I suspect the Jays will go heavy with pitching again. Last year's signings have been gutted by injuries (much like Barriera, Maroudis, Perry, etc from a couple of years ago).

Injured: Micah Bucknam, Karson Ligon, Jared Spencer (injured when drafted), Trace Baker, Dayne Pengally, and Brayden Heidel are all hurt. Luke Kovach just made his first pro appearance this week after coming off the IL.

Danny Thompson Jr, Noah Palmese, Reese Wissinger, Carson Myers and Mason Davenport are the only healthy ones and 2-3 of them aren't very good and are possible DFAs when the new 2026 signees are ready.

Kiley McDaniel's latest mock:

39. Toronto Blue Jays
Will Brick, C, Christian Brothers HS (Tenn.)
Rank: 39

The Jays can't know what players will be on the board for their pick, but Brick has been mentioned here for a few weeks and likely goes in the late 20s or 30s. Brunson and Radel also come up here; the Jays seem open to the best value rather than locking into one sort of player.

CF Chase Brunson was actually drafted out of HS by the Jays in 2023 (18th round) but wasn't signable.

Being a certain type of playing is a huge part of the value.

Still early to knock down the 2022 draft. Kasevich is still around. Barriera and Brock might pitch one day.
Also, do you count Spencer Miles as a 2022 draftee?

2021 gave us Hoglund, Tidedemann, Dallas, Juenger. The top player so far is Matt Svanson who was traded for Paul DeJong. Ach.
2023 hasn't produced anything yet.

39, 103, 131 and 164 is probably the worst draft in franchise history.

Earnie Clement was pick 132.
Lukes was pick 214.
Springer was 11.
Varsho was 68.
Myles Straw was pick 349.

Gausman was pick number 4.
Yesavage was 20.
Bieber was 122.
Cease was 169.

Louis Varland was pick 449.

Would hate drafting a catcher with first pick. Catchers second most unpredictable position after pitchers and a guy whose profile is "Great arm, bat work in progress" is just not someone I want to be picking with my only top-50 pick. Wouldn't be surprised if Jays go under-slot a bit at 39 to try to get 2/3 guys at higher value.

HS catchers are definitely a risky demographic, but I'm sure there are scenarios where Brick is simply the BPA at that pick. He is young for the class as a re-class from 2027, and while he had a 'down' final season in HS, he hit well for Team USA and had good underlying data on the showcase circuit. He's probably more of a longer-development guy than someone who you're entirely projecting the bat on.

For this exercise I was limiting to Jays picks outside of how each individual pick they get this year has done. Thus Miles didn't count as far as this goes. Funny - Miles is a 4th round pick - the Jays round of death. His 1.5 bWAR puts him 3rd for that round in '22 (Troy Melton #1, Chase Meidroth #2). Now, in the offseason I might do a review of guys who started here, spent their whole careers here, ended here. Sadly for whole career Vlad is easily the best ever, and will dominate that list if he ends his career here (IE isn't dumped in a decade ala Dave Stieb who had that weird bit with the ChiSox before his comeback here years later). Only 4 guys have 1000+ PA as a career Jay - Vlad, Kirk, Garth Iorg, and Devon Travis. Similar with pitchers, but the top for IP isn't active, it is Luis Leal (946 IP), then 200+ IP for Ricky Romero, Jerry Garvin, Jessie Litsch, Mike Willis, and Bowden Francis. That's it. For comparison 1977's expansion cousins Seattle has Félix Hernández at 2729 2/3 IP every last one as a Mariner. Edgar Martínez leads career Mariners in PA with 8674. Of course, the Jays have 2 WS titles and a 3rd appearance there, the Mariners have 0 WS appearances. So we win.

Obviously higher picks = better odds, but gems are to be found later but you need to be damn lucky (see Jeff Kent in the 20th).

I could see Brick being a Jays pick - they need to go risky unless they get damn lucky. Odds are low of finding a star at 39 without luck. Just 5 of 61 have 10+ WAR, none since 2012 and under half of #39 picks have reached the majors at all (of course, recent ones are forgiven, but pre-2020 you get 27 making it out of 55, barely under half with 6 having negative WAR). So yeah, roll the dice - take a risk, no risk, no reward I say. Top 5 or even top 10 you might want to be a touch safe and avoid high school pitchers and catchers, but at 39 it is a 'screw it' situation.

BA's final mock draft:

39. Blue Jays — Jarren Advincula, 2B, Georgia Tech

Bonus Pool: $5,543,100
Slot Value: $2,571,700

I hear a few players here and there for the Blue Jays, but really not much with any confidence for this pick specifically. I think that makes sense. We are 39 picks deep and I’m pretty confident the Blue Jays and every other team in this range has no clue who’s going to get to them. Advincula is an elite pure hitter who fits here on talent. Bo Lowrance or Taj Marchand would be interesting options if they make it here, but the Blue Jays don’t have a huge pool to work with.

Other Names We’re Hearing: Will Brick

Dart Throw Names For Later Picks: Will Adams, Brady Neal, Nate Isler, Eric Nachtsheim, Wyatt Clatur, Elliott Lascelles, Robert Omidi

from Shi Davidi article

Canadian class

The Blue Jays met with lefty Sean Duncan of Port Coquitlam, B.C., and infielder Elliot Lascelles of Toronto — two of the top Canadians available in the draft — during the combine, and both were described as impressive.

They’re part of a strong Canadian class that also includes Indiana State outfielder Carter Beck of Candruff, Sask., infielder Robert Omidi of Mississauga, Ont., and infielder Taj Marchand, who was born in Charleston, S.C., to Canadian father Hugo Marchand, a Montrealer drafted in the seventh round by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1997.