The Toronto Blue Jays have successfully signed most of the players from their respective draft years in recent memory – putting pen to paper with 17 or more players dating back to 2021.

Considering the draft was condensed to just 20 rounds following the 2020 COVID season five-round draft, there are a lot fewer players drafted compared to years prior, skewing the results from when the process used to be 40 rounds and numerous players went unsigned in favour of post-second opportunities. The move was financially motivated to provide a higher salary to players to the extent of cutting loose 40 teams, as every team across the big leagues lost a MiLB affiliate at the time with the reorganization (the Jays dropped Bluefield) and with the loss of the team, there was a need for fewer players within the system.

Over the past four drafts, the Blue Jays have been unsuccessful in signing eight players, three from 2022 and 2023 and just two from 2021. Five of the players were high schoolers at the time and went to play college ball while the other three decided to not sign and return back to college.

Of the group, Davis transferred to Oklahoma (he transferred to the in-state rivals for the 2023 season) and was out of baseball in 2024 while Pilon was drafted and signed by the Rays last year, with the southpaw currently in Rookie League ball.

Air Force, Michigan, and TCU did not make or get selected for the regional tournaments, so Kulasingam, Pace Jr., and Brunson’s seasons are over for the year outside of summer ball opportunities.

The reigning champions from 2023, LSU entered the tournament missing some key parts of their championship squad, most notably Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews who went first and second overall respectively at the 2023 MLB Draft.

Micah Bucknam was a part of the championship team last season but has worked minimally out of the Tigers bullpen over the past two seasons. The B.C. product has not pitched since April 20th and owns a 7.00 ERA on the year through just nine innings of work, allowing seven earned runs and 12 hits compared to 10 strikeouts. It does not appear that he has suffered an injury considering he will be pitching in the Cape Cod League with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox but so far, he has not been turned to in the regionals tournament at Chapel Hill.

Holman was one of the highest-profile transfer movements this past winter, as the right-hander spent two years with Alabama before moving to LSU for the 2024 season. This season, Holman owns a 2.75 ERA with 127 strikeouts through 16 appearances and 91 2/3 innings, which includes his outing yesterday in the tournament against North Carolina.

Against the Tar Heels, Holman went 6 2/3 innings and allowed four earned runs in the contest off seven hits and one walk. Through 109 pitches, the former Jays draft pick posted a 71.6% strike rate while racking up 11 punchouts on the day but was stuck with the loss as the Tigers could only muster two runs on the day. LSU bested Wofford in their elimination game earlier today and are slated to face North Carolina later tonight, with the Tigers needing to beat the Tar Heels tonight and tomorrow should they wish to advance in the double-elimination format.

Holman will be eligible for the 2024 MLB Draft and is currently ranked 48th overall by MLB Pipeline, making him a potential Day 1 pick just outside of the first round. The Blue Jays hold the 59th overall pick in the second round for those keeping track at home for a potential reunion.

One of the Blue Jays’ latest unsigned draft picks, right-handed reliever Joe Vogatsky spurned a move into professional baseball last summer in favour of returning to James Madison for his senior year, citing a desire to graduate from college with a degree but to also help the Dukes for another push to the College World Series in 2024.

This season, Vogatsky has worked as the Dukes primary closer and notched nine saves on the year while posting a 3.40 ERA through 26 appearances and 45 innings. He held opponents to a .228 average while striking out 47 batters compared to 18 walks.

Those 26 appearances include his two latest outings in the regional tournament in Raleigh, where he pitched in the loss against South Carolina on Friday as well as the win against Bryant yesterday. Across both outings, he has pitched two innings and has allowed three runs (two earned) off of two hits and one walk with one strikeout, with all the scoring activity coming against the Gamecocks with Vogatsky earning the loss as well. The Dukes will play NC State later today after beating South Carolina earlier in the day in the elimination game. They too will need to best NC State tonight and tomorrow should they wish to advance to the super regionals.

The right-hander will once again be eligible for the MLB Draft this summer and could be a Day 2 signing where college seniors get selected the most, around the 7-10 round area.