Time to fill the holes
Jays aim for impact player at No. 12 in Monday’s draft
The Blue Jays front office is very happy that the 2018 MLB draft will be held on Monday. For a couple of reasons.
One, because the organization is optimistic they’ll get an impact player with the 12th overall selection. And also because the draft gives Jays fans a chance to focus on something other than what is turning out to be a disappointing season, even for those who weren’t expecting a lot.
Last year, GM Ross Atkins said the Jays would compete in 2018. They’re not. And barring something just short of a miracle, they won’t. There are too many holes. There are too many injuries. The best players seem to be on a downward trajectory. The starting pitching has fallen apart, and now the bullpen is feeling the strain, thanks largely to the untimely departure of closer Roberto Osuna.
It would be wrong to say the Jays are underachieving. The roster tells you that this team is just not good enough to consistently beat any of the top clubs in the American League (particularly AL East rivals the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox).
The Jays are 25-31 and, as of Friday afternoon, were 14 games behind the Red Sox and 12 behind the Yankees.
Toronto is also 8.5 games behind for the second wild card spot in the AL, with five teams to leapfrog.
This is what the 2018 season has come to for the Jays. Every time they lose, somebody — either affiliated with the organization or not — immediately brings up the exploits of double-A sensation Vladimir Guerrero Jr. It’s like the rattle you use to distract your kid from eating worms.
“Marco Estrada just lost his fourth start in a row.”
Rattle, rattle, rattle. “Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit two hit two home runs in New Hampshire!”
“Josh Donaldson hasn’t hit a home run since May 3 and now is hurt.”
Rattle, rattle, rattle. “Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 4-for-4 for the Fisher Cats!”
“Tyler Clippard just gave up the winning run in the ninth inning.”
Rattle, rattle, rattle. “Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is leading the Eastern League in almost every offensive category AND going to meet with Kim Jong-un to negotiate world peace!” You get the idea.
Steve Sanders, the Blue Jays director of amateur scouting, wasn’t shaking any rattles on Monday in a conference call. But, he did reiterate that the club is excited about what they might get on Monday with the 12th pick, their highest spot since 2014 when they drafted righthanded pitcher Jeff Hoffman from East Carolina University (No.9) and catcher Max Pentecost out of Kennesaw State University (No.11).
Of course, Sanders wasn’t showing his hand, stressing that the Jays are out to get the best potential player possible, whether out of high school or college. Last year, in his first draft for the Jays, Sanders and his team selected UNC shortstop Logan Warmoth and RHP Nate Pearson from the College of Central Florida.
A year out and both picks appear to be pretty solid. Pearson put up incredible numbers in his seven starts with the single-A Vancouver Canadians in 2017. In 19 innings, the right-hander pitched to a 0.95 ERA, giving up only two runs, six hits while walking five. He struck out 24.
Whom might they pick this year? Well, despite what you hear or read, it’s anybody’s (educated) guess. The pundits — who get paid for putting together mock drafts — are all over the place.
Baseball America has suggested that the Jays would use their first selection on South Alabama outfielder Travis Swaggerty. The Sporting News thinks Ethan Hankins, a right-handed pitcher out of Forsyth Central (Ga.) High School, might be Toronto’s pick. And on it goes. MLB.com: Missississpi LHP Ryan Rolison. Bleacher Report: Outfielder Jarred Kelenic of Waukesha West HS, Wisconsin. DraftSite.com: RHP Kumar Rocker from North Oconee High School in Georgia.
An intriguing pick would be Canadian junior national team catcher/third baseman Noah Naylor of Mississauga, the brother of 2015 Marlins first-rounder Josh Naylor, though most baseball sites have Naylor going later than 12th (MLB.com projects him going 25th). Sanders couldn’t comment on Naylor specifically, but did stress that the organization has always taken great pride in scouting and drafting Canadian talent.
“I think that absolutely is reflected in the way we scout amateur baseball in Canada, not just as to how it relates to the draft but also just as far as it relates to our presence in amateur baseball throughout the country,” Sanders said.
“And working with T.J. Burton (program manager, amateur baseball) and his staff and with our amateur scouting staff throughout the country, it’s something is a great source of pride for us.”
It would be nice to draft a Canadian in the first round, but most Jays fans would hope that they get an impact player for down the road. Somebody, you know, rattle-worthy.