Jays take college shortstop Warmoth, pitcher Pearson in first round of draft

TThe Canadian Press

he Toronto Blue Jays selected a pair of college players with their first two picks of the MLB draft on Monday. Toronto took North Carolina shortstop Logan Warmoth with the 22nd overall selection, then selected right-handed pitcher Nate Pearson from the College of Central Florida with the 28th pick.

The Blue Jays were one of only three teams picking twice in the first round Monday. They received a compensation pick from Cleveland after Edwin Encarnacion signed with the Indians as a free agent in the off-season.

Warmoth, a 21-year-old from Orlando, Fla., helped lead the No. 2 Tar Heels to a 49-14 record this season, batting .336 with a .404 on-base percentage and 10 home runs through 63 games.

Pearson, a six-foot-six, 245-pound 20-year-old from Tampa, Fla., was 5-2 with a 1.56 earned-run average through 13 starts for the Patriots this year, striking out 118 over 81 innings.

Pearson, in his sophomore year at Central Florida, was named the Rawlings JUCO (junior college) Pitcher of the Year earlier this month by Perfect Game. He's committed to Louisiana State University.

Former centre-fielder Lloyd Moseby was the Blue Jays' representative in Seacaucus, N.J., where the draft was held.

Toronto also had a second-round pick Monday night, choosing high school catcher Hagen Danner 61st overall.

The Minnesota Twins selected California high school shortstop Royce Lewis with the No. 1 pick. The Twins also selected the first Canadian of the draft, righthanded pitcher Landon Leach of Pickering, Ont., in the second round (37th overall).

Adam Hall, a shortstop from London, Ont., went to the Baltimore Orioles with the 60th pick.

The draft continues through Wednesday.