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The Toronto Blue Jays used the 29th pick of the 2015 MLB draft to select someone they already picked three years ago. The 56th pick was another right-handed pitcher but from the high school ranks.




Round 1 - 29th overall: RHP Jon Harris, Missouri State
, 6-4, 190. Born October 16, 1993 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Scouting Report from MLB.com.
In a spring in which many of the top pitching prospects have either gotten hurt or regressed, Harris has been a pleasant surprise. He has boosted his stock as much as any pitcher with the exception of UC Santa Barbara's Dillon Tate and looks poised to become the second-highest selection ever out of Missouri State, trailing only Ross Detwiler (No. 6 overall in 2007). A 33rd-round choice by the Blue Jays out of a Missouri high school three years ago, Harris took a step forward in the Cape Cod League last summer and has continued to improve as a junior. He works comfortably at 92-94 mph with his fastball, and it plays up because it has run and sink and he uses his height to deliver it on a nice downhill plane. He has added some strength and his 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame still has room for more, so he could pick up more velocity. His curveball, slider and changeup are all plus pitches at times. Harris has power and depth on his breaking balls, and he has made huge strides with his changeup and trusts it more than before. He also has improved his command and is doing a better job of pitching inside with his fastball.
Harris was taken by the Jays in the 33rd round of the 2012 draft from Hazelwood Central High School.

From Baseball America:
Harris turned down the Blue Jays’ offer as a 33rd-round pick out of high school. It was a wise choice, as Harris was physically immature and unable to maintain his velocity. He stepped into the Bears’ weekend rotation as a freshman and had immediate success. He’s now a significantly more physical pitcher, and the fastball that quickly dipped to the mid-80s when he was in high school now sits at 91-93 mph touches 95. Harris mixes in a pair of breaking balls, a 12-to-6 curveball that flashes plus and a solid-average slider that he is able to throw for strikes. His changeup is a potentially average pitch as well, and some scouts have seen each secondary pitch flash plus. Harris missed two starts with an ankle injury but pitched a complete-game shutout in his return from injury, answering any questions about his health. Harris has pitched deep into games consistently this year. He’s worked into the eighth inning of eight of his last nine starts and was averaging 110 pitches an outing this year. Harris’ control is still shaky at times—he’s walked 3.2 batters per nine innings but he also generates lots of swings and misses (10.8 strikeouts per nine innings).
Here's some video on Harris from Prospect Pipeline and some more eye candy from MLB.com.


Twitter Reaction



John Lott @LottOnBaseball 27m27 minutes ago

Harris, on hearing name called in draft: "I broke down into tears because it’s one of those childhood dreams that every kid has.” #BlueJays

Megan Robinson @RobinsonMegan 29m29 minutes ago

#BlueJays' 1st round draft pick Jon Harris says he doesn't know a lot about Toronto, aside from Drake and "a good hockey team."


Alex Seixeiro @alexfan590 27m27 minutes ago

Blue Jays take RHP Jon Harris at 29. 'One of the steals of the draft' says @jimcallisMLB

Jeff Passan @JeffPassan 28m28 minutes ago

Blue Jays will take Missouri State RHP Jon Harris, who some thought might be a top 10 pick. Very good value for a polished fast mover.

Ryan Fagan @ryanfagan 1h1 hour ago

Missouri State's Jon Harris was a potential top-five pick, but gave up 8 ER in 5 2/3 vs. Arkansas in Super Regional.

Bucs Dugout @BucsDugout 2h2 hours ago

Jon Harris has said that the Pirates have been in frequent contact with him, by the way.

Lyndal Scranton @LscrantonNL 2h2 hours ago

Would be interesting if Jon Harris is still available at No. 23 when Cardinals draft. Loves his hometown team. Would be something.



Round 2, 56th overall: RHP Brady Singer, Eustis HS (Florida), 6-5, 180. Born August 4, 1996. Hometown - Leesburg, FL.


Scouting Report from MLB.com:
Whenever a projectable high school pitcher shows a jump in stuff, he's bound to move up Draft boards. That's exactly what was happening with Singer in Florida, though some concern about mechanics was giving some scouts pause. Singer, a 6-foot-5 right-hander committed to the University of Florida, had always intrigued because of his frame and fairly solid idea of how to pitch. When he went from throwing his fastball in the 88-92 range to sitting closer to 92-94 mph and touching 96, his stock definitely jumped. He'll complement the fastball with a slider that flashes average and he shows some feel for a changeup. Singer uses a three-quarter arm slot with a high elbow, a kind of unorthodox delivery that will make some scouts pause. Given the leap he's made stuff-wise, a team is bound to look past that and nab him in the first few rounds of the Draft. Click here for video. You can also see him right here and also here. Twitter handle is @Bsinger51.
Blue Jays MLB Draft - Day 1 | 23 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
85bluejay - Monday, June 08 2015 @ 09:59 PM EDT (#302125) #
Jon Harris - Thumbs up for me - didn't think he would be available
scottt - Monday, June 08 2015 @ 10:01 PM EDT (#302127) #
Yeah, looks good. High ceiling, deception, decent fast ball, lanky frame.
85bluejay - Monday, June 08 2015 @ 10:05 PM EDT (#302129) #
Apparently the Jays drafted Harris in the 33rd round 3 years ago - so there was a history
Mike Green - Monday, June 08 2015 @ 10:05 PM EDT (#302130) #
He looks good to me too. 
hypobole - Monday, June 08 2015 @ 10:08 PM EDT (#302131) #
Like the pick. Per ESPN:

Solid FB, above average CB, average SL, work in progress CH. Needs to improve command, but far better than a year ago. Rare projection for a college arm.
scottt - Monday, June 08 2015 @ 10:10 PM EDT (#302133) #
I think he just needs some time to grow some facial hair and he'll be fine.
uglyone - Monday, June 08 2015 @ 10:20 PM EDT (#302135) #
never pay much attention to pre draft stuff but i'm pleasantly surprised that we seem to get a guy with the complete package - size, velo, and 4 potential plus pitches. scouting reports don't usually read that well for a guy picked this late in the first.

ComebyDeanChance - Monday, June 08 2015 @ 10:25 PM EDT (#302138) #
We seem to have done ok. I think among his assets may be 'tradeability'.
Mylegacy - Monday, June 08 2015 @ 11:25 PM EDT (#302139) #
Interesting pick - Law seems satisfied (better than satisfied actually) - apparently, Jon's problem has been, and continues to be, walks. Over 3 walks per 9 innings - however this year he's doubled his strike outs, is giving up far fewer hits, and has only given up one homer.

The Baseball Draft is SO different from the NFL one. As a Seahawk fan (I live in BC so it's our home NFL team in these parts) I go to seahawksdraftblog.com pretty much every day - year round. Almost every day (at least 300 a year) there is NEW stuff about the Hawks and draft possibilities. BUT - with the Jay's and the Draft - crickets.

BUT - looks like we're off to a pretty good start - lets how the next two days go...

Gerry - Monday, June 08 2015 @ 11:26 PM EDT (#302140) #
From what I can see on the TV the Jays just drafted a 13 year old.
finch - Monday, June 08 2015 @ 11:30 PM EDT (#302141) #
I like the pick. Looks like a good arm

Speaking of 1st round picks, DJ Davis had a night. 4/5 with 2 2B and a Grand Slam. 8 RBIs and more importantly no strikeouts
Mylegacy - Monday, June 08 2015 @ 11:34 PM EDT (#302142) #
Our second round pick is Bradley Singer a 6'5" HS pitcher. His FB went from 88-92 to 92-96 and so he's been drawing more attention. He has an average slider and a sometimes changeup. Apparently, he has a 3/4ers arm angle, funny elbow placement throwing style, and that has drawn some concerns.

Another BIG youngster to add to our ever growing pipeline of arms. In AA's Draft Team - I Trust!

Lylemcr - Tuesday, June 09 2015 @ 12:49 AM EDT (#302144) #
Hi Mylegacy. I live in Seattle. Just below you.

Seahawks. Seahawks. Seahawks. It is on all year long here.

They really need a hockey team here....
Mylegacy - Tuesday, June 09 2015 @ 01:00 AM EDT (#302146) #
Lylemcr - I haven't been a Hockey fan since the second set of "expansions" took place in god-only-remembers-when. When there were six teams I knew every player on every club - now - I don't even know every club. Apparently, I've heard a club from Tampa Bay - FLORIDA!? HOCKEY IN FLORIDA!?  is ACTUALLY in a Stanley Cup final? Hockey today would just make my head explode - like it does every time I think of US (what passes for) Politics. Don't get me started...

However - Go Jay's - Go Hawks. (The Seahawks look really dangeRuss this year - IF the OLine can give Russell a few seconds, at least several times a game, to throw the ball before he has his jockstrap stolen by 600 pound defensive linemen....)

Dr B - Tuesday, June 09 2015 @ 01:06 AM EDT (#302147) #
The picture of Brady Singer has him in the so-called Inverted-W position. It's only a still, and it's a bit difficult to see in the video, but the inverted W has some people suggesting it is a marker for injury. Google "inverted W pitching" for plenty of links, including one person who is on something of a crusade, so I don't know how plausible it is, but it is nevertheless interesting.
hypobole - Tuesday, June 09 2015 @ 07:54 AM EDT (#302149) #
FWIW, Harris was one of the four 1st round picks Keith Law loved, calling it a minor coup he was able to be taken by the Jays at 29.

High floor with league average starter a reasonable expectation, a #2 if everything goes right.

As for Singer's high elbow, it's not a good thing for future arm/shoulder health, but not necessarily a bad thing either. It makes it difficult to prevent arm lag (the major cause of stress) but not impossible.
John Northey - Tuesday, June 09 2015 @ 08:16 AM EDT (#302153) #
Heh.  I lost interest in the NHL back in the year+ lockout mixed with Leafs tickets going over $100 each.  Given the Leafs have only made the playoffs once since then and were knocked out via an embarrassing final game I don't think I've missed much.
John Northey - Tuesday, June 09 2015 @ 08:22 AM EDT (#302155) #
For day two BA has an interesting list of top talent not drafted yet - http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/2015-draft-best-remaining-prospects-day-two/ and it isn't behind a pay wall for once.  I suspect Michael Matuella will drop to the 10th and beyond (where you don't lose budget money by not signing him) as he was a potential #1 who slipped and had Tommy John -  seems a likely Jay pick at some point then AA trying to talk him into signing.

Should be interesting to see if any of the 10 listed drop to the later rounds when you can draft without fear.
christaylor - Tuesday, June 09 2015 @ 10:23 AM EDT (#302164) #
No snark intended but Googling "inverted w myth" also brings up a large number of results.

This is something where there is almost certainly no one size fits all solution. The best mechanics for any given pitcher are probably those that end up producing the least pain after a start.
jester00 - Tuesday, June 09 2015 @ 10:25 AM EDT (#302167) #
I wouldn't mind seeing the Jays snag Riley Ferrell this morning.  Elite college closer, upper 90's velocity, potential fast mover (some think he could pitch in a major league bullpen this year).  Either that or the best HS arm available.
Geoff - Tuesday, June 09 2015 @ 11:10 AM EDT (#302171) #
Jon Harris says he doesn't know a lot about Toronto, aside from Drake and "a good hockey team."
He really needs to brush up on his Toronto info.
bpoz - Tuesday, June 09 2015 @ 11:35 AM EDT (#302174) #
Good point John N about gambling with M Matuella as a pick.
Rowdy Tellez signed for $850,000 I think in 2013.
I do not think anyone of our picks signed for "big money" that year. Of course you have to define "big money".

M Smoral in 2012 was obviously "big money", because he signed for $2 mil I believe and a lot of that came from punted money courtesy of rounds 4-10. Smoral was a round #1 comp #50 overall. I guess that after you pick him you plan/draft accordingly based on saving money to sign him.

In 2014 rounds 11-40 we picked some HS players but none signed. I do not know why.

This year we can gamble with Pick #3 because it is protected. If he signs for big money ie $1.5 mil then that is our guy like Smoral and we have to save money on rounds 4-10. In rounds 11-40 we can still take high upside players and sign them, but only if the big money guy did not sign.
hypobole - Tuesday, June 09 2015 @ 12:26 PM EDT (#302184) #
Don't see Matuella lasting till the Jays pick. There are teams above them who will have money saved from underslot picking on Day 1 and a large pool.

Jays should not punt these rounds. There are still decent, though flawed, players available that won't cost more/much more than slot.
Blue Jays MLB Draft - Day 1 | 23 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.