Jake Cook was a late bloomer in college and eventually switched from pitching to hitting in his senior year at Southern Mississippi. He would be drafted in the second round of the MLB draft by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025, 81st overall. His last year at Southern Mississippi, he ended up hitting .350/.436/.468, launched only three home runs, swiped three bases, but had a 10.9% walk rate and a 6.7% strikeout rate.

Cook didn't play in any games after being drafted, so 2026 will be his debut year in the minor leagues. He will be a project hitter, but he does a lot of things well to give him a solid floor to his profile. He gets on base, and he doesn't strike out much, for example. He has an advanced hit tool for his level of experience and could make big leaps once the season begins. His calling card is definitely his speed, as he may be one of the fastest players in the minor leagues from day one. He, too, will likely begin with the FCL Blue Jays and move on up to Single-A Dunedin at some point. How he develops as a base stealer and whether or not he adds power will shape how fast he moves through the minor leagues and where his profile's ultimate outcome will land.