Blue Jays: The 2021 draft class and where they will start the season

Out of the 20 rounds of the 2021 MLB Draft, the Toronto Blue Jays had 19 picks to use after losing their second-round selection as compensation for signing free-agent George Springer.

With those picks, the Jays’ front office was able to sign 17 of those players while high schoolers Micah Bucknam and Luke Holman both decided to attend post-secondary instead given their late-round selections. This draft was focused mostly on restocking the pitching cupboard, as the front office used 12 picks on pitchers and their first five selections on four college-level hurlers and one prep pitcher in Irv Carter.

The only player from the 2021 draft class no longer with the Jays is first-round selection Gunnar Hoglund, as the top prospect was traded to the Oakland Athletics earlier this spring as part of the Matt Chapman trade package. He is still recovering from Tommy John surgery and won’t likely be ready to go until later in the season, but the A’s have assigned him to the Stockton Ports in Single-A.

Let’s take a look at where the rest of the 2021 draft class will begin their upcoming season.

Not Assigned as of Yet

Four players have not been assigned to an affiliate team to begin the year: RHP Irv Carter, OF Jaden Rudd, LHP Cooper Benson, and C Juan Gonzalez.

Benson is still currently recovering from Tommy John surgery and Rudd and Gonzalez are likely slated to begin the season in the Florida Complex League, which currently does not have a listed schedule for the 2022 campaign.

Carter is the standout from this list, as the 19-year-old is the organization’s #10 ranked prospect heading into the 2022 season. He reportedly dealt with some chest discomfort this spring and is now healthy but behind in terms of being ready for the season.