OREM, Utah – Utah Valley baseball has sent two more players to the next level of their careers, as Landon Frei and Carston Herman have signed with the MLB Draft League. Frei will join the West Virginia Black Bears, while Herman is headed to the State College Spikes.

"Carston and Landon have worked their absolute hardest for opportunities like these. Both of these guys played major roles in our championship and regional run," UVU head coach Nate Rasmussen said. "Getting the chance to continue is difficult, and these two have the talent and determination to really succeed at the next level."

Frei, who played one season in Orem, will return to the MLB Draft League after appearing in 31 games for the Trenton Thunder in 2024, hitting .226 with two home runs and 14 RBIs. In his lone season with the Wolverines, he significantly improved offensively, finishing with a .285 average, a team-high 17 home runs, and 77 RBIs — which also led the Western Athletic Conference.

Frei's signing marks the second time a UVU alum will suit up for the Black Bears. Danny Beddes played one season for West Virginia after being selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 15th round of the 2016 MLB Draft.

Herman transferred to UVU after previously playing for WAC rival Utah Tech. He finished the season 5-4 with a 5.87 ERA across 61 1/3 innings pitched. He appeared in several high-leverage situations for the Wolverines, including throwing 4 2/3 innings in UVU's first regional win over No. 12 Oregon.

Major League Baseball operates the MLB Draft League, which splits its season into two halves. The second half began July 16 and runs through Sept. 3, featuring players who have exhausted their amateur eligibility. Former big leaguers serve as coaches, and players have access to minor league facilities. All six teams in the league were formerly affiliated with Minor League Baseball.