Report: Blue Jays Sign 1st Round Pick Gunnar Hoglund

The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly signed 2021 first round pick Gunnar Hoglund for under slot value

Mitch Bannon | Jul 16, 2021

Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Add another college arm to Toronto's farm system.

The Blue Jays have come to an agreement with first-round pick Gunnar Hoglund, Carlos Collazo reported. The agreement is reportedly for $3,247,500, under the slot value for a 19th overall selection.

Hoglund had college eligibility remaining, but with his recent Tommy John surgery the right-hander was seen as a likely sign for the Blue Jays. Toronto director of amateur scouting Shane Farrell told the media on draft night that Hoglund had come to the Blue Jays facilities in Florida prior to the draft and met with the staff he would be rehabbing with throughout the offseason.

Playing for Ole Miss in the SEC, Hoglund started 11 games in 2021, registering a 2.87 ERA across 62.2 innings pitched. The 21-year-old struck out almost 14 batters per-nine and walked just 17 batters all season.

"We feel like this is a very opportunist pick for us as an organization," Farrell said on draft night.

Hoglund was projected to be a borderline top-10 pick prior to his 2021 injury, and the Blue Jays felt he would not have been available at their pick if not for the Tommy John surgery, Farrell said.

RHP Gunnar Hoglund signed with the #BlueJays for $3,247,500. That's $111,500 under slot for the 19th pick. #MLBDraft
— Carlos Collazo (@CarlosACollazo) July 16, 2021

Hoglund is the first of Toronto's 2021 draft selections to have reportedly come to an agreement with the team. To find a complete recap of Toronto's draft choices, read our 2021 MLB Draft Breakdown.

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