TEAM: Toronto Blue Jays
PICK: 12 (Slot: $4,200,900)
POOL: $7,982,100
SCOUTING DIRECTOR: Steve Sanders

PREVIOUS TOP PICKS
2017: Logan Warmoth, SS, North Carolina (22nd overall)
2016: T.J. Zeuch, RHP, Pittsburgh (21st overall)
2015: Jon Harris, RHP, Missouri State (29th overall)
2014: Jeff Hoffman, RHP, East Carolina (9th overall)
2013: Phil Bickford, RHP, Oaks Christian HS, CA (10th overall)

HISTORY: The Blue Jays’ last four top picks have come out of college and they were twice bit by a high prep pick failing to sign with RHP Phil Bickford (Oaks Christian HS, CA) in the first round in 2013 and RHP Brady Singer (Eustis HS, FL) in the second round of 2015. On top of that, scouting director Steve Sanders came over from the Boston Red Sox, another organization known for college selections.

FORECAST: Continuing down the college path, the Blue Jays might have a shot at the top southpaws in LHP Ryan Rolison (Mississippi) and LHP Shane McClanahan (South Florida), both of whom didn’t figure to get this far at the beginning of the season. OF Travis Swaggerty (South Alabama) could be an option and the next group of college prospects includes RHPs Sean Hjelle (Kentucky) and RHP Jackson Kowar (Florida), OFs Jameson Hannah (Dallas Baptist) and Trevor Larnach (Oregon State), or SS Nico Hoerner (Stanford).

Ryan Rolison, LHP, Mississippi
PBR Draft Board: 7
FB: 50/55            SL: 60/70            CH: 40/50
Rolison is an athletic lefty with good down plane from a 3/4 slot. He repeats his delivery and has good arm speed with extension out front. The fastball showed above average life at 90-93 mph, touching 94 early in the game. His breaking ball is his ticket to the major leagues. It’s released from the same window as his fastball, and looks just like it, until it disappears under the bat. (David Seifert)

Find Rolison's full report in the Draft HQ.

Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida
PBR Draft Board: 8
FB: 60/70            SL: 40/50            CH: 40/50
McClanahan’s arm is one of the quickest in the country and the fastball has flashes of being a double-plus pitch in the future. He throws slightly crossfire and the arm works from a 3/4 slot. He was electric in the first inning, working 93-94 mph with some late action and ramping it up to 97-98 with little effort and late riding life. He lost command of the fastball in the second and was up in the zone and got hit. Both of his offspeed pitches were below average, but he showed a better feel for the changeup early. His slider is a sweeping, slurvy pitch and there is decent shape to it when thrown hard. The changeup worked well off the fastball when both were down. (Doug Freeman)

Find McClanahan's full report in the Draft HQ.

Travis Swaggerty, OF, South Alabama
PBR Draft Board: 12
HIT: 40/55            POWER: 30/45            SPEED: 60/60            DEFENSE: 50/60            ARM: 60/60
Swaggerty has a Brett Gardner frame and is an athletic center fielder with tools, baseball skills and instincts. Despite hitting off balance—a result of a narrow base and long stride—he keeps his hands back and connected to his hips. He has explosive, strong hands and uses his hips well. He swings easy and whistles the bat through the zone. He is smooth defensively, consistently running strong routes to go with his easy, plus speed. (David Seifert)

Find Swaggerty's full report in the Draft HQ.

Sean Hjelle, RHP, Kentucky
PBR Draft Board: 19
FB: 60/60            CB: 55/60            SL: 45/55            CH: 55/60
Hjelle has an extra tall, long-bodied and long-limbed frame at 6-foot-11, 225 pounds. He’s surprisingly athletic and repeats his delivery, leveraging the ball from a high-3/4 slot with a loose arm swing and good arm speed. Hjelle’s two-seam fastball sits 91-93, peaking at 94 early, and shows tail and sink in addition to steep downplane. His knuckle-curveball flashes plus at 80-83 and he throws it to both sides of the plate. He also showed an 85-87 slider and 83-86 power changeup. (David Seifert)

Find Hjelle's full report in the Draft HQ.

Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida
PBR Draft Board: 21
FB: 60/60            SL: 50/55            CH: 60/70
Kowar is wiry at 6-foot-6, 185 pounds. He has a very simple, low-effort delivery and throws from a 3/4 slot. The arm works free and easy with whip, as the ball comes out his hand very well. The fastball worked 92-94 mph, touching 97 with late, riding life. Despite a plus fastball, he seemingly pitched backwards early, working off of a plus changeup at 83-86. He threw the pitch in any count to any hitter. He showed impressive ability to control the pitch to right-handed hitters on the inner half. He also showed a feel for an above-average slider with late sweeping action at 75-78. (Doug Freeman)

Find Kowar's full report in the Draft HQ.

Jameson Hannah, OF, Dallas Baptist
PBR Draft Board: 22
HIT: 50/60            POWER: 45/50            SPEED: 60/60            DEFENSE: 50/55            ARM: 30/40
Hannah has a lean, athletic and fast-twitch frame at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds. He has quick, strong hands and a balanced swing. His demeanor at the plate is confident and he has elite hand-eye coordination. He takes pitches with easy rhythm, seemingly picking the ball up early out of the hand. He has above-average range in the outfield and runs easily with long strides. (Toby Bicknell)

Find Hannah's full report in the Draft HQ.

Nico Hoerner, SS, Stanford
PBR Draft Board: 23
HIT: 40/55            POWER: 30/40            SPEED: 55/60            DEFENSE: 45/50            ARM: 55/55
Hoerner is an athletic, medium-frame infielder with good bounce and energy. Offensively, he showed a mostly balanced approach with a loose swing. He’s more of a doubles or gap power type with the chance to hit 10-12 home runs a year in pro ball. He has contact and pitch recognition skills that should allow him to also hit for average, as well as take his share of walks. His above-average to plus speed plays in the game. He showed above-average arm strength with a quick release and solid carry to his target. Although not a silky smooth defender, Hoerner has good hands and is aggressive and confident in the dirt. (David Seifert)

Find Hoerner's full report in the Draft HQ.

Trevor Larnach, OF, Oregon State
PBR Draft Board: 24
HIT: 45/55            POWER: 40/55            SPEED: 40/45            DEFENSE: 45/45            ARM: 40/45
Larnach’s frame immediately stands out in the box and though he has some strength, it still looks like has room to add more. He has always had the ability to drive balls in the opposite gap, but looks to have added more pull-side power. He has a quiet approach with quick hands and strong wrists with the ability to make adjustments. (Shooter Hunt)

Find Larnach's full report in the Draft HQ.

Related Content