin, who’s in the starting rotation for the Baltimore Orioles.

“That was one of the coolest moments, for sure,” Harry said. “It was so cool being around the big-league guys for a couple of games. It was awesome. They really took care of us. It was a grind, but it was a lot of fun.”

The Kernels (9-9) had their Midwest League game Friday night against Beloit rained out. The teams are scheduled to play a double-header Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium beginning at 12:05 p.m.

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