Joe Dudek was expected to be a key contributor to Kentucky's baseball team in 2017, but that won't be the case any longer. Dudek -- a first baseman/outfielder who transferred to Kentucky from the University of North Carolina -- announced on his Instagram page on Sunday that he had signed a professional deal with the Kansas City Royals.

Dudek sat out last season because of NCAA transfer rules, but he was still able to participate in fall practices. It was there that many MLB scouts were able to get a sense of his raw power from the left side of the plate and ultimately deem him worthy of a look at the professional level. He wasn't drafted in the MLB draft last month -- despite being draft eligible as he is three years out of high school --so this move comes as a surprise on some levels.

A good year at Kentucky next season would have at the very least meant he would be drafted which would provide some cushion in the minor leagues. Evan White has first base locked down for the Wildcats next season, but Dudek spent most of the fall in the outfield. He was expected to compete for an everyday spot in the outfield or as a designated hitter since his bat was the bright spot about his game. The Wildcats hit .270 as a team last season and lost JaVon Shelby, their best power hitter with 12 home runs, to the MLB draft as well.