2015 First-Year Player Draft GDT | June 8, 2015 - 7:00 PM ET | Live on MLB.com

[GD]

How many times has Suarez been drafted holy s***

[ace3113]

Dang, really liked White.

[GD]

Athletics get Ace's guy White

[metafour]

Now I think we're out of players who have been rumored to the Jays or is there someone still on the board?

 

Pop-up HS RHP Justin Maese was mentioned as a target by Keith Law. Probably a 3rd/4th round type prospect.

[GD]

Staumont :'(

[GD]

My goodness Staumont is handsome.

[baubau]

My goodness Staumont is handsome.

 

[GD]

 

missed the board meme ftl 0/10

 

Lol what about MLB​ draft is so hard to say?

[ace3113]

Athletics get Ace's guy White

 

Pretty fly for a White guy.

[GD]

Finley?

[GD]

Surprised no Finley. His dad works for the Dodgers or something and he's quite good.

[King]

He said Rodgers is really humble, he told him "dude you're gonna make a lot of money" and he was like "oh yea". Didn't care what team he went to. Spends almost all of his time practicing baseball (not surprising). Also he's really weird and shoves ice down his pants.

[King]

How far will Matuella slide? State your bets.

[King]

There goes Jones

[havok24]

I hope Junior knocks out Harold Reynolds.

[King]

What time does day 2 start tomorrow?

[King]

Twins get Kyle Cody

[King]

BNS story on Jays picks

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/toronto-blue-jays-select-2015-first-round-pick-anthopoulos-missouri-state-right-hander-jon-harris/

 

The first time the Toronto Blue Jays selected Jon Harris he was pretty certain he was going to turn them down and attend college. After three years at Missouri State, the right-hander had a much different reaction upon being selected 29th overall by Toronto in the 2015 amateur draft.

“I heard my name and I broke down in tears because it’s one of those childhood dreams that every kid has,” Harris told reporters on a conference call. “I look forward to fulfilling that dream in the Toronto organization. It’s a blessing in disguise to be drafted by them again.”

The Blue Jays, who chose high school right-hander Brady Singer 56th overall in the second round, initially picked Harris in the 33rd round back in 2012. At that point he was 6’0″, but he’s now 6’4″ with an improved feel for pitching.

Many expected the native of Florissant, Mo., to be picked by the time Toronto’s pick came around. Baseball America ranked him 25th among all eligible prospects, and Toronto “got a steal” in the view of MLB.com draft expert Jim Callis.

“It was a great night,” Blue Jays amateur scouting director Brian Parker said. “We actually had Jon Harris ranked significantly higher than where we picked. He kind of fell further than we thought he was going to … We had to take advantage of it. It was one of those guys where he was just too high on our board to pass up.”

The Blue Jays were also pleased to land Singer, a hard-throwing Florida high schooler.

“It’s a young, athletic kid with a big frame and a great fastball,” Parker said. “He’s got (fastball) life and he’s got sink and he can really command the fastball. Secondary (pitches are) probably the one thing that he needs to work on… But he can pitch with his fastball. That’s his biggest thing right now.”

While Harris heard rumours that he could be selected within the first 15 picks, he remained calm as he waited and watched at his aunt’s house in St. Louis with his mother, father, aunt, uncle and 91-year-old great grandmother.

“I had the faith that I was going to get taken,” he said. “It was just who. I wasn’t getting up or down about anything.”

Harris describes himself as a four-pitch pitcher who throws fastballs, curveballs, change-ups and sliders from a high three-quarter arm-slot. The Blue Jays expect him to sit around 92-94 mph while mixing in two breaking balls, including an above-average slider. “It’s a guy that has weapons to get people out,” Parker said.

And much like Blue Jays starter Mark Buehrle, Harris prefers to work quickly.

“I like to get the ball and go,” he said. “I don’t like to sit and waste time between pitches. I like to get what I want and deliver the ball to home plate.”

Harris excelled at Missouri State, going 8-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 103 innings this season. He struck out 116 while walking 36 and allowing two home runs. Next up he wants to improve his command and perhaps add a few pounds onto his lanky frame.

The 21-year-old has yet to visit Toronto — he doesn’t own a winter jacket, in fact — but he knows a little about the city from following its sports teams.

“I know Drake, the hip-hop artist is a Toronto guy,” Harris said. “Other than that they’ve got a decent hockey team — I follow hockey — they’ve got a halfway decent basketball team and I know their baseball team is pretty solid.”

The Blue Jays obtained the 29th pick for losing free agent Melky Cabrera to the Chicago White Sox after making him a qualifying offer. They lost their first-round pick when they signed Russell Martin to a five-year contract.

The recommended bonus for the 29th pick is $1,944,800, and the Blue Jays are allowed to spend $5,411,000 within the first 10 rounds without incurring penalties. Parker said the Blue Jays are comfortable with how signable Harris is, but the right-hander said he’s leaving the deal-making to his advisor.

“I haven’t heard anything about if there’s a deal in place or what I would get,” he said. “All I know is I’m the 29th overall pick for the Toronto Blue Jays and that’s about all I know.”

For now that’s all he needs to know. The rest can fall into place later this summer.

“Toronto’s going to be a great fit for me. It’s going to be a new home for me,” Harris said. “I’m going to do what I can to wear that Toronto blue proudly.”

[TwistedLogic]

What time does day 2 start tomorrow?

 

Preview at 12:30 EST, drafting begins at 1:00.

[King]

Day One is over

[King]

Nathan Rode ‏@NathanRode 36s37 seconds ago

After Day 1, top HS prospects available: Hooper, Everett, Chalmers, Baker, Miller, Sands, Jones, Beck, Cabbage, McFadden, Brown. #mlbdraft

[bluebird]

hoffman

[King]

I'll be around

[TheHurl]

First time I've ever read an entire 50 page thread, and was actually entertained by it. I love that the experts continually show us that no one is a draft expert. Like that we got a LHH catcher. Those are usually handy to have.

 

Good to see the Jays go for pitching for a change.

[Stangstag]

First time I've ever read an entire 50 page thread, and was actually entertained by it. I love that the experts continually show us that no one is a draft expert. Like that we got a LHH catcher. Those are usually handy to have.

 

Good to see the Jays go for pitching for a change.

 

Uhhhhh....

[Spanky99]

I wanted Demi at 56, overall a good draft thus far.

[Spanky99]

Uhhhhh....

 

Well, that flew right over your head?

[BigCecil]

First time I've ever read an entire 50 page thread, and was actually entertained by it. I love that the experts continually show us that no one is a draft expert. Like that we got a LHH catcher. Those are usually handy to have.

 

Good to see the Jays go for pitching for a change.

 

Highest-drafted players on Blue Jays’ 40-man roster

 

Justin Smoak, 1st round, 11th pick

R.A. Dickey, 1st round, 18th pick

Chad Jenkins, 1st round, 20th pick

Marcus Stroman, 1st round, 22nd pick

Aaron Sanchez, 1st round, 34th pick

Brett Cecil, 1st round, 38th pick

Josh Donaldson, 1st round, 48th pick

Daniel Norris, 2nd round

Rob Rasmussen, 2nd round

Ryan Goins, 4th round

Steve Tolleson, 5th round

Marco Estrada, 6th round

Edwin Encarnacion, 9th round

Aaron Loup, 9th round

Matt Hague, 9th round

A.J. Jimenez, 9th round

Andrew Albers, 10th round

Michael Saunders, 11th round

Josh Thole, 13th round

Devon Travis, 13th round

Drew Hutchison, 15th round

Dalton Pompey, 16th round

Russell Martin, 17th round

Danny Valencia, 19th round

Ryan Tepera, 19th round

Jose Bautista, 20th round

Scott Copeland, 21st round

Steve Delabar, 29th round

Colt Hynes, 31st round

Kevin Pillar, 32nd round

Mark Buehrle, 38th round

 

This list shows us that too. So tough to predict.

[Boxcar]

Uhhhhh....

 

Hurl hates pitchers. Jays always take pitchers. Jays again took pitchers. Hurl is displeased and laid on the snark.

[DuckDuckGose]

First time I've ever read an entire 50 page thread, and was actually entertained by it. I love that the experts continually show us that no one is a draft expert. Like that we got a LHH catcher. Those are usually handy to have.

 

Good to see the Jays go for pitching for a change.

 

So you are hoping for Austin Allen in the 3rd round?