6 Pitchers the Blue Jays Could Take in the 2023 MLB Draft
The Blue Jays have selected a starting pitcher in the first round of each of the last two MLB Drafts, drafting Brandon Barriera and Gunnar Hoglund.
While the focus in this year's class is mainly on the sluggers, there are still a few hurlers who could fall into Toronto's lap at pick 20. Here are six pitchers the Blue Jays could draft in the first round of this year's selection show:
RHP Hurston Waldrep, Florida
Waldrep helped pitch Florida deep into the College World Series this year with one of the SEC's most interesting repertoires. He'll beat you with the mid-90s fastball, but it's the secondary offerings that have him high on most draft boards. Waldrep has two breaking balls (slider and curve) and a splitter that sits in the high-80s and drops below the strike zone.
There are some questions about the Florida ace's longevity as a starter. He's got a high-effort delivery and plenty of moving parts in his wind-up, which led to spotty command at times throughout his college career.
Hurston Waldrep's Splitter (home plate view) pic.twitter.com/JHZIhOcizy
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 19, 2023
LHP Thomas White, Phillips Academy High School
Most high school lefties are projects, but White's already got the makings of a future big-league hurler. The 18-year-old is 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, reaches 97 with his fastball, and has a plus changeup. Any one of those traits would draw a crowd of scouts, but the Vanderbilt commit has 'em all.
The southpaw has a curveball as his third pitch and many scouts think he'll break a slider into his mix in the minors, per Baseball America. If there's one area for growth, it's fastball command. But the same could be said with Toronto's first-round pick from last year (and a fellow prep lefty), Barriera.
LHP Joe Whitman, Kent State
A stable left-hander who bounced back from horrendous issues during his early college years, Whitman projects as a late first-round pick in the '23 Draft. He's not a filth machine the way other top pitching prospects are, but the 21-year-old features a mid-90s heater and an above-average slider.
Like Ricky Tiedemann, Whitman is tall and lean, but a new weight regimen could help add some muscle. From there, a few more ticks on the heater could boost his stock to a future No. 2 or No. 3 starter.
RHP Charlee Soto, Reborn Christian Academy (HS)
Soto is your man if projectability is what you're after. The 17-year-old high schooler is already a hulking 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, and capable of blasting his fastball into triple digits.
Like Nate Pearson, whom the Jays selected out of high school in 2017, Soto possesses the frame to be a long-term top-of-the-rotation starter. Although his breaking ball comes in a little harder than Pearson's, Soto is tough enough to endure the workload, and his velocity potential alone qualifies him for first-round consideration.
RHP Chase Dollander, Tennessee
After a pristine 2022 college season, Dollander took a step back this year with the Vols, as his hits, walks, and homer numbers ballooned. However, his rocky season might drop him right into the Blue Jays' lap at No. 20.
The right-hander's stuff is electric. He's got great rhythm in his delivery, which propels his fastball as high as 98 mph. Dollander also throws an excellent slider, a changeup, and a slow curveball.
As far as upside picks go, Dollander might be the best on the board. He's a power pitcher with enough potential to develop into a future ace.
RHP/1B Bryce Eldridge, James Madison High School
Could the Jays take a chance on a prep two-way star?
The 6-foot-7 slugger bats left and throws right, reaching the high 90s with his fastball. In his final prep season, the Virginia high school baseball equivalent of Shohei Ohtani posted a 1.06 ERA on the mound while hitting .422 with a 1.716 OPS at the plate.
Given the two-way talent and high school variance, pre-draft rankings are a bit scattered for Eldrige, but most places have him lasting into the early 20s. Many high school two-way players immediately commit to one position after the draft, but most reports and scouts agree Eldridge has a legitimate shot to stick with both the bat and mound, at least into the minors.
