Caden Merritt agreed Tuesday to sign with the Atlanta Braves as an undrafted rookie free agent. 

Although the 2025 Gainesville High School graduate was not selected during the two-day, 20-round Major League Baseball Amateur Draft that concluded Monday, he will still get his chance to play professional baseball immediately  when he officially signs his contract with the Braves Wednesday morning.

He will then report to Atlanta’s spring training facility in Florida this weekend. 

By signing with the Braves, Merritt forgoes his scholarship to College World Series runner-up Coastal Carolina.

Once the draft is over, players can sign as undrafted rookie free agents for up to $150,000 without counting toward a team’s draft bonus pool.

With his speed, Merritt drew plenty of attention from pro scouts this season as a centerfielder who also hit lead-off for Gainesville. 

Merritt, who turned 18 in May, helped lead the Cardinals to the 2025 Class 6 state title. 

As a pitcher, Merritt finished the season with a 10-1 record, 1.537 ERA, 74 strikeouts and 15 walks. As a hitter, Merritt recorded a .421 batting average with six homers, 27 RBI, 38 runs and a state-best 30 stolen bases. 

He was the Class 6 state baseball player of the year.

After finishing his season with Gainesville, Merritt played for the Frederick Keys of the Major League Baseball Draft League. He was one of three 2025 high school graduates on the Keys’ roster and was invited to compete in the MLB Draft League’s exhibition game against a team from the Cape Cod League June 30th at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. 

Merritt is the fourth Prince William County high school graduate who either was a 2025 MLB draft pick or signed as a 2025 undrafted rookie free agent.

The others are Patriot graduate Riley Eikhoff (ninth round, Chicago White Sox), Colgan graduate Connor Knox (18th round, Chicago Cubs) and Colgan graduate Brandon Cassedy (undrafted rookie free agent, Houston Astros). 

Patriot graduate Riley Eikhoff drafted by the Chicago White Sox

Colgan graduate Brandon Cassedy to sign with the Houston Astros

Colgan graduate Connor Knox drafted by the Chicago Cubs