clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Blue Jays pick RHP Jose Espada in the 5th round of the 2015 MLB Draft

In a completely shocking turn of events, the Blue Jays take a right-handed high school pitcher in the 5th round of the 2015 MLB Draft, selecting 6'0", 215 pound Jose Espada from Jose Collazo Colon HS in Puerto Pico. He is the first player selected from Puerto Rico in this year's draft. He turned 18 in February, born 2/22/1997.

What's more interesting is the Jays went way off the board for this pick. He was not listed among either Baseball America's or Perfect Game's Top 500 draft prospects, nor was he among the BA's other prospects of note.

Perfect Game had him on their 2015 Canada/Puerto Rico region 2nd Team, and he participated in five of their showcase events and tournaments, culminating in the huge WWBA (wood bat) World Championship in held every October in Jupiter, Florida. They had him throwing his fastball 85-88, with a curveball at 75, so he's not a complete unknown.

Per Jim Callis on the MLB Network draft broadcast, the Blue Jays told him he was an ahtletic, projectible pitcher who they've had up to 92 MPH, flashing a plus breaking ball. It sounds like he's an under the radar pop-up guy who's taken significant steps forward in the last 6-8 months, someone who the Jays scouts really like and should be a quick and easy sign since you don't go so far off the board for a guy you aren't sure you can sign.

Here is a link to his profile page at Perfect Game

Here's some (very poor) quality video from April of this year, the caption of which says he's up to 90-91 and the video shows a radar gun, which would be consistent with that Callis reported from the Jays:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KHLpL0449RY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>