Blue Jays: Looking back at high valued draft picks who didn’t sign

Brady Singer – RHP

Drafted: 56 overall in the second round in 2015

One of the last draft selections under A.A. as the general manager, the front office went with Brady Singer, a high school pitcher from Leesburg, Florida.

Committed to the University of Florida at the time, both sides could not come to an agreement, with scouting directer Brian Parker stating, “it wasn’t a financial decision”. Singer would pitch three years at Florida before being selected in theh first round by the Kansas City Royals in the 2018 amateur draft.

The right-hander would make his major league debut with the Royals last season and currently sports a 4.03 ERA through 21 starts with 40 walks and 107 strikeouts.

For failing to sign Singer, the Blue Jays were awarded the 57th overall selection in the 2016 draft, using the spot to select outfielder J.B. Woodman.

Notables

Tanner Houck – RHP

Drafted: 354 overall in the 12th round in 2014.

A high school pitcher at the time, Tanner Houck would go on to play for Missouri after not being able to agree to terms with the Blue Jays. The Boston Red Sox would later select him in the first round three years later.

Currently ranked as the Red Sox #6 prospect, Houck sports a 1.98 ERA and 33 strikeouts through limited action on the major league roster.

Shea Langeliers – C

Drafted: 1032 overall in the 34th round in 2016

A hail mary pass if you would, the Blue Jays selected Shea Langeliers when he was a high school prospect and was most likely not going to be turning profesisonal after comitting to Baylor University. Can’t fault them for trying.

He would later be drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round in 2019, going ninth overall. He is currently playing in AA and is ranked 59th overall in the top 100 prospects per MLB Pipeline, sporting a .186/.364/.442 slash line in AA this year through 15 games.