Bluebird Banter - Blue Jays 2019 MLB Draft CoverageRoster moves R Us.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47723/bluebird-fv.png2019-06-08T08:00:00-04:00http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/rss/stream/184104962019-06-08T08:00:00-04:002019-06-08T08:00:00-04:002019 Blue Jays MLB Draft Signing Table
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<img alt="MLB: Toronto Blue Jays-Workouts" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1nBeKo_r1v42jqJ_gwbxC9zvmtk=/0x0:6108x4072/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63971551/usa_today_12178982.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="paragraph0">With the 2019 draft in the books, the focus now turns to getting the new draftees signed so it’s time to roll out the annual Signing Table. With the advent of slotting, there’s not quite the intrigue there used to be, but it’s still a useful summary of the draftees and where everything stands with <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Blue Jays</a> draft.</p>
<p id="paragraph1">The ranking is the average of four public sources: Baseball America (top 500), Perfect Game (top 600), MLB.com (Jon Mayo and Jim Callis, top 200) and FanGraphs (formal top 138 plus extrapolation beyond). It also shows how many lists on which the draftee was included, since the average will be biased upwards by non-inclusion on a list vs. being ranked too low for inclusion.</p>
<p id="paragraph2">As usual, post any links to information on signings/signability and I’ll do my best to keep the table promptly updated. The major difference this year is the chart has been moved to Google Sheets and embedded — on balance, it’s a better solution even though the whole thing doesn’t display. Thanks to everyone who adds the links that make this work.</p>
<p id="paragraph3">The 2019 signing deadline is Friday, July 12th at 5 PM eastern.</p>
<p id="Qi6ixU"><strong>UPDATE 7/15</strong>: The Blue Jays signed 30 of their 40 draft picks, spending $10,677,000 in bonuses (a few reported bonuses were revised $2,500 below where they were first announced, resulting in consistency across all draftees whose bonuses affected the total bonus pool). They exceeded their slot allocation by $411,700 (4.87%), resulting in overage tax of $308,775 and bringing total draft related spending to $10,985,775.</p>
<p id="paragraph6">Archive: <a href="http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2010/6/11/1513076/draft-signings-2010"><strong>2010</strong></a> | <a href="http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2011/6/8/2213892/2011-blue-jay-draft-picks"><strong>2011</strong></a> | <a href="http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2012/6/6/3069307/2012-draft-signing-table"><strong>2012</strong></a> | <a href="http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2013/6/10/4414442/2013-mlb-draft-signing-table"><strong>2013</strong></a> | <a href="http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2014/6/7/5789514/2014-draft-signing-table"><strong>2014</strong></a> | <a href="http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2015/6/10/8755563/2015-draft-signing-table"><strong>2015</strong></a> | <a href="http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2016/6/12/11849232/2016-draft-signing-table?_ga=2.164412095.185269734.1497042879-468160367.1455531141"><strong>2016</strong></a> | <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2017/6/15/15807240/2017-mlb-draft-signing-table"><strong>2017</strong></a> | <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2018/6/8/17441150/2018-blue-jays-mlb-draft-signing-table"><strong>2018</strong></a></p>
<div id="ExzgdU"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 70.7107%;"><iframe src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQ9jkJIWDttd862aMk5CjYT7yJjq8TZQro9UDpII3FFv7e6ZjQKfQVus06-Z5yjKVLRM98zs_Zeowgp/pubhtml?gid=2077583938&range=a1:k47&chrome=false&single=true" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2019/6/8/18654443/2019-blue-jays-mlb-draft-signing-tableMatt W2019-06-05T11:45:07-04:002019-06-05T11:45:07-04:002019 MLB Draft Day 3: Blue Jays Picks, Notes, and Open Thread
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<img alt="2014 MLB Draft" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HVnv43rn3jbpM3QuRhMdfBEX2ww=/0x46:4974x3362/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63953933/450131192.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="qJWCp4">While today is the last day of the three making up the 2019 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">MLB Draft</a>, by volume almost three-quarters of the 2019 draft remains. 900 players will be selected in rapid fire format starting around 12:00 EDT and lasting for around six hours. Below we’ll list all the <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Blue Jays</a> picks as they come in, along with some notes on select choices. And of course, discuss them in the comments.</p>
<p id="z3cOcY">In recent years, the Blue Jays have gone heavy on college players early on the second day, with an emphasis on pitchers. Last year, they took 10 straight college players to start the third day, not taking a high school player until round 21. Update: so of course they took a high school player right off the bat in 2019.</p>
<p id="I1KqQb"><strong>11. Nick Neal, 1B/RF, Randleman HS (North Carolina)</strong></p>
<p id="B6ehSx">Listed at 6’6” and 285 pounds, despite being one of the younger players in the class as he doesn’t turn 18 until October. Unsurprisingly, has huge raw power (“<a href="https://twitter.com/NathanRode/status/1136304365369810944">stupid power</a>” per Nathan Rode). We’ll see if he can hit enough for it to play in pro ball, since it’s exceedingly unlikely he would be taken here unless they had a deal (which might require some pool money above $the 125,000 de facto slot for post-10th round selections). Apparently reclassified into the 2019 class within the last year, so perhaps someone most teams weren’t on.</p>
<p id="e4Jnns"><strong>12. Sam Ryan, RHP, Virginia Commonwealth University</strong></p>
<ul><li id="yWCRE5">Worked full-time as a junior (albeit in a multi-inning capacity), seeing improved results with a 2.70 ERA in 53.1 innings, 61 strikeouts against 19 walks. The Jays see something they really like for him to be the second player taken on the last day.</li></ul>
<p id="K9IH1q"><strong>13. Trevor Schwecke, SS, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee</strong></p>
<ul><li id="ezqV03">Hit over .300 in all three college seasons, with a jump in power in his 2019 junior season. Also a good showing in the wood bat Northwoods League last summer (.298/.373/.453) which has been a marker of Jays draftees in recent years. </li></ul>
<p id="LNStYN"><strong>14. Eric Rivera, CF, Florida Atlantic</strong></p>
<ul><li id="RchjBk">Thee year starter at FAU, very good plate discipline metrics, batting average jumped to .335 in 2019 though minimal power. Posted a .250/.397/.290 line in 127 PA on the Cape last summer, so the plate discipline held up against top pitching. </li></ul>
<p id="B8QUPh"><strong>15. Michael Dominguez, RHP, Jefferson HS (Florida)</strong></p>
<ul><li id="Lby8cK">A smaller (5’10”/175) pitcher from the high school as Fred McGriff, he’s also on the older side turning 19 in August. He sits in the high 80s/low 90s with his fastball, with some violence/effort in the delivery. He can spin a breaking ball, though with inconsistent shape in the video I saw. Dominguez is committed to Florida State, and while picks in this range don’t always sign, it seems to me that to take him here the Jays would have to have a pretty good idea he’s signable. </li></ul>
<p id="qR2arc"><strong>16. Jackxarel Lebron, RHP, International Baseball Academy (Puerto Rico)</strong></p>
<ul><li id="gNmFKe">A relative unknown who is committed to San Jacinto, but who Perfect Game had ranked inside their top 500 for the 2019 high school, with his fastball up to 92 and a curveball has his primary offspeed pitch. Given where he was picked, I’d expect him to sign.</li></ul>
<p id="gWhDFJ"><strong>17. Jared DiCesare, RHP, George Mason University</strong></p>
<ul><li id="To8tem">Didn’t have a great junior year, with a 5.40 ERA in 80 innings but just 59 strikeouts and 11 home runs allowed.But he was better in 2018 (3.33 ERA) and had a productive stint in the Cape Cod League, throwing 36.2 innings with a 2.95 ERA and 28 strikeouts.</li></ul>
<p id="cSZE2K"><strong>18. Brandon Eisert, LHP, Oregon State</strong></p>
<ul><li id="r7UlSu">Junior who has pitched a lot of big innings as multi-inning reliever for the Beavers, including 57 innings out of the bullpen en route to winning the College World Series last year (2.53 ERA). He started in the bullpen this year before moving to the rotation midseason and excelled, with a 2.03 ERA in 62 innings with a 74/13 K/BB ratio. It’s not huge stuff, his fastball sitting in the high-80s, but with deception and pitchability. According to his OSU profile, he managed to grow two inches from 6’0” to 6’2” between his sophomore and junior seasons. </li></ul>
<p id="1Cx6Hw"><strong>19. Gustavo Sosa, C, Tottenville HS (New York)</strong></p>
<ul><li id="BSk4gw">Rutgers commit who is young for the draft class, turning 18 in July. Listed as a catcher and apparently has good athleticism behind the plate, but also around the diamond. Hard to say exactly what his signability would be.</li></ul>
<p id="mmHGEe"><strong>20. Jimmy Robbins, LHP, Rollins College (Division II)</strong></p>
<ul><li id="MDlo5D">Was at Troy in 2017 before Tommy John surgery caused him to miss all of 2018 and he transferred to Rollins (a school I’d never before heard of). Posted a 3.40 ERA with 105/35 K/BB in 76.2 innings in 2019. </li></ul>
<p id="2jD2Gm"><strong>21. Parker Caracci, RHP, Ole Miss</strong></p>
<ul><li id="stfWvf">Caracci was drafted by the Jays in the 35th round last year, and I really hoped they might be able to make a run at signing him with the remainder of their slot room. He redshirted his first two years at Ole Miss but had a breakout 2018 in the bullpen, a 2.25 ERA in 48 innings with 73 strikeouts against just 14 walks. That he fell where he did indicated he was planning on going back to Ole Miss to consolidate that breakout, but instead his season was quite up-and-down, as he’s posted a 4.99 ERA in 30.2 innings with 17 walks against 36 strikeouts.</li></ul>
<p id="9jyCTm">Clearly he hasn’t been as dominant as he was in 2018, but he had a nice run to start SEC play before a disastrous run in early May in which he allowed 12 runs in 2.1 innings over three games. He’ll reach the mid-90s with the fastball with a good breaking ball, so he’s a real relief prospect if the Jays can get him back on track and consistent. As a redshirt junior, Caracci has a year of eligibility remaining, but he’ll turns 23 later this year and I’d expect he signs this year.</p>
<p id="tXiSQh"><strong>22. Nick Fraze, RHP, Texas State</strong></p>
<ul><li id="A0F7Wq">Three year starter in college, just a 4.38 ERA in 86 in 2019, but had a dominant start against Rice (7 IP, one hit, 12K). 2.97 ERA in 78.2 innings in 2018, and solid K/BB numbers both years. </li></ul>
<p id="roBGkq"><strong>23. Anders Tolhurst, RHP, Grossmont College (California)</strong></p>
<ul><li id="MoTFR0">83 strikeouts and 3.91 ERA in 66.2 innings in 2019.</li></ul>
<p id="T2SaYK"><strong>24. Spencer Horowitz, 1B, Radford</strong></p>
<ul><li id="eONq0M">Three year starter with mid-.800s OPS, though batting average fell each year. Decent stint on the Cape last summer (.279/.383/.382 in 82 PA), good plate discipline metrics but underwhelming power for 1B.</li></ul>
<p id="auIWA6"><strong>25. Nate LaRue, RHP, McGill-Toolen HS (Alabama)</strong></p>
<ul><li id="7hBUd7">Athletic defensive catcher with some feel for hitting, ranked 149 by MLB Pipeline. Also legit prospect as a pitcher with up an 80s fastball and good breaking ball(s). Auburn commit, <a href="https://www.al.com/highschoolsports/2019/06/toronto-blue-jays-pick-auburn-signee-nathan-larue-in-the-25th-round.html">will be going to school</a>.</li></ul>
<p id="VFYWYj"><strong>26. Jean-Christophe Bisson, OF, Cardinal Roy SS (Quebec)</strong></p>
<ul><li id="TaXtPs">Committed to Missouri, essentially akin to an international free agent as he doesn’t even turn 17 until August</li></ul>
<p id="QAlG7I"><strong>27. Roel Garcia, RHP, Rice University</strong></p>
<ul><li id="RRjDZ3">
<a href="https://twitter.com/KendallRogers/status/1090996622681694208">Missed 2019 after Tommy John</a> surgery in January. 5.02 ERA in 52 innings mostly as a start in 2018, 45/28 K/BB. Goes back to school with two more years of eligibility or signs and should be ready by short season ball in 2020?</li></ul>
<p id="6Icokz"><strong>28. Gabriel Ponce, RHP, Arizona Western JC</strong></p>
<ul><li id="qTqQHH">Rated 237 in 2017 high school class by Perfect Game with a fastball up to 92, 5.68 ERA in 38 innings for San Diego as a freshman. Much better 2019 after transferring, 1.75 ERA and 92 strikes in 72 innings. No apparent D1 commitment for 2020, which might suggest he’s highly signable.</li></ul>
<p id="lvrm4j"><strong>29. Owen Diodatti, catcher, A.N. Myer SS (Ontario)</strong></p>
<ul><li id="9vmFLE">Third Canadian selected, also selected in 2019 OHL Draft. Committed to Alabama, <a href="https://twitter.com/owendiodati/status/1136416997288402946">where he’ll be attending (not signing)</a>.</li></ul>
<p id="MmAzqf"><strong>30. Noah Myers, OF, Wabash Valley JC (Illinois)</strong></p>
<ul><li id="t0SRez">Hit .318/.474/.482 for Wabash Valley, had committed to South Carolina as a transfer for 2020</li></ul>
<p id="zGguTt"><strong>31. Blake Sanderson, RHP, Florida Atlantic </strong></p>
<ul><li id="yxXb47">3.68 ERA in 85 innings as a starter in 2019 with 68/20 K/BB (swingman previously). Wants to be an FBI agent. </li></ul>
<p id="l7IZAZ"><strong>32. </strong><a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2019/6/5/5467724/blue-jays-select-braden-halladay-in-32nd-round-2019-mlb-draft"><strong>Braden Halladay</strong></a><strong>, RHP, Calvary Christian HS (Florida)</strong></p>
<p id="ARovA8"><strong>33. Daniel Batcher, LHP, George Jenkins HS (Florida)</strong></p>
<ul><li id="fY4RHn">Brother of a Jays minor league strength and conditioning coach, so likely purely a courtesy pick. Classic projection play with an upper 80s fastball, committed to West Virginia.</li></ul>
<p id="dCABoC"><strong>34. Luis Quinones, RHP, San Jacinto JC</strong></p>
<ul><li id="ERXTnE">Only pitched 18.1 innings, but 23 strikeouts and 1.96 ERA in 2019. 2015 high school graduate, turns 22 next month, odd seeing as only second year of eligibility.</li></ul>
<p id="aywmw2"><strong>35. Connor Phillips, RHP, Magnolia West HS (Texas)</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="dZ7jSV">Not to be confused with Magnolia High School from where the Jays draft Jordan Groshans and Adam Koffenstein last year (the Magnolia Indpedent School board is apparently very creative with names). </li>
<li id="3rvZyM">Ranked 188th by MLB Pipeline and similarly by perfect Game, 61st in the 2019 high school class. Fastball velo sits in the low-90s, has touched 94-95 with a short, tight sliderish breaking ball (curve velo) and apparently a changeup that flashes promise. LSU commit, so extremely likely to end up at school which is the reason he was still on the board.</li>
</ul>
<p id="X24zUJ"><strong>36. Scotty Bradley, 1B/C, Indiana University</strong></p>
<p id="5iGndG"><strong>37. Andrew McInvale, RHP, Liberty University</strong></p>
<ul><li id="YwcXS6">Strong 2019 redshirt-junior season: 3.41 ERA in 103 innings, 101/40 K/BB. Missed all of 2018 with injury after transferring from junior college after originally attending Baylor. </li></ul>
<p id="Vepzqd"><strong>38. Ryan Sloniger, catcher, Penn State</strong></p>
<p id="cEeDHD"><strong>39. Octavio Corona, RHP, Otay Ranch HS (California)</strong></p>
<ul><li id="oT1Ley">Ranked 298th in the high school class by Perfect Game, committed to St. Mary’s. Put himself on the map over the last year, fastball tops out in low-90s, projection play at 6’0”/165. Signable if there’s some money left over? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGK4M-5OxfU">Video from last fall</a>.</li></ul>
<p id="a0UGIL"><strong>40. Miguel Obeso, RHP, Cowley County CC (Kansas)</strong></p>
<ul><li id="MBaS13">77 strikeouts in 43.2 innings would suggest real stuff, but 25 walks and 4.74 ERA indicative of development project. First year player, so just a flyer?</li></ul>
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https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2019/6/5/17234154/2019-mlb-draft-day-3-blue-jays-picks-notes-analysis-open-threadMatt W2019-06-04T19:22:32-04:002019-06-04T19:22:32-04:00Rounds 8-10: Jays select Angel Camacho, Philip Clarke and Glenn Santiago
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<img alt="College World Series - Vanderbilt v Virginia - Game One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qQmRzn4gNk5TDzm1fYpozx2pz4s=/300x0:3900x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63950231/451123134.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="qLLjWi">With the 237th overall pick of the 2019 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">MLB Draft</a>, the <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Blue Jays</a> selected 3B Angel Camacho in the 8th round from Jacksonville University. He’s the second straight senior the Blue Jays selected, and clearly made the most of those four years as in addition to being a four year starter, he also earned a kinesiology degree in three years and then an MBA afterwards. </p>
<p id="m6BGNG">He moved from first base to third base in 2019, but once again it’s the hit tool that’s most interesting. Camacho has hit .329 and .317 over the last two years, with moderate power and solid plate discipline. Ultimately, he’s a senior sign and the selection should save the Jays some money towards their pool.</p>
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<p id="hELYG0">With the 267th overall pick, the Blue Jays selected Philip Clarke in the 9th round, a catcher from Vanderbilt. He was a very highly ranked catcher out of high school in 2017, reportedly eschewing multiple seven figure offers to go to college. That means he’s only a draft eligible sophomore, with combined with Vanderbilt education would seem to make him a very tough sign, especially in the 9th round. </p>
<p id="W41sOU">Clarke has been a strong offensive producer as a mainstay in the Vandy lineup the last two years, hitting near .300 with an OBP in the .380s and solid power. He’s considered a bat-first catcher, with questions about whether he profiles behind the plate. He’s have plenty of bat behind the plate, but unlikely to be enough if he moved off the position to something like 1B/DH.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Blue Jays just took Vandy catcher Philip Clarke in the 9th. Higher on our board, eligible-sophomore with leverage, if they sign him there that's a steal.</p>— Brian Sakowski (@B_Sakowski_PG) <a href="https://twitter.com/B_Sakowski_PG/status/1136024482840231942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2019</a>
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<p id="VOraco">So the question is, can they sign him here? If not, they wasted not only the pick but also the slot allocation, so one would have to think they know he is first open to signing and second that they can meet his price (which will surely be more than slot). They should have banked some slot room from the last two picks that can go towards this. </p>
<p id="CIrFeL">If they get him signed at reasonable number, it could be indeed be quite the steal, given him ranking 139th on MLB Pipeline’s board and 162nd on Baseball America’s (though notably a lot lower on Fangraphs, in the 35+ tier). Hopefully, it doesn’t end up backfiring on them.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="SgDdNo">
<p id="nVTkJf">With the 297th overall pick, the Blue Jays selected SS Glenn Santiago in the 10th round, from the International Baseball Academy in Puerto Rico. This is something of an off-the-board pick, in that he was not on any of draft boards of any of the major publications. But Perfect Game did have him ranked 163rd in the 2019 high school class.</p>
<p id="Vnz6f3">He stood out at one of their showcases in January 2018, after which <a href="https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=14841">they wrote him up</a> as such:</p>
<blockquote><p id="SevcJd">• Loose & athletic frame, wiry & projectable<br>• Quick-twitch athlete; ran a 6.40 60-yard<br>• Outstanding defender, soft hands/strong arm</p></blockquote>
<p id="UG9NbR">On the MLB stream, Jim Callis reiterated this and that the bat was (unsurprisingly) less advanced. In some sense, Santiago is the infield analogue to third round draftee outfielder Dasan Brown — a good athlete who is excellent defensively, but a long term project and potentially never hits enough to rate as a real prospect. </p>
<p id="o4LSmR">It’s not at all a bad gamble to make in the 10th round, especially Puerto Rican high school draftees tend to sign near slot. One curiosity is that while Puerto Rican high school players, like Canadians, tend to be on younger side and sometimes very young, Santiago is 18.5, in the 2019 draft class despite being born in late 2000.</p>
https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2019/6/4/17166332/rounds-8-10-2019-mlb-draft-jays-select-angel-camacho-philip-clarke-and-glenn-santiagoMatt W2019-06-04T18:34:38-04:002019-06-04T18:34:38-04:00Rounds 6-7: Jays select SS/CF Cameron Eden and 2B L.J. Talley
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<img alt="Toronto Blue Jays v New York Yankees" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ilw3qRKHy4tYZDkpkcSzIO4da8w=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51379205/455679356.jpg.12.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brandon Morrow was also a UC-Berkeley Golden Bear | Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="3ji7PD">With the 177th overall pick of the 2019 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">MLB Draft</a>, the <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Blue Jays</a> selected junior Cameron Eden in the 6th round of the MLB Draft from the University of California Berkeley. He was ranked 320 on Baseball America’s board, the first Jays draftee who isn’t a consensus top 150 player.</p>
<p id="Uy3PeY">As a freshman in 2017, he won the starting shortstop job for the Golden Bears, posting a strong .315/.361/.472 triple slash line, hitting for average (.382 BABIP) with a little pop but mediocre plate discipline metrics (10 walks against 41 strikeouts). That production cratered to .247/.306/.292 in 2018 for his sophomore year. </p>
<p id="9TwsVY">In addition, his wood bat track record in summer leagues is more pedestrian. In 2017, he hit .263/.316/.373 in 232 plate appearances in the Northwoods League. In the Cape Cod League last summer it was a similar .254/.302/.325 line in 126 PA. The overall profile was similar to his freshman year, but with moedrate BABIP in the low-.300s.</p>
<p id="WEZtYC">Eden did rebound significantly in 2019, despite moving from shortstop to centrefield. That was <a href="https://www.dailycal.org/2019/06/04/cameron-eden-drafted-in-6th-round-of-2019-mlb-draft/">partly to accommodate getting other players in the lineup</a>, but also a reflection of that he might fit best elsewhere at the next level. He’s reported to have a good arm and good speed, so the outfield is a logical mix but the infield isn’t out of the question either. As usual, if a player hits, they’ll find a position for him.</p>
<p id="41G5f4">In that respect, he rebounded in a major way in 2019, hitting .370 as a junior in about 235 PA. The power rebounded to where it was a junior, with similar plate discipline. Ultimately, however, it was powered by a .412 BABIP. The question will be how that translates to pro ball and wood bats, as he hasn’t been able to do that with wood bats so far. On the plus side, the PAC-12 is a very strong baseball league, so he was facing quality pitching.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BlueJays</a> are getting one of the Pac-12's more exciting players from this season in Cameron Eden <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CalBaseball?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CalBaseball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ProBears?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ProBears</a> <a href="https://t.co/fbIcZ2SxL9">pic.twitter.com/fbIcZ2SxL9</a></p>— Cal Baseball (@CalBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalBaseball/status/1136006359730741248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2019</a>
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<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="x4LYOU">
<p id="2zHPwU">With the 207th overall pick, the Blue Jays selected second baseman L.J. Talley in the 7th round from the University of Georgia. Talley’s a senior whose been a four year starter for the Bulldogs, who has improved his offensive production from year to year, culminating in .332 batting average in 2019 with 20 extra base hits and 40 walks against 36 strikeouts. He ranked 343rd on Baseball America’s board.</p>
<p id="bEQBfk">On the plus side, he’s produced offensively in the gauntlet of the SEC, the top baseball conference where there’s plenty of big arms. If that’s a legitimate breakthrough that carries over to pro ball, he could be a really nice pick. He’s considered a solid surehanded defender. He’s a senior sign that should result in considerable slot savings, and as polished college player Vancouver would make sense as an initial assignment. </p>
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https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2019/6/4/12700836/rounds-6-7-2019-mlb-draft-jays-select-ss-cf-cameron-eden-2b-l-j-talleyMatt W2019-06-04T16:36:48-04:002019-06-04T16:36:48-04:00Blue Jays select SS/IF Tanner Morris in the 5th round
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<p id="9o6hEC">With the 147th overall pick of the 2019 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">MLB Draft</a>, the <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Blue Jays</a> selected draft-eligible sophomore Tanner Morris in the 5th round from the University of Virginia. Though he’s played mostly shortstop in college, the consensus is that in pro ball and he’ll have to find a new position, perhaps at second. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tanner Morris has excellent pure feel for hitting and good wood bat track record. He even brought out the wood bat back in his high school days. Hit tool is the biggest for him, but he has a strong arm. Not a SS at the next level. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLBDraft?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLBDraft</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a></p>— Carlos Collazo (@CarlosACollazo) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/status/1135980429033517056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2019</a>
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<p id="IAakea">Similar to their previous pick of Will Robertson, this pick is all about the bat, though more hit tool than power. After hitting .298/.397/.374 as a freshman in 2018 (albeit one who had just turned 20, so more like a sophomore by age), he took that .353/.460/.521 in 291 PA this past year. And that’s in the ACC, which is arguably the second best baseball <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-baseball">college baseball</a> conference. Notably, he had excellent plate discipline metrics, with slightly more walks than strikeouts in each year. </p>
<p id="HOtKXQ">Also like Robertson, Morris was a standout for Harwich last summer in the wood bat Cape Cod league, earning an All-Star selection, a rarity for freshman (though again, he was more akin to a sophomore). In 156 PA, he hit .322/.395/.440 with 11 extra base hits (two home runs), and 15 walks against 24 strikeouts. He profiles as more of a pure hitter with doubles power, and if you can hit they’ll find a position for you.</p>
<p id="tyHMzm">Morris could be a nice value play, as once again the consensus ranking was well ahead of where he was drafted — 100th on the Fangraphs board, 104th on MLB Pipeline’s, 124th on Baseball America’s. He does have some additional leverage with two years of college eligibility remaining, but on the other hand will turn 22 later this year so it makes sense to get into pro ball sooner than later, and accordingly I’d expect his bonus to come in close to slot.</p>
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<p id="9kyfqv">This pick squarely fits with the recent tendency to draft college infielders with a track record of hitting in the middle of the second day. In 2015, the Jays took <span>Cavan Biggio</span> in the 5th round from fellow ACC school Notre Dame. In 2016, it was fellow Virginian Cullen Large in the 5th round. Last year, Nick Podkul in the 7th round, also from Notre Dame. These picks have works out quite well so far, so it’s not surprising to see the trend continue. </p>
https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2019/6/4/18283996/blue-jays-select-ss-if-tanner-morris-in-the-5th-round-2019-mlb-draftMatt W2019-06-04T15:31:39-04:002019-06-04T15:31:39-04:00Blue Jays select RF Will Robertson in 4th round
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<img alt="College World Series - Vanderbilt v Virginia - Game One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Z9SL8ljIZ-PGKNY4aXs3BznfXgk=/0x25:4200x2825/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63948444/451125078.jpg.0.jpg" />
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<p>The Blue Jays take a (Creighton) Bluejay!</p> <p id="sCBxcP">With the 117th overall pick of the 2019 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb-draft">MLB Draft</a>, the <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Blue Jays</a> stuck to their flock in selecting right fielder Will Robertson from the Creighton University Bluejays. The only other time the Blue Jays have drafted and signed a Bluejay was 20 years ago, when they took RHP Peyton Lewis in the 18th round though he only lasted one year in the system.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Will Robertson hits baseballs far. LET’S GO! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToOmaha?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToOmaha</a> <a href="https://t.co/VKc3QUaD9I">pic.twitter.com/VKc3QUaD9I</a></p>— Colin Belmont (@cbelmont15) <a href="https://twitter.com/cbelmont15/status/1135278811132682241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2019</a>
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<p id="bc6hg2">Robertson is an corner outfielder whose main calling card is his bat. Over the last two years at Creighton, he hit .321/.410/.619 in 488 plate appearances, with 27 home runs among 67 extra base hits. He struck out 70 times while while walking 42 and adding 23 hit-by-pitches for a total of 65 free passes to first. Creighton plays its home games at TD Ameritrade Park, so while that line was not produced in one of the premier college conferences, his home park is a very difficult in which to hit home runs and for power more generally. </p>
<p id="H2xPKh">In addition to that robust line college line, Robertson has a track record against good pitching with wood bats, as he was a standout for Cotuit last summer in the Cape Cod League. He hit .294 with 15 extra base hits in about 200 PA, with a 16/31 K/BB ratio. </p>
<p id="Ah7ok1">An uneven junior season apparently cost him in terms of draft positioning, though like Griffin Conine last year he finished strong and his overall production ended up largely in line. This is reflected in that the consensus of multiple rankings which had him higher than where the Jays took him — 61st by Fangraphs, 81st by MLB Pipeline, 95th on BA’s broad. In this sense, there’s some parallel to Riley Adams, who had a similar track record of offensive production and the Jays nabbed 99th overall in the 3rd round of the 2017 draft despite a significantly higher consensus ranking.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Will Robertson gets the bats going early for Creighton and the Bluejays take the early lead! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToOmaha?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToOmaha</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CU_Baseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CU_Baseball</a> <a href="https://t.co/NnDnkadDhg">pic.twitter.com/NnDnkadDhg</a></p>— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCAACWS/status/1135690042368614400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2019</a>
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<p id="iO0hqG">With this pick, among their first two picks the Blue Jays have taken one of everything — one college bat, one college arm, one high school arm, one high school bat.</p>
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https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2019/6/4/18296388/blue-jays-select-rf-will-robertson-in-4th-round-2019-mlb-draftMatt W