Blue Jays: Looking at the players drafted under Atkins who did not sign

Back in late 2015, the Blue Jays were fresh off a playoff run that ended in the ALCS and a new sheriff was in town in the form of Mark Shapiro, taking over as President and CEO. Former general manager Alex Anthopoulos decided to head to the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and Shapiro found a new GM in an old co-worker, Ross Atkins.

Since then, Atkins and Shapiro have led the Blue Jays through a rebuild and also signed free agent players to some of the largest contracts in franchise history with the likes of Hyun Jin Ryu and George Springer deals. They have also drafted a pretty strong young core that is now finding a groove in the big leagues, which is setting them up to be a potential playoff-contending team over the next few seasons.

Looking at Atkins history of drafting since taking the helm prior to the 2016 season, it is safe to say he and the Blue Jays scouting department deserve a pretty big round of applause, as the club has drafted pretty well and has not had a high-draft pick leave unsigned, an issue that plagued Anthopoulos during his tenure as GM on numerous occasions. The club has added some pretty big names like Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, Nate Pearson, and a host of others who now find themselves in the big leagues, whether it be with the Blue Jays or another organization, through the MLB draft under Atkins.

But what about the players that didn’t sign after being drafted by the Blue Jays?

Each year, high school and college players get selected in the MLB Draft but choose to not sign with the organization and the Blue Jays are no stranger to this process. That’s not to say that Atkins and co. have not done their jobs properly, but rather younger players may have decided to bet on themselves through a college program to try and elevate their status in a few years for more money. Some players just don’t want to join the team they are drafted by.

In a normal season, the MLB Amateur Draft lasts 40 rounds but because of COVID-19, the 2020 and 2021 drafts were limited to five and 20 rounds respectively. With there being so many rounds, it makes sense that some of the later draft picks may choose to not sign on the dotted line when the signing bonuses become less and less compared to the higher rounds.

Since Atkins has taken over as general manager, where have the players who choose not to sign with the Blue Jays gone? Have they found the success and higher draft rankings they were hoping for? Did the gamble prove costly and they never got drafted again or played professional baseball?

Using The Baseball Cube, we are able to see which players decided to not sign with the Blue Jays and can explore further into where their careers have taken them since being drafted. I am not going to lie, there are quite a few players and this will be a bit lengthy of an article, with some players getting featured more than others.

*Note – the 2020 draft did not yield any unsigned players as it was only five rounds*

MLB Draft – 2016

Round 13 – Chris Lincoln RHP

Deciding to attend the UC Santa Barbera instead of signing, right-hander Chris Lincoln posted a 3.79 ERA primarily as a relief pitcher for the Gauchos and was selected by the San Diego Padres in the fifth round in 2019. He finished out his draft year between Rookie and A- ball and compiled a 1.90 ERA with two saves and 23 strikeouts through 23.2 innings. He did not pitch in 2020 with the MiLB season shelved and spent all last season on the injured list.

Round 16 – Dominic Taccolini RHP

An Arkansas Razorback at the time of being drafted, Taccolini decided to return to college and did not sign with the Blue Jays. The gamble paid off for him, as he was selected next season by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the tenth round. He spent two seasons in Rookie Ball, posting a 7.36 ERA before being released prior to the 2019 campaign. He is now working as a Geologist in Arizona.

Round 17 – Clayton Keyes OF

Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Clayton Keyes passed up signing with the Blue Jays and decided to return to high school for an additional fifth year. He ended up being selected by the Diamondbacks in the 2017 MLB Draft (15th round) but once again did not sign, deciding to attend Central Arizona College instead. He most recently played last year with the Okotoks Dawgs Black in the Western Canadian League.

Round 19 – Spencer Van Scoyoc LHP

Deciding to not sign with the Blue Jays, Van Scoyoc went to Arizona State and then Central Oklahoma before being drafted by the Phillies organization in the 19th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. The southpaw owns a career 4.72 ERA through 19 appearances and his highest level reached so far is A ball.

Round 25 – Casey Legumina RHP

Legumina has the rare distinction of being drafted three times in his career. First by the Jays, then the Cleveland Guardians (35th round – 2018), and then the Minnesota Twins in the eighth round in 2019, with whom he would eventually sign. As a professional, Legumina currently boasts a career 3.28 ERA and split the 2021 campaign between A and A+ ball.

Round 26 – Ben Anderson RHP

Anderson went on to attend Binghampton University and was eventually drafted in 2019 by the Texas Rangers in the 13th round. He owns a career 3.75 ERA with 69 strikeouts over 62.1 innings, primarily working as a reliever and making it to A+ ball last year.

Round 28 – Blake Ebo OF

Blake Ebo decided to not sign with the Blue Jays and instead bounced between various summer leagues as well as attending South Georgia State and Kansas college programs. He is now listed on the Palm Beach Atlantic University roster for the 2022 season. He did not play in 2021 due to injury.

Round 31 – Marcus Still OF

Drafted out of Scottsdale Community College, Marcus Still decided to transfer to Loyola Marymount and then New Mexico State, where he posted a .328/.423/.406 slash line during the 2018 season as the club’s centre fielder. It does not appear that he plays anymore.

Round 34 – Shea Langeliers C

The one that got away (sort of). It would have been a miracle if Shea Langeliers signed with the Jays this late in the draft, as he was a highly regarded high school prospect with a commitment to Baylor. The catching prospect was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round (9th overall) in 2019 and signed for $4 million.

He split last season between AA and AAA, earning a .256/.339/.494 slash line with a .833 OPS and is currently ranked as the club’s #2 top prospect and #69 in all of baseball. Look for the catcher to potentially make his MLB debut sometime next season.

Round 36 – Dustin Skelton C

Skelton did not sign with the Jays and attended Mississippi State instead, playing well enough to get drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 18th round in the 2019 MLB draft. He spent last season in A+ ball where he slashed .182/.259/.339 with a .598 OPS.

Round 38 – Alex Segal LHP

Attending Wichita State after not signing with the Jays, Segal was later drafted by the Braves in the 22nd round via the 2019 MLB Draft. He last pitched in 2019, earning a 4.13 ERA through 17 outings mostly in relief. He is still listed as being with the Atlanta Braves but did not pitch last season.

Round 40 – Carter Loewen RHP

Hailing from Abbotsford, British Columbia, Loewen decided to take his talents west and attended the University of Hawaii. He never got drafted again but did sign as a free agent with the San Diego Padres in 2020. Spending all of the last year in A+ ball, the right-hander finished the campaign with a 4.84 ERA through 21 relief appearances, earning seven saves through 22.1 innings.

MLB Draft – 2018

Round 21 – Kobby Lopez LHP

Instead of signing with the Blue Jays, Lopez decided to attend San Diego Mesa College, where the only stats on record are from 2019. In 14 appearances, he posted a 1.76 ERA through 71.2 innings. There are no other stats or any indication of his current playing status at this time.

Round 27 – Kyle Luckham RHP

Kyle Luckham decided to not sign with the Blue Jays and instead fulfilled his commitment to Cal State Fullerton. Through three seasons with Cal State, Luckham pitched to a 4.88 ERA through 27 outings (24 starts) with 131 strikeouts in 166.0 innings of work. He is now listed on the Arizona State roster for the upcoming season.

Round 31 – Austin Easter RHP

Selected late by the Blue Jays, right-hander Austin Easter decided to not sign with the organization even though he was in his senior season at UNC Wilmington. Through four seasons at UNC, Easter accumulated a 3.87 ERA through 89 outings. It appears that he no longer plays baseball after graduating from post-secondary.

Round 35 – Damiano Palmegiani 3B

A product of the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball in Vauxhall, Alberta, Damiano Pamegiani has the rare distinction of being drafted by the Blue Jays twice. He did not sign with the club back in 2018 and decided to head south to improve his stats for a future draft. He started at Cal State Northridge but moved to the College of Southern Nevada last year where he was an absolute menace on the diamond to the tune of a 1.388 OPS and 26 home runs. The Blue Jays once again drafted him in 2021 but in the 14th round and he eventually signed with the team.

Round 36 – Kameron Guangorena C

Guangorena decided to fulfill his collegiate commitment to Cal State Fullerton rather than turn pro with the Blue Jays. With the Titans, the catching prospect appeared in 60 games and hit to a .222 batting average and a .572 OPS. He only appeared in 3 games last season due to injury and is now listed on the 2022 roster for Coastal Carolina University.

Round 37 – Parker Caracci RHP

Similar to Palmegiani, right-hander Parker Caracci has been drafted twice by the Toronto Blue Jays. He did not sign with the Jays in 2018 and instead decided to return to the University of Mississippi for the 2019 campaign. The Blue Jays decided to draft him again in 2019 but in the 21st round, with the relief pitcher deciding to turn pro this time around.

Last season, Caracci was one of the top relief pitchers in the Blue Jays minor league system, compiling a 2.64 ERA with the High-A Vancouver Canadians before a late-season call-up to AA. Caracci earned eight saves with the Canadians and also pitched to an 8.1 K/9 through 32 outings before his promotion.

Round 39 – Cole Beverlin RHP

Drafted by the Blue Jays in 2018, Cole Beverlin did not sign with the club and decided to take his talents to Western Carolina University instead, following in the footsteps of his father Jason Beverlin. He appeared in eight games for the Catamounts in 2021, pitching to an 11.57 ERA through 9.1 innings. Beverlin is currently listed on the WCU roster for 2022.

Round 40 – Drew LaBounty SS

Drew LaBounty was a senior at the University of South Alabama when he was drafted by the Blue Jays, finishing his collegiate career with a .803 OPS through 182 games. Instead of turning pro and signing with the club, LaBounty decided to turn to coaching instead, beginning with Pearl River Community College before becoming an assistant coach at Arkansas State University. He is now an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for Pensacola State.

MLB Draft – 2019 

Round 19 – Gus Sosa C

Gus Sosa decided to not sign with the Jays and instead commit to Rutgers University. The catching prospect did not see a lot of action with the Scarlet Knights, only appearing in eight games last season where he collected two hits through 14 at-bats. Sosa is currently in the transfer portal and it does not appear he has found a program for the 2022 campaign at this time.

Round 25 – Nate LaRue RHP

Nate LaRue decided to fulfill his commitment to Auburn instead of signing with the Toronto Blue Jays after being drafted in the 25th round. While it was noted that he was drafted as a pitcher, he has spent most of his time at the catcher position with the Tigers instead of on the mound. Still listed on the Tigers roster for the upcoming campaign, LaRue owns a career .245/.339/.429 slash line through 49 at-bats over the past two seasons.

Round 27 – Roel Garcia RHP

A junior at Rice University at the time of being drafted, Roel Garcia decided to return to the school after being drafted in the 27th round by the Blue Jays. Garcia missed all of the 2019 season with an injury and for his career has appeared in 38 games for the Rice Owls, pitching to a 5.90 ERA through 38 outings (25 starts). He is currently listed on the 2022 roster as a graduate student.

Round 29 – Owen Diodati C

A product of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Owen Diodati decided to not sign with the Blue Jays and instead attend the University of Alabama. Over the past two seasons, Diodati has appeared in 73 games and owns a .871 OPS with 16 home runs and 62 RBI through 255 at-bats while patrolling the outfield. He is entering his junior season at Alabama and is listed on the 2022 roster.

Round 30 – Noah Myers OF

Playing for Wabash Valley College at the time of being drafted, Windsor, Ontario’s Noah Myers decided to not turn pro and instead switched programs and joined the University of South Carolina for the 2020 campaign. Over the past two seasons, Myers owns a .763 OPS through 41 games and is currently listed on the program’s 2022 roster.

Round 32 – Braden Halladay RHP

Son of Blue Jays legend Roy Halladay, the club selected Braden Halladay in the 32nd round of the 2019 MLB draft, the same number that Halladay wore with the club during his playing days. The younger Halladay had a commitment to Penn State and both sides knew that he was not going sign with the club, it was just a symbolic gesture for one of the biggest names in club history.

At Penn State, Halladay was limited to just five games over the past two seasons and transferred from the program in mid-2021. He announced that he would be playing at Tallahassee Community College for the 2022 campaign but the program has not updated its roster at this time.

Round 33 – Daniel Batcher LHP

Daniel Batcher did not sign with the Blue Jays and instead decided to honour his commitment to the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota located in Bradenton, Florida. While he did not pitch in 2020 (COVID), the southpaw appeared in 14 games last season (13 starts) and pitched to a 2.40 ERA through 82.1 innings of work while striking out 89 batters. He is currently listed on the 2022 roster for Florida Gulf Coast University.

Round 35 – Connor Phillips RHP

Hailing from the same community as Blue Jays prospects Jordan Groshans and Adam Kloffenstein, Magnolia, Texas’s Connor Phillips decided to attend McLennan Community College instead of turning pro. The move paid off for Phillips, as the Seattle Mariners selected him in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft, signing him to a full slot value bonus of $1,050,300.

In his first season with the Mariners last season, Phillips appeared in both A and A+ ball, pitching to a combined 4.62 ERA through 17 starts while posting a 13.1 K/9 but also a 5.4 BB/9 with a 1.447 WHIP. He is currently the Mariners’ eighth-ranked prospect. 

Round 39 – Octavio Corona RHP

A product of Otay Ranch High School in Chula Vista, California, right-hander Octavio Corona decided to attend Saint Mary’s College of California rather than sign with the Blue Jays. He has not appeared in a game for the Gaels at this time.

Round 40 – Miguel Obeso RHP

Miguel Obeso was drafted by the Blue Jays when he was a freshman at Cowley Community College located in Arkansas City, Kansas. He did not sign with the Jays and instead return to Cowley. He did sign a letter of intent to pitch with Texas Tech University but it does not appear that he pitched in any games for them. He returned to Cowley for 2021 but did not appear in any games.

MLB Draft  – 2021

Round 16 – Micah Bucknam RHP

A product of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Micah Bucknam was selected by the Blue Jays in the 16th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. The right-hander decided to not sign with the club, instead deciding to pursue post-secondary opportunities south of the border. He originally had a commitment to the University of Washington but now appears set to join Louisiana State University for the 2022 campaign.

Bucknam features a fastball in the low-90s and a change-up that is his go-to offspeed pitch to go alongside a work-in-progress curveball.

Round 20 – Luke Holman RHP

Ranked at #172 by MLB.com heading into the 2021 MLB Draft, right-hander Luke Holman was a late-round draft pick by the Blue Jays but it was clear the club was never going to be able to sign him.

He reportedly turned down an $800K offer from the Chicago Cubs who were planning to use their third-round pick on him, eventually asking for $50K more before the club drafted another player. Another club offered him $700K in the third round but he turned that down as well. Holman was looking for a deal worth $1 million.

Holman will now look to improve his draft ranking by attending the University of Alabama. As a high school senior, Holman pitched to an 0.88 ERA with 113 strikeouts and only 22 walks through 55.2 innings pitched, finishing with a 7-1 record.