Ole Miss P Gunnar Hoglund selected in first round of 2021 MLB Draft

Tommy John surgery didn’t stop Ole Miss pitcher Gunnar Hoglund from going in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Hoglund went No. 19 overall to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Hoglund entered 2021 as a consensus Preseason All-American. He made only 11 appearances in 2021 before his season ended. In 2021, Hoglund pitched 62.2 innings, posting a 2.87 ERA and 96 strikeouts.

Hoglund had a 1.16 ERA in the COVID-shortened 2020 season when he made four appearances, pitching 23.1 innings. In his Ole Miss career, Hoglund went 154 IP, with a 3.68 ERA, posting 186 Ks.

Nick Suss of The Clarion Ledger points out that Hoglund could be playing close to home. The Blue Jays’ low-A affiliate plays in Dunedin, Florida, about 30 minutes from Hoglund’s hometown of Hudson.

Hoglund was ranked No. 22 in MLB.com’s Top 250 Draft Prospects for 2021.

Hell yeah, @GunnarHoglund. Go get yours. #RebsBSB pic.twitter.com/mHEb75NHNi

— Ben Garrett (@SpiritBen) July 12, 2021

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.