The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Thursday that they've signed 19 of their 21 draft picks and have also signed 11 non-drafted free agents.


<span style="font-weight: 400;">This article tracked all the players selected by the Jays who have signed, as well as the undrafted free agents they've signed. For a list of all of the players the Blue Jays drafted, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-2024-mlb-draft-tracker">check out our previous tracker here</a>. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Coming into the draft, they had $8.987 million to sign their first 11 picks. All teams are allowed to go 5% over the signing bonus pool, with 75% tax on any overages. Overall, the Blue Jays can spend up to $9,436,350, give or take. Players drafted from rounds 11-20 can sign up to $150,000, but anything over counts towards the bonus pool.</span>

The only two players the Blue Jays were unable to sign were D'Marion Terrell and Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek. <a href="https://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/canadian-baseball-network-articles/gallagher-jays-will-need-to-ante-up-to-sign-grudzielaneks-son?format=amp">The latter wanted $500,000 according to this Canadian Baseball Network article</a>, while Terrell was a hedge pick if one of the Jays' other picks didn't sign.
<h2><strong>Blue Jays sign Trey Yesavage</strong></h2>
Just hours before the deadline, the Blue Jays signed their first-round pick, Trey Yesavage, to a signing bonus of $4,177,500, slightly above the slot of $4,073,400.

https://twitter.com/jimcallisMLB/status/1819008663064895940

With East Carolina University, Yesavage posted a 2.03 ERA in 93.1 innings pitched, along with a 40.4 K% and an 8.9 BB%. He features a fastball that sits 93-95 mph, but has touched 98 mph, with a great slider and slider/cutter. The curveball isn't graded as high, but it's an average pitch.
<h2>Blue Jays sign Khal Stephen</h2>
The Blue Jays signed their second-round pick, right-hander Khal Stephen, to a below-slot deal. The assigned value for his draft spot at 59th overall is $1,489,000 and the Blue Jays got him signed for 1,116,750, which is $373,250 underneath the slot.

https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/status/1815476491096043789

Stephen was selected above his pre-draft ranking so him signing for lower than slot value isn't unexpected. The 21-year-old posted a 3.28 ERA over 16 starts with Mississippi State in 2024.
<h2><strong>Blue Jays sign Johnny King IV</strong></h2>
Blue Jays landed their third-round pick, pitcher Johnny King IV with an over-slot deal worth $1,247,500 (slot value being $767,200).

https://twitter.com/JonathanMayo/status/1815534909701931134

King is a 17-year-old left-handed pitcher from Naples, Florida. He ranked as MLB Pipeline's 124th-best draft prospect and features a slider, fastball, and changeup, with the heater touching 94-95 mph with projection.
<h2><strong>Blue Jays sign Sean Keys</strong></h2>
Selected in the fourth-round of the 2024 draft, Keys signed for $569,700, slightly below the slot value of this pick ($572,200)

https://twitter.com/JonathanMayo/status/1815538470875513208

He played third base for Bucknell, but will likely move to first base when he turns professional. He has a 55-graded hit tool with some pop and slashed .405/.535/.798 with 13 homers in 213 plate appearances in 2024.
<h2>Blue Jays sign Nick Mitchell</h2>
The Blue Jays drafted Nick Mitchell in the fourth round with the compensatory pick they got when Matt Chapman signed with the San Francisco Giants. On Sunday, he signed with the Blue Jays for $467,500, below the slot value for this pick ($515,100).

https://twitter.com/jimcallisMLB/status/1815137836552921367

Mitchell, an outfielder, has great speed and slashed .335/.458/.512 with five homers in 260 plate appearances, along with more walks than strikeouts with Indiana University, Bloomington in 2024.
<h2><strong>Blue Jays sign Jackson Wentworth</strong></h2>
The Blue Jays selected pitcher Jackson Wentworth in the fifth-round, and he signed a slight under-slot deal worth $412,100, with the slot value for this pick being $414,600. He ranked as MLB Pipeline's 164th-best draft prospect.

https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/status/1815481350805450964

Last season with Kansas State University, the 21-year-old righty posted a 4.24 ERA in 87 innings pitched, along with a 31.5 K% and a 7.4 BB%. Wentworth averages 92-94 mph with the heater, touching 96 mph, while his slider and changeup are great pitches.
<h2>Blue Jays sign Aaron Parker</h2>
The Blue Jays' sixth-round pick is catcher Aaron Parker, who signed for $297,500, quite a bit below the slot value of $323,400.

https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/status/1815484608063910056

Parker has good power despite his small stature, and slashed .379/.460/.632 with 12 home runs in 224 plate appearances last season for UC Santa Barbara.
<h2><strong>Blue Jays sign Austin Cates</strong></h2>
The Blue Jays signed 21-year-old right-handed pitcher Austin Cates to a signing bonus of $222,500, below the $235,300 slot value for the pick.

https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/status/1816116867569729894

Cates pitched at the University of Nevada - Las Vegas in 2024, posting a 4.08 ERA in 90.1 innings pitched, along with a 27.9 K% and a 3.9 BB%. He has a low-90s fastball with a slider and splitter, the latter being his best pitch.
<h2>Blue Jays Eddie Micheletti</h2>
A senior from Virginia Tech, Micheletti signed for $147,500, well below the slot value of $208,700 for this pick.

https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/status/1815487720300360038

Last season for Virigina Tech, the 29-year-old outfileder/catcher slashed .311/.464/.599 with 12 homers in 240 plate appearances, along with more walks (48) than strikeouts (32).
<h2>Blue Jays sign Colby Holcombe</h2>
The second player the Blue Jays signed after the 2024 draft is their ninth-round selection, Colby Holcombe. The right-handed pitcher from Mississippi State signed for a bonus of $200,000, slightly over the slot value of this pick ($190,100).

https://twitter.com/jimcallisMLB/status/1815106703613977078

According to MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis, Holcombe features a fastball that has touched 97 mph with a slider. Last season with Mississippi State, he had a 10.38 ERA in 21.1 innings pitched, along with a 26.9 K% and an 11.5 BB%.
<h2>Blue Jays sign Carter Cunningham</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The first Blue Jays drafted player to sign with the team was their 10th-round selection, Carter Cunningham, who signed for a bonus of $22,500. The slot value for this pick is $180,000, meaning they saved $157,500 to use elsewhere, likely on one of their prep picks.</span>

https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/status/1813676829875810769

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Cunningham recently played for East Carolina University and played three seasons at the school. In 2024, he slashed .367/.464/.653 with 17 home runs in 307 plate appearances and had an equal K% and BB% at 12.4%.</span>
<h2><strong>Blue Jays sign Troy Guthrie</strong></h2>
The 11th through 13th rounds are usually where teams will pick signable high school players, and the Blue Jays selected Troy Guthrie with the 11th-round pick. He signed for $200,000, meaning that $50,000 will count towards the signing bonus pool.

https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/status/1815493590023393649

Guthrie is a right-handed pitcher who sits in the low-90s with the heat, but has a slider and changeup as well. He could add muscle to his frame for a velocity increase.
<h2><strong>Blue Jays sign Carson Messina</strong></h2>
On July 24, the Blue Jays signed right-handed pitcher Carson Messina to a bonus of $550,000, with $400,000 going towards their bonus pool.

https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/status/1816126730597548151

Messina ranked as MLB Pipeline's 222nd-best available draft prospect, featuring a fastball that hits 97 mph but sits 92-95 mph. The curveball is an out pitch, while the changeup is developing. There's significant reliever risk with Messina, ass the delivery isn't clean, he has issues throwing strikes, and his durability is lacking. Still, the Jays will likely give him a shot to start.
<h2>Blue Jays sign Brock Tibbitts</h2>
The Blue Jays signed 13th-round Brock Tibbitts to $150,000, the maximum number before the signing bonus cuts into the bonus pool.

https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/status/1815493590023393649

He played for Indiana alongside Nick Mitchell, where he slashed .313/.404/.472 with four homers in 213 plate appearances. His career-year was in 2023, when he slashed .357/.447/.585 with 10 homers in 293 plate appearances.
<h2>Blue Jays sign J.R. Freethy</h2>
Like Tibbitts, J.R. Freethy was signed to $150,000, meaning the 14th-round selection didn't cut into the bonus pool at all.

https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/status/1815493590023393649

Freethy plays second base, left field, and centre field, and slashed .303/.414/.580 with 10 home runs in 241 plate appearances, along with more walks (35) than strikeouts (31) for the University of Nevada, Reno.
<h2>Blue Jays sign Jonathan Todd</h2>
You'll often see relief pitchers selected on day three of the draft, and with the Jays' 15th round pick, they selected Jonathan Todd, signing him to a $5,000 signing bonus. Seniors at college can sometimes sign for well below the slot value.

https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/status/1815493590023393649

Last season with Western Carolina, the righty post a 4 ERA in 36 innings pitched, along with a 32 K% and an 8.5 BB%. Standing at 6'6", he only sits in the early 90s with the heater.
<h2>Blue Jays sign Colby Martin</h2>
One of my favourite picks from the draft (<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-prospect-profile-right-handed-reliver-colby-martin">I wrote a Prospect Profile on him here</a>), relief pitcher Colby Martin signed to a bonus of $75,000.

https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/status/1815493590023393649

Last season with Southeastern University in the NAIA, Martin posted a 4.41 ERA in 16.1 innings pitched, along with a 43.1 K% and a 15.3 BB%. He sits in the high-90s with the heater, and has even touched 102 mph.
<h2><strong>Blue Jays sign Gavin Smith</strong></h2>
The Blue Jays drafted two prep players towards the backend of the draft, Gavin Smith was the one to sign. Baseball America reported that his signing bonus was $200,000, so $50,000 going towards the cap. However, his scouting report features a different Gavin Smith.

Funnily enough, there were two draft-eligible high school shortstops named Gavin Smith from Chandler, Arizona. The one the Jays signed went to Valley Christian High School while the other one went to Basha High School.
<h2>Blue Jays sign Holden Wilkerson</h2>
Another pitcher selected by the Blue Jays, Holden Wilkerson was selected in the 18th-round and signed for a bonus of $150,000.

https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/status/1815493590023393649

Last season with the Virginia Military Institute,  the 21-year-old had a 7.85 ERA in 18.1 innings pitched, along with a 31.2 K% and an 8.6 BB%. He returned from injury and his velocity dropped a bit.
<h2>Undrafted free agents the Jays have signed</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Blue Jays have also signed quite a few undrafted free agents. Now, these players may not seem like anything but minor league depth, but there are two players currently on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats who are two of the best hitters on that team.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Let’s take a look at the undrafted free agents the Jays signed.</span>
<h3><b>Owen Gregg</b></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">High school players tend to have a lot of leverage in determining where they end up. You’ll see a prep player or two on day three sign, but it’s very rare for a prep player to willingly sign as an undrafted free agent.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Blue Jays signed Canadian Owen Gregg, a middle infielder who attended Appleby College, in Oakville, Ontario. The 17-year-old who won’t turn 18 until December was set to attend the University of Utah.</span>

https://twitter.com/PGShowcases/status/1807838569102541214

<span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=1051310">According to Perfect Game</a>, he has projection remaining and is a quick runner. Defensively, he could stick at shortstop where he excels at. Adjustments may need to be made in his swing, but he’s an interesting player to keep an eye on.</span>
<h3><b>Hayden Gilliland</b></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">A senior at Tennessee Tech, Gilliland slashed .325/.433/.569 in his senior year with 13 homer runs in 254 plate appearances, along with a higher BB% (15%) than K% (9.5%), always a great sign. Throughout his collegiate career, he slashed .313/.429/.509 with 30 homers in 765 plate appearances, along with a 15.8 BB% and a 13.1 K%.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Gilliland is a catcher who bats left-handed, avoids striking out, but doesn’t have crazy exit velocities, <a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-mlb-undrafted-free-agent-signing-tracker-for-every-team/">according to a scouting report found on Baseball America.</a></span>
<h3><b>Christian Mracna</b></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Christian Mracna is a 24-year-old right-handed pitcher who was a senior at the University of Georgia in 2024. Last season, he started 10 games and had a 5.32 ERA in 45.2 innings pitched, along with a 33.6 K% and an 11.5 BB%. Prior to transferring to the University of Georgia, he pitched for Belmont Abbey College in 2020 and George Mason University in 2022 and 2023.</span>

https://twitter.com/BaseballUGA/status/1784396553492337133

<span style="font-weight: 400;">For his entire collegiate career, Mracna had a 4.95 ERA in 123.2 innings pitched, along with a 28.3 K% and a 15.6 BB%, giving up just 12 home runs, half of which came in his junior year.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">According to his scouting report on Baseball America, Mracna has great extension and sits 90-94 mph with the heater that can touch 96 mph.  He also has a slurve that sits in the upper 70s and a changeup in the mid-80s.</span>
<h3><b>Jacob Lojewski</b></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Jacob Lojewski is a 22-year-old who spent four seasons at Florida Gulf Coast University and played catcher, third base, shortstop, and second base during his tenure. In 2024, he slashed .325/.407/.560 with eight home runs in 268 plate appearances, along with 18 walks and 32 strikeouts.</span>

https://twitter.com/FGCU_Baseball/status/1657489803498123266

<span style="font-weight: 400;">His best season was in 2023, where he hit a career-best 18 home runs and slashed .290/.389/.606 after becoming a regular for the Eagles. For his entire collegiate career, Lojewski slashed .290/.385/.551 with 29 homers in 610 plate appearances, along with 40 walks and 96 strikeouts.</span>
<h3><b>Peyton Powell</b></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Peyton Powell spent five seasons at the University of Texas at Austin, and slashed .318/.406/.485 in his fifth season with the team, along with nine homers in 283 plate appearances and as many walks as strikeouts with 34.</span>

https://twitter.com/TexasBaseball/status/1758966081404698994

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Like Lojewski, his best season was in 2023, where he slashed .339/.431/.548 with 10 homers in 269 plate appearances, along with 37 walks and 42 strikeouts. For his entire collegiate career, the 23-year-old corner infielder slashed .327/.418/.521 with 21 home runs in 588 plate appearances. </span>
<h3><b>Jay Schueler</b></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Jay Schueler was (and still is) teammates with Colby Martin, whom the Blue Jays selected in the 16th round of the 2024 draft, at Southeastern University in the NAIA. In his senior year, he had a 2.35 ERA in 7.2 innings pitched as a reliever, as well as a 41.7 K% and a 16.7 BB%.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">A larger sample size came the season prior in 2023, where he had a 4.13 ERA in 24 innings pitched, along with 32 strikeouts and 10 walks.</span>
<h3><strong>Alex Stone</strong></h3>
Alex Stone is a 6'5", 225 lb catcher/right fielder/first baseman who attended Duke University for four seasons. In his most recent season, he slashed .312/.365/.547 with 13 home runs in 274 plate appearances, along with 11 walks to 48 strikeouts.

https://twitter.com/DukeBASE/status/1793087070585463135

His best season came the season prior, slashing .315/.379/.579 with 17 home runs in 282 plate appearances, along with 17 walks and 43 strikeouts. For his collegiate career, he slashed .295/.357/.552 with 40 home runs in 700 plate appearances.
<h3><strong>Javen Coleman</strong></h3>
Javen Coleman is a 22-year-old left-handed pitcher who spent four seasons at Louisiana State University, winning the College World Series with the school in 2023.

https://twitter.com/LSUbaseball/status/1648471935230291969

Last season, he had a 5.19 ERA in 26 innings pitched, along with a 23.7 K% and a 17.8 BB%. For his entire collegiate career, he had a 5.72 ERA in 78.2 innings pitched, with a 27.2 KK% and a 15.8 BB%. He was selected in the 16th-round by the Dodgers in 2023, but elected to return to LSU for his senior season.
<h3><strong>Logan Hewitt</strong></h3>
The Blue Jays signed right-handed relief pitcher Logan Hewitt out of Sam Houston State University. Last season, the 22-year-old had a 4.25 ERA in 48.2 innings pitched, along with a 24.9 K% and an 8.6 BB%.

https://twitter.com/BearkatsBSB/status/1789099724139573590

For his four-season collegiate career, he had a 5.31 ERA in 152.2 innings pitched, along with a  21.7 K% and a 7.9 BB%.
<h3><strong>Bennett Flynn</strong></h3>
Relief pitcher Bennett Flynn signed as an undrafted free agent with the Blue Jays. Last season with Notre Dame University, the 23-year-old had a 5.40 ERA in 40 innings pitched, along with a 28.8 K% and a 14.7 BB%.

https://twitter.com/NDBaseball/status/1781777354873848174

Prior to transferring to Norte Dame for his fifth collegiate season, he spent four years at Davidson College. In his five-year collegiate career, he had a 3.72 ERA in 162 innings pitched, along with a 33.1 K% and a 13.9 BB%.
<h3><strong>Jack Eshleman</strong></h3>
Another college pitcher the Blue Jays signed as an undrafted free agent was Jack Eshleman, who spent four season at Hamilton College in Clinton New York.

Last season, he had a 2.05 ERA in 57 innings pitched, along with a 31.1 K% and a 5.4 BB%. For his three season collegiate career, he had a 2.57 ERA in 122.2 innings pitched, along with a 33.8 K% and a 5.2 BB%.

<hr />

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.</span></i>

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