The 2023 MLB draft goes Sunday at 7pm. All reports suggest it will be a strong draft. Many high school players in 2020, somewhat due to Covid, decided to go to school rather than sign up for a non existent minor league season. Those players are now eligible as college players.
The Jays first pick is at number 20. They have forfeited their second round pick due to signing Chris Bassitt. As a result the Jays second pick is in the third round at number 89.
At ESPN Casey McDaniel says the Jays could draft Dillon Head, a CF from an Illinois high school.
Head has been tied to the Jays for a while, with this pick and No. 25 to San Diego as the most likely landing spots. I think Toronto is still pretty open to other demographics, but I'm hearing mostly prep bats here, which also seem to be what will be on the board.
Keith Law, at the Athletic, says the Jays could select Blake Mitchell, a catcher from a Texas high school.
Mitchell is the best high school catcher in the draft class this year, which probably puts him in the first round automatically, although the potential as a left-handed-hitting catcher with power and plus defense also qualifies him. Mitchell starts with a very wide stance and still strides forward from there, which gave him some trouble with better quality stuff last summer and probably cuts off some of his natural power. His hands work well at the plate and he has the finish to his swing to drive the ball in the air, with 25-homer potential if he hits enough to get to it. He’s a plus defender with a plus arm who is a no-doubt catcher, which is good since he doesn’t have a clear alternative position. He’s nowhere near the same sort of prospect off the mound, but does work 90-94 mph, showing his arm strength, just lacking anything like an average second pitch.
Law also says the Jays could pick Aidan Miller, another high schooler, a Floridian 3B, or Enrique Bradfield Jr, a college OF.
Jim Callis, at MLB.com, suggests the Jays could take a high school pitcher.
None of these experts seem to have a good handle on what the Jays will do. There will be more mock drafts coming out later this week as we get closer and teams above the Jays start making up their minds. With a pick at number 20, the Jays will have several names on their board and will see what happens above them.
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