(Courtesy of Kristin M. Bradshaw/Georgia Sports Communications)
Toronto- Just one month away for the 2020 MLB Player Draft. The good news is that the draft is set to be scheduled on the original dates from June 10-11.
However, this year’s draft will only feature 5 rounds instead of 40 due to the financial loss of COVID-19. This means that teams are limited to select players within 5 rounds, including those teams who have picks in the Competitive Balance Rounds and Compensatory picks with their free agent losses. As part of the agreement with the union and players association, teams can sign players after the draft, but they are limited to signing bonuses of $20,000 or less. This could mean that lot of young talent will not be drafted this year. That’s a huge blow for those trying fulfill their dreams to become professional baseball players. With the unknown circumstances of COVID-19, this may cause more high school players to elect to go to college. However, the NCAA has limited amount of baseball scholarships.
With the draft only being 5 rounds, what could this mean for the Toronto Blue Jays?
President Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins were awarded with 5th overall pick for finishing the 2019 MLB season with 67-95 record, which is 5th worst in the league. This is the highest draft pick since the Blue Jays drafted Vernon Wells in the 1997 MLB Draft. Knowing that the Blue Jays have early picks in each round, they can easily go for best player available as long as they can sign those players within the draft bonus slots.
Here is the breakdown of the Blue Jays’ draft pools and breakdown:
Total slot value: $9,716,500
1st: $6,664,000
2nd: $1,771,100
3rd: $805,600
4th: $549,000
5th: $410,100
Farm System Breakdown:
Even with the loss of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Cavon Biggio, who all three reached the majors in 2019, the Blue Jays’ system is still very strong with a lot of young talent. Considered one of the top 10 farm system in all of baseball with Nate Pearson is considered one of the best right-handed pitching prospects. This group includes an especially strong crop of pitching prospects with last 1st round draft pick Alek Manoah, as well as position players at the farm’s lower levels like 2018 1st rounder Jordan Groshans.
Farm System Strengths:
The Jays are stacked with shortstops and right-handed pitching. The team has eight shortstops among its Top 30 Prospects which includes Groshans, Orelvis Martinez and Miguel Hirado. On the mound, the list starts with Pearson and Simeon Woods Richardson and2019 draftees Manoah and Kendall Williams.
Farm System Weakness:
Even though the Blue Jays’ farm system is deep, there’s not a lot of depth in the outfield and left-handed pitching prospects. 2019 3rd rounder Dasan Brown is a Canadian outfielder who can run the bases but need works with his bat. Anthony Kay maybe the Blue Jays’ lone southpaw that can potentially be a number 3 or back of rotation type starter.
Players to Watch in Round 1:
Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia
Hancock was a preseason favourite to be the number one pick in 2020 MLB Draft. His fastball touches 95-97 on the gun. He also has a solid slider, curveball and changeup that all have the potential to be at least average offerings. He got off to a slow started in his first start, allowing 6 earned runs in his 2020 debut. He did bounced back before the season was suspended due to COVID-19. Hancock has the potential to be another ace in a making that can give the Blue Jays a one-two punch at the top of the rotation with Pearson.
Asa Lacy, LHP, Texas A&M
A lefty that has probably the best fastball and slider combo in this draft. Lacy has a wicked fastball that can touch in the mid to upper 90s. His slider is his best secondary pitch that can cause a lot of hitters to look silly. He also has a changeup with is a developing pitch. He needs to work on his command and control with all of his pitches and mechanics to be another front of a rotation type starter in the big leagues.
Nick Gonzales, INF, New Mexico State
Gonzales is a right-handed hitting machine. He may not be the biggest guy at 5’10” and 190 pounds, but he has the ability to hit all over the field. His bat speed is elite that can generate a lot of gap power and could potentially hit 10-15 home runs in the big leagues. Scouts may have questions on which position is best suited for him, but teams may be willing to give him a shot at shortstop but 2B may be a longterm fit.
Blue Jays’ Draft Philosophy:
Unlike the NBA or NFL draft, MLB team don’t draft for needs. There are multiple strategies that teams have in order to build their farm systems. Some teams select college players early so that they can sign them under the slot and then they can take players with signability concerns in later rounds. While other teams goes for the best available player route.
Over the last five years, the Blue Jays have hunted for shortstops and right-handed pitching in the first 10 rounds. The Blue Jays have been known to select college players in round 1 and then take on high schools players in round 2 and 3. Knowing that the Blue Jays have picks early in each rounds, they can go with the best player available.
The top five players in the 2020 draft are almost universally projected to be Austin Martin, Spencer Torkelson, Hancock, Lacy and Gonzales in some order. So no matter how the draft shaped up, the Blue Jays are fully guarantee at least one of those players should be available at pick #5. This is an important draft for the Blue Jays and really need to nail on all of those picks with limited resources.
T-Fuj Sports 