2025 MLB Draft Day 2 Thread: Toronto Blue Jays Draft on Jays Centre

Micah Bucknam. 

Ranked 131 by MLB, picked 112

One of the best Canadian prospects in the 2022 Draft, Bucknam turned down the Blue Jays as a 16th-rounder to attend Louisiana State. He worked just 16 innings in two seasons in Baton Rouge because of command issues, enjoying more success in two summers in the Cape Cod League before transferring to Dallas Baptist. He became the Patriots' No. 1 starter and has some of the best feel for spin in the college ranks. Bucknam's tight 85-88 mph slider can reach 91, features high spin rates and is a legitimate wipeout pitch, while his low-80s curveball has more depth and is nearly as effective. His fastball stands out more for its velocity, usually ranging from 92-96 mph, than its life or ability to miss bats. He achieves some fade with his upper-80s changeup, though it's too firm and he struggles to land it for strikes. Bucknam has a strong 6-foot-1 frame and has improved his control as a junior, though he still gets into trouble when he catches too much of the plate. To succeed as a starter at the next level, he'll have to improve his fastball command and refine his changeup. If not, he could thrive as a reliever who relies heavily on his breaking pitches.

 

Jays take Micah Bucknam in Round 4 - RH Starting Pitcher

One of the best Canadian prospects in the 2022 Draft, Bucknam turned down the Blue Jays as a 16th-rounder to attend Louisiana State. He worked just 16 innings in two seasons in Baton Rouge because of command issues, enjoying more success in two summers in the Cape Cod League before transferring to Dallas Baptist. He became the Patriots' No. 1 starter and has some of the best feel for spin in the college ranks. Bucknam's tight 85-88 mph slider can reach 91, features high spin rates and is a legitimate wipeout pitch, while his low-80s curveball has more depth and is nearly as effective. His fastball stands out more for its velocity, usually ranging from 92-96 mph, than its life or ability to miss bats. He achieves some fade with his upper-80s changeup, though it's too firm and he struggles to land it for strikes. Bucknam has a strong 6-foot-1 frame and has improved his control as a junior, though he still gets into trouble when he catches too much of the plate. To succeed as a starter at the next level, he'll have to improve his fastball command and refine his changeup. If not, he could thrive as a reliever who relies heavily on his breaking pitches.

So much for signing the other Parker twin?  Or maybe we have some deal in place already to take him later?  MLB drafts are difficult to understand at times.

Why don't these draft day threads (Day 1 and Day 2) show up under the "forum" section?  I feel like nobody is going to see them?

Bucknam has apparently one of the best sliders in the class which sounds like a good reliever to me. That would be great with a third rounder. 

9 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Why don't these draft day threads (Day 1 and Day 2) show up under the "forum" section?  I feel like nobody is going to see them?

Moved it back to main forum for the day 

4 minutes ago, jmomcc said:

Bucknam has apparently one of the best sliders in the class which sounds like a good reliever to me. That would be great with a third rounder. 

*4th rounder

it looks like an MLB slider for sure

not sure why he wasn't more dominant with his velo and that slider but probably just the obvious things (inconsistent velo and command of everything, poor extension, dead zone fastball movement, etc.) 

 

wow - almost no scap retraction on Bucknam at all.  Don't see that often.

14 minutes ago, jmomcc said:

Bucknam has apparently one of the best sliders in the class which sounds like a good reliever to me. That would be great with a third rounder. 

 

Seems like a strong fallback plan in the least

Just now, Brownie19 said:

wow - almost no scap retraction on Bucknam at all.  Don't see that often.

explain

Back to back Canucks 

3 minutes ago, Laika said:

explain

It doesn't look like his elbow pulls behind his back much.  His hand and elbow all seem to stay "in front" of him throughout the delivery.  I slowed the video down a bit and he does get some scap retraction when his hips fire.  He seems very linear with everything.  

My gut says it's just a bit uncommon to see that at this level.  Obviously he makes it work.  Ironically, my 9 year old has a similar arm path.

Tim Piasentin

Lefty 1B/3B from Okotoks, Alberta. Okotoks is fun to say. 

Classic profile... big power but hit tool questions. Has an arm but probably too big for 3B down the road. 

I don't usually have a great read on this but he is probably the first guy since Parker who would be slot or over?

Jays take Tim Piasentin - 3rd Base - High School player from Alberta in the 5th round

The Canadian province of Alberta has produced just four big leaguers, a quartet of right-handed pitchers led by Michael Soroka. A year ago, Nathan Flewelling represented the western region as a big, strong left-handed high school hitter whom the Rays selected in the third round. Piasentin fits a similar profile as a young hitter who was rising up Draft boards after showing off his tools in a swing through Arizona during Spring Training. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Piasentin is a presence in the box from the left side of the plate. His standout tool is his raw power, and he can get to it. He had very impressive batting practice sessions with a wood bat in Arizona, showed he could catch up to premium velocity with a base hit to his pull side against a Royals Minor League reliever with upper-90s gas and turned around junior college competition during that Arizona trip. Not everyone is a believer in the hit tool as there is some swing-and-miss, with some scouts thinking it could take a while for him to be ready to produce good numbers as a pro. While Piasentin has a plus arm that works well from third base, it's unclear whether he'll be able to stay there. He's a bit of a plodder with limited range, so a move to first base might be in order, while some wouldn't mind seeing that arm in right field. He's committed to Miami should the Draft not work out, with some scouts thinking he could emerge as an early-round pick after a few years of college reps.

2 minutes ago, jmomcc said:

I don't usually have a great read on this but he is probably the first guy since Parker who would be slot or over?

You never know. Generally yes high school players will be overslot at this point but he could be slot or under as a Canadian going to the Jays. 

2 minutes ago, jmomcc said:

I don't usually have a great read on this but he is probably the first guy since Parker who would be slot or over?

 

If you're referring to the latest pick, I was thinking the opposite - figured he could be (at least slightly) underslot in round five. I wouldn't be surprised if there is some overall savings in rounds 3-5 that will pay for someone still to come. None of those three picks scream overslot to me 

5 minutes ago, Pendleton said:

If you're referring to the latest pick, I was thinking the opposite - figured he could be (at least slightly) underslot in round five. I wouldn't be surprised if there is some overall savings in rounds 3-5 that will pay for someone still to come. None of those three picks scream overslot to me 

Yeah and Parker could even be slightly under slot 

Personally I think they should go slightly under slot on every pick this draft then just give Ross Atkins a nice bonus for being in 1st at the All Star break. Maybe take him out to Ruth's Chris for lunch. Let him get dessert. 

15 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

wow - almost no scap retraction on Bucknam at all.  Don't see that often.

yea very little scapula loading, there's a few pitchers that do this and actually Mason Miller is 50/50 (although I haven't slowed down his video but at regular speed it looks like he doesn't fully load)

Just now, hanton said:

yea very little scapula loading, there's a few pitchers that do this and actually Mason Miller is 50/50 (although I haven't slowed down his video but at regular speed it looks like he doesn't fully load)

That's actually quite true.  His motion does remind me of Miller's.

Still no Jacob Parker.  At this point, he's probably set to go to college?  Time to break free from his twin perhaps.

2 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Still no Jacob Parker.  At this point, he's probably set to go to college?  Time to break free from his twin perhaps.

He is only the 22nd best available based on pipeline rankings and a lot of them are fellow HS prospects ahead of him. Maybe teams just see him more in the back end of the top 10 rounds 

The Jays already have a deal with the twin, where they take him is not relevant. 

Jack Bauer still available? Triple digits lefty, must be signability? 

How does a guy named JACK BAUER drop at all? 

c'mon. 

Eric Snow - SS from Auburn taken in the 6th round.  5'8" - tiny guy

1 minute ago, Brownie19 said:

Eric Snow - SS from Auburn taken in the 6th round.  5'8" - tiny guy

 

2024 – SOPHOMORE SEASON AT USF

Played in 45 games and made 43 starts … batted .258 with nine doubles, one homer, 19 RBI and 21 runs scored … drew 13 walks and posted a .345 OBP … went 9-for-13 in stolen base attempts … tallied 10 multi-hit games, including a three-hit game vs. Memphis (Mar. 24) … recorded a season-high three RBI vs. North Carolina A&T (Mar. 9) … longest hitting streak (5 games) and longest reached base streak (17 games) ... played for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod League during the summer ... named a CCL All-Star ... hit .326 with 30 hits, including three doubles and two homers, and drove in 18 runs in 29 games. 

He was 139th on the Perfect Game draft board. 

Tiny college SS. Five foot eight. About 1.03 Alejandro Kirk's high. 

Under slot? Seems like a utility man prospect more than anything.