It’s been four years since the Blue Jays had a draft pick this high, but it’s still impossible for amateur scouting director Steve Sanders to predict with much precision which of Toronto’s targets will be available 12th overall.
“Unless you’re picking No. 1, what happens in front of us is out of our control,” said Sanders. “We’re certainly monitoring the landscape of what could possibly happen ahead of us. Our job, whether we’re picking 12th or 30th, is really just to be prepared for every possible scenario.”
The 12th overall pick comes with a value of, $4,200,900–more than half of the value of the Blue Jays’ total bonus pool of $7,982,100. Still, it won’t be until Monday night’s draft begins that the Blue Jays have a clear sense of who will fall to them.
“Really until names start coming off the board, we have to be ready for anything and everything,” Sanders said. “If anything we’ve all learned that inevitably there are surprises.”
Here’s a look back at some MLB draft history, and a look ahead at what awaits the Blue Jays this week…
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BEST EVER BLUE JAYS FIRST ROUNDERS
Roy Halladay (1995) was the best first-round pick in franchise history, making six all-star teams and winning a Cy Young Award over a 12-year career in Toronto. The 1990s were quite a decade for Blue Jays draft picks, as Shawn Green (1991), Chris Carpenter (1993) and Vernon Wells (1997) were the most productive Blue Jays first rounders beyond Halladay by wins above replacement, with Alex Rios (1999) and Shannon Stewart (1992) close behind.
HOW LAST YEAR’S BLUE JAYS PICKS ARE FARING
It’ll take years before anyone can accurately assess the 2017 draft, but by now we have an early sense of how Sanders’ first Blue Jays picks are developing. Logan Warmoth’s off to a slow start at Class A Dunedin, where he’s on the seven-day disabled list, while fellow first rounder Nate Pearson dominated in his pro debut before missing time with an oblique injury and taking a line drive off his pitching arm early in 2018.
Some of the Blue Jays’ other picks are doing well, though, as fourth rounder Kevin Smith earned a promotion to Dunedin after posting a 1.046 OPS at Class A Lansing, and eighth rounder Kacy Clemens earned the same promotion after posting a similarly impressive 1.077 OPS for the Lugnuts.
“There’s a lot of things that we’re really excited about that those guys are doing,” Sanders said of the 2017 class.
BEST EVER 12th OVERALL PICKS
The 12th overall pick hasn’t led to any inner-circle Hall of Famers, but some impact players have been selected here. The five best picks ever as ranked by wins above replacement? Nomar Garciaparra (Red Sox, 1994), Kirk Gibson (Tigers, 1978), Jered Weaver (Angels, 2004), Billy Wagner (Astros, 1993) and Delino DeShields (Expos, 1987).
This year, the Blue Jays like what they see. “We’re really excited about the calibre of player that we’re going to be able to add with the 12th pick,” said Sanders.
TOP 2018 DRAFT PROSPECTS
RHP Casey Mize (Auburn)
2018 stats: 15 G, 9-5, 3.07 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 12.3 K/9
RHP Brady Singer (Florida)
2018 stats: 13 G, 10-1, 2.25 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 9.4 K/9
•previously drafted by Blue Jays in 2015 (2nd round, 56th overall)
INF Nick Madrigal (Oregon State)
Bats/Throws: R/R
2018 stats: 29 G, 119 AB, .395 AVG, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 9 SB
LHP Matthew Liberatore (Mountain Ridge HS, AZ)
2017-18 stats: 60.1 IP, 0.93 ERA, 104 K, .134 OPP AVG
RHP Carter Stewart (Eau Gallie HS, FL)
2017-18 stats: 61.2 IP, 0.91 ERA, 128 K
3B Alec Bohm (Wichita State)
Bats/Throws: R/R
2018 stats: 57 G, 224 AB, .317 AVG, 16 HR, 55 RBI, 9 SB
C Joey Bart (Georgia Tech)
Bats/Throws: R/R
2018 stats: 57 G, 220 AB, .359 AVG, 16 HR, 38 RBI
WHO COULD THE BLUE JAYS TAKE IN 2018?
ESPN’s Keith Law has the Blue Jays taking high school right-hander Grayson Rodriguez in his latest mock draft, and he mentions Jarred Kelenic, Connor Scott and Ryan Rolison as alternatives. Meanwhile, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com has the Blue Jays taking Kelenic, a high school outfielder.
TOP CANADIAN DRAFT PROSPECTS
C/3B Noah Naylor (St. Joan of Arc HS, ON)
Height-Weight: 6’1”, 195 lbs
DOB: 02/21/00 (18 years old)
Bats/Throws: L/R
•younger brother of Padres 1B Josh Naylor
•committed to Texas A&M
OF Tristan Pompey (Kentucky)
Height-Weight: 6’4”, 220 lbs
DOB: 03/23/97 (21 years old)
Bats/Throws: S/R
2018 stats: 50 G, 185 AB, .335 AVG, 7 HR, 39 RBI, 10 SB
•younger brother of Blue Jays OF Dalton Pompey
Thanks to Steve Fellin of Sportsnet Stats for research assistance.
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