By Nathan Rode
National Supervisor

If you noticed a gust of wind of over the weekend, it’s likely it was 30 major league scouting departments and several media members collectively exhaling at the conclusion of the 2014 draft. One scout texted me late Sunday, “You never realize how tired you are until everything finally stops.”

The draft is fast and furious, leaving little time in the three-day span to step back and look at the big picture. Picks here and there will stand out and you get a sense of themes as everything progresses, but you can’t really digest everything until it’s all done and you’re able to start going reviewing it team-by-team or round-by-round. Here are a few final thoughts in which I highlighted teams that stood out for various reasons pertaining to the high school prospects they selected.

Blue Jays: Toronto has failed to sign two of its last three first-round picks and hasn’t shied away from drafts with extreme risk. There is risk to its 2014 draft as well, but arguably less so than previous years and they also picked up some late-round picks that would be interesting pick-ups if they sign. RHP Sean Reid-Foley (Sandalwood HS, FL) looked to be a first-round pick after an impressive spring, but there were still reservations about whether he was destined for the bullpen or not and he dropped to the second round. It’s a good value pick for the Blue Jays and they also can find upside in their third-round pick, LHP Nick Wells (Battlefield HS, VA). Wells was a late-riser and has a big, projectable frame and the ability to spin a curveball. OF Lane Thomas (Bearden HS, TN) was a personal favorite of mine last summer. He is a plus runner with his other tools being solid, but he showed he could consistently find the barrel. He plays hard and is the kind of player that gives you confidence in him making the big leagues. Where the Blue Jays can really make a splash is if they save enough money to sign at least one of the guys they took after the 10th round.