Blue Jays: Looking at the players involved in the Matt Chapman trade

Gunnar Hoglund

Looking back at this deal, the centrepiece of the entire trade was right-hander Gunnar Hoglund. The University of Mississippi alum was selected by the Jays at 19th overall in the 2021 MLB Draft and signed a $3.25 million signing bonus.

He most likely would have gone higher in the draft had he not injured his arm and undergone Tommy John surgery earlier in the year, limiting him to just 11 starts with the Rebels squad. Overall, the right-hander amassed 2.87 ERA in his junior season and was striking out batters at a 13.8 K/9 clip and limiting the walks, allowing just 17 free passes through 62.2 innings before the injury.

Hoglund never pitched with a Jays affiliate as he was undergoing rehab at the time of the trade with Oakland. The Florida product did make his first professional appearance last month, making two starts with the Athletics Rookie League squad via rehab assignment on July 23rd and 30th. He did not allow an earned run through 5.0 innings combined and surrendered four hits, walked zero batters, and struck out seven. He would be called up to the Single-A club and made the start on August 6th, going three innings and allowing three hits and one walk while striking out one batter on 39 pitches.

Since then, Hoglund has not made another start and is still listed on the 7-day IL. Many project the A’s 9th top prospect to be a Major League arm but there is likely some worry that the elbow injury is casting some doubt on his future but there is still years of development to see where he ends up at the end.