Blue Jays: Looking at where the unsigned 2021 MLB Draft picks ended up

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Last season, the Toronto Blue Jays had 19 draft picks in the 2021 MLB Draft. As compensation for signing free agent George Springer, who rejected a qualifying offer from the Houston Astros, the Blue Jays lost their second-round pick.

Of those 19 selections, the Blue Jays were able to sign 17 of those players, starting with first-rounder RHP Gunnar Hoglund and followed by LHP Ricky Tiedemann, RHP Chad Dallas, and prep-star RHP Irv Carter rounding out the top five rounds. Hoglund never pitched for the Jays as he recovered from Tommy John surgery and was traded earlier this year to the Oakland Athletics as part of the Matt Chapman package.

Tiedemann on the other hand has shot up the Blue Jays’ top prospects charts and is looking to be the steal of the draft, currently pitching out in AA New Hampshire. Other 2021 drafted players on the top prospect board for the Blue Jays include Carter (11th), Dallas (22nd), and Hayden Juenger (26th). The righty throwing Juenger is currently the farthest up the Minor League system compared to his drafted teammates, currently pitching out of the AAA Buffalo Bisons bullpen.

Last season, the Blue Jays were able to sign 17 of 19 players selected in the 2021 MLB Draft. What happened to the other two who did not sign?

Overall, the Blue Jays signed 12 pitchers, two outfielders, two third basemen, and one catcher when all was said and done.

The only two players who did not sign with the Jays last season include 16th-round RHP Micah Bucknam and 20th-round RHP Luke Holman. Both players were high-school seniors at the time of the draft with post-secondary commitments, so it did not seem likely either would sign given their draft positions.

Let’s take a quick look at how they are doing a year after deciding to not sign with the Blue Jays.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MAY 27: Rawlings gloves are seen on the field during batting practice ahead of the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Toronto Blue Jays at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 27, 2022 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /

Micah Bucknam

Born in New Zealand, right-hander Micah Bucknam was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 16th round at pick #482. At the time, Bucknam was attending the Mennonite Educational Institute in Abbotsford, British Columbia and took his talents south of the border to put his arm on display in front of more scouts like the Area Code Games, battling COVID-19 restrictions throughout the 2020 and 2021 seasons. At the time of being drafted, Bucknam had a commitment to the University of Washington.

Following the draft and going unsigned, Bucknam decided to de-commit from Washington and instead reclassify for the 2022 MLB Draft. He also got a chance to suit up with the Canadian Junior National team, partake in the Super 60 PBR Pro Showcase, and decided to commit to Lousiana State in September of last year. Bucknam also decided to take his talents to the MLB Draft League, joining the Trenton Thunder in their rotation this past summer.

Officially a Tiger 🐯! Next stop Baton Rouge #GeauxTigers @AthletesHQElgin @LSUCoachJ @LSUbaseball @JKelly_49 pic.twitter.com/ApZu4R74Bu
— Micah Bucknam (@BucknamMicah) November 11, 2021

The 6’2″ right-hander started five games and pitched well, finishing with a 0.53 ERA through 17.0 innings while allowing just eight hits and one earned run to go along with five walks and 15 strikeouts, with his ERA leading all Thunder starters. Bucknam has a three-pitch mix with a fastball that sits in the 92-93 MPH area and two offspeed offerings in a curveball and slider.

Although he reclassified for this year’s draft, Bucknam did not hear his name called and will most likely be heading to LSU to continue on with post-secondary baseball and trying to improve his draft status for a future draft.

Luke Holman

Luke Holman entered the 2021 MLB Draft ranked at #162 overall according to MLB.com and rated the third top prospect in Pennsylvania by PBR. As a high school senior, Holman finished the year with a 0.88 ERA through 13 appearances, allowing just seven earned runs through 55.2 innings pitched while striking out 113 batters.

The Jays likely knew he wouldn’t sign so far down the draft board but selected him in the 20th round, with the right-hander deciding to honour his commitment to the University of Alabama instead.

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In his first year with the Crimson Tide, Holman worked exclusively out of the bullpen, appearing in 15 games and earning a 5.68 ERA in the process. He finished the year with a 1.737 WHIP and struck out 24 batters in 19.0 innings of work while also allowing eight walks.

The 6’4″ right-hander struggled out of the gate, allowing six earned runs through his first two games and 3.1 combined innings before settling down, allowing three earned runs combined over his next twelve outings, amassing 20 strikeouts in the process. His last outing of the year saw him put up another three earned runs versus Texas A&M but he ended up leading all true freshmen in relief appearances and struck out three or more batters on four separate occasions this year.

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Holman will head back to Alabama next year and eligible for the 2024 MLB Draft.

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