Last summer, the Toronto Blue Jays used their <a href="https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker/2023/all/team/bluejays">first-round selection</a> on prep infielder Arjun Nimmala, using their pick #20 on the Florida product. The Jays did not have a selection in the second round (compensation for signing Chris Bassitt, who turned down the Mets qualifying offer) and drafted 19 players total, eventually signing 16 of those selected as well as signing multiple undrafted free agents to minor league deals.

Two of the players who chose not to sign returned to their respective college programs for their respective senior campaigns while the Jays used their 18th-round pick on prep outfielder Chase Brunson, who was destined for TCU given the late-round selection and limited bonus pool money available to sway him from his commitment to the Horned Frogs program.
The two college players that returned to post-secondary are RHP <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=vogats000joe">Joe Vogatsky</a> (14th round) and 1B <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kulasi000sam">Sam Kulasingam</a> (17th round) and both players heard their names called again this summer, albeit not by the Blue Jays.
Joe Vogatsky &#8211; RHP 
Pittsburgh Pirates &#8211; 19th round 

Returning to James Madison University for his senior year, right-handed reliever Joe Vogatsky <a href="https://www.breezejmu.org/sports/vogatsky-forgoes-pro-baseball-in-favor-of-unfinished-business-at-jmu/article_318714da-cb9c-11ee-903b-2fa732f9af6c.html">sighted</a> &#8216;unfinished business&#8217; and a desire to finish his college degree before turning pro as to why he forego signing with the Blue Jays last summer.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
The <a href="https://twitter.com/Pirates?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pirates</a> have signed RHP Joe Vogatsky, their 19th-round pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft. 
Congratulations, Joe! 👏 <a href="https://t.co/y4uKwc3PSB">pic.twitter.com/y4uKwc3PSB</a>
&mdash; Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) <a href="https://twitter.com/YoungBucsPIT/status/1816982330805821671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A starter who turned into a closer with the Dukes, Vogatsky turned in a stellar senior campaign in the Sun Belt Conference that saw him amass a 3.49 ERA and nine saves as JMU advanced to the regional tournament in the College World Series before being eliminated. Through 49 innings and 27 outings, Vogatsky pitched to a 1.327 WHIP and produced an 8.8 K/9 compared to a 4.2 BB/9, with the Dukes reliever being a bit wild at times with the free passes.
This time around, the reliever fell on the draft board and landed with the Pirates in the 19th round &#8211; signing for $25,000. He has not been assigned to an affiliate team as of yet.
Sam Kulasingam &#8211; 1B 
Kansas City Royals &#8211; 13th round 

After a stellar Junior campaign with Air Force Academy, first baseman Sam Kulasingam announced he would not be signing with the Blue Jays and would instead return to Colorado Springs for his senior campaign.
A two-time Tony Gwynn Mountain West Player of the Year Award winner, Kulasingam was heading back to the Falcons looking to add a third 100-hit campaign to his resume.
This season, the switch-hitting first baseman didn&#8217;t repeat his impressive Sophmore and Junior stat lines but still put up solid numbers &#8211; finishing with a .323/.416/.498 slash line with six home runs and 36 RBIs to the tune of a .914 OPS.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
2-time Tony Gwynn Mountain West Player of the Year is joining the organization!
Welcome to KC, Sam Kulasingam! 
🧱x🧱 <a href="https://t.co/lOFsvWAmgI">pic.twitter.com/lOFsvWAmgI</a>
&mdash; Raising Royals (@KCRoyalsPD) <a href="https://twitter.com/KCRoyalsPD/status/1813283425077313781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
He collected 74 hits as well as 16 doubles and three steals and saw a slight dip in his strikeout-to-walk rate but countered with a career-high nine stolen bases. Defensively, he put up a .991 fielding percentage with just three errors committed but found himself suiting up away from his normal first base position &#8211; slotting in at third base and second base for 28 collective games. He helped the Falcons to win the regular-season champions in his final campaign.
This summer, Kulasingam improved his draft stock and went to the Kansas City Royals in the 13th round &#8211; four rounds above where the Jays selected the first baseman last year. He signed with the Royals for $150,000 and was assigned to single-A Columbia this past week.
&nbsp;

Last summer, the Toronto Blue Jays used their <a href="https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker/2023/all/team/bluejays">first-round selection</a> on prep infielder Arjun Nimmala, using their pick #20 on the Florida product. The Jays did not have a selection in the second round (compensation for signing Chris Bassitt, who turned down the Mets qualifying offer) and drafted 19 players total, eventually signing 16 of those selected as well as signing multiple undrafted free agents to minor league deals.



Two of the players who chose not to sign returned to their respective college programs for their respective senior campaigns while the Jays used their 18th-round pick on prep outfielder Chase Brunson, who was destined for TCU given the late-round selection and limited bonus pool money available to sway him from his commitment to the Horned Frogs program.

The two college players that returned to post-secondary are RHP <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=vogats000joe">Joe Vogatsky</a> (14th round) and 1B <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kulasi000sam">Sam Kulasingam</a> (17th round) and both players heard their names called again this summer, albeit not by the Blue Jays.

Joe Vogatsky - RHP
Pittsburgh Pirates - 19th round


Returning to James Madison University for his senior year, right-handed reliever Joe Vogatsky <a href="https://www.breezejmu.org/sports/vogatsky-forgoes-pro-baseball-in-favor-of-unfinished-business-at-jmu/article_318714da-cb9c-11ee-903b-2fa732f9af6c.html">sighted</a> 'unfinished business' and a desire to finish his college degree before turning pro as to why he forego signing with the Blue Jays last summer.

https://twitter.com/YoungBucsPIT/status/1816982330805821671

A starter who turned into a closer with the Dukes, Vogatsky turned in a stellar senior campaign in the Sun Belt Conference that saw him amass a 3.49 ERA and nine saves as JMU advanced to the regional tournament in the College World Series before being eliminated. Through 49 innings and 27 outings, Vogatsky pitched to a 1.327 WHIP and produced an 8.8 K/9 compared to a 4.2 BB/9, with the Dukes reliever being a bit wild at times with the free passes.

This time around, the reliever fell on the draft board and landed with the Pirates in the 19th round - signing for $25,000. He has not been assigned to an affiliate team as of yet.

Sam Kulasingam - 1B
Kansas City Royals - 13th round


After a stellar Junior campaign with Air Force Academy, first baseman Sam Kulasingam announced he would not be signing with the Blue Jays and would instead return to Colorado Springs for his senior campaign.

A two-time Tony Gwynn Mountain West Player of the Year Award winner, Kulasingam was heading back to the Falcons looking to add a third 100-hit campaign to his resume.

This season, the switch-hitting first baseman didn't repeat his impressive Sophmore and Junior stat lines but still put up solid numbers - finishing with a .323/.416/.498 slash line with six home runs and 36 RBIs to the tune of a .914 OPS.

https://twitter.com/KCRoyalsPD/status/1813283425077313781

He collected 74 hits as well as 16 doubles and three steals and saw a slight dip in his strikeout-to-walk rate but countered with a career-high nine stolen bases. Defensively, he put up a .991 fielding percentage with just three errors committed but found himself suiting up away from his normal first base position - slotting in at third base and second base for 28 collective games. He helped the Falcons to win the regular-season champions in his final campaign.

This summer, Kulasingam improved his draft stock and went to the Kansas City Royals in the 13th round - four rounds above where the Jays selected the first baseman last year. He signed with the Royals for $150,000 and was assigned to single-A Columbia this past week.

&nbsp;

Blue Jays – Two unsigned picks from the 2023 MLB Draft turned pro this summer

Blue Jays Nation: Christmas wish list for the remaining offseason

Blue Jays Prospect Spotlight: Connecting with pitcher Colby Martin about his draft experience and first taste of pro ball

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates after hitting a double in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium

Recent articles from Tyson Shushkewich

Breaking News