Day 2 Draft Picks: Blue Jays Select LHP Ricky Tiedemann and Others
They had to wait, but the Blue Jays eventually joined day two of the 2021 MLB Draft.
Over 70 picks after their first selection, the Blue Jays selected LHP Ricky Tiedemann in the third round of the draft. Following first round pick Gunnar Hoglund, Tiedemann joined an early trend of Toronto's 2021 draft: starting pitching. The Blue Jays opened this year's selection show with five straight picks, and even their first drafted hitter has had success on the mound.
In the second round, Tiedemann was compared to Sean Manaea on the MLB broadcast, and was seen as one of the top Junior College prospects in the draft. As a left handed pitcher, he owns a hard-spinning slider, advanced changeup, and recent uptick in fastball velocity. At 6-4, 220, the southpaw has one of the longest strides in the class, using his length and frame to produce velocity, and increase perceived velo. In seven 2021 starts with Golden West College Athletics, Tiedemann tossed 38 innings, posted a 3.55 ERA, struck out 60 batters, and walked just 15.
In the fourth round Toronto selected college starter Chad Dallas out of Tennessee. At just 5-11, 206, Dallas has a very different profile than the first two selections of Toronto's 2021 draft. Coming off his junior season in the NCAA, Dallas has posted a 3.91 ERA and struck out 143 batters in his 21 college starts.
Toronto began day two with four straight pitching selections, including fifth round pick Irv Carter, who is seen as one of the best 'No. 2' arms in high school baseball. Carter pitched for Calvary Christian (FL) High School, slotting in the rotation behind Phillies first round pick Andrew Painter.
Nine rounds of the 2021 MLB Draft were completed Monday, taking the selection show through the tenth round. Rounds 11-20 will be completed Tuesday.
Toronto's selections thus far:
Round 1, 19th: RHP Gunnar Hoglund, Ole Miss
Round 3, 91st: LHP Ricky Tiedemann, Golden West College (CA) JuCo
Round 4, 121: RHP Chad Dallas, Tennessee
Round 5, 152: RHP Irv Carter, Calvary Christian (FL) High School
Round 6, 182: RHP Hayden Juenger, Missouri State
Round 7, 212: OF Jaden Rudd, A. Crawford Mosley (FL) High School
Round 8, 242: RHP Hunter Gregory, Old Dominion
Round 9, 272: RHP Conor Larkin, Penn State
Round 10, 302: RHP Connor Cooke, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Further Reading:
Blue Jays Pick RHP Gunnar Hoglund in 2021 MLB Draft
Blue Jays Lead Betting Odds to Land José Berrios
Mitch Bannon is a baseball reporter for Sports Illustrated covering the Toronto Blue Jays and their minor league affiliates.Twitter: @MitchBannon