Blue Jays grab OF Joshua Polacios in fourth round

The Toronto Blue Jays have selected outfielder Joshua Polacios with their fourth-round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft

Make it two college-level positional players for the Blue Jays in their first five picks, as Toronto has selected Auburn’s Joshua Polacios 132nd overall. He transferred to play for the Tigers in 2016 after playing junior college ball at San Jacinto. He is originally from Brooklyn and was drafted in the 31st round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds.

MLB Pipeline had Polacios ranked as their 169th prospect and had the following to say:

“A switch-hitter in high school who has hit exclusively left-handed in college, he has a quick swing and makes consistent hard contact. He manages the strike zone well and focuses on producing line drives, though he shows occasional power to his pull side.”

Earlier Jays draft picks (with links to articles):
Round 1:  T.J. Zeuch
Round 2:  J.B Woodman
Round 2:  Bo Bichette
Round 3:  Zach Jackson

Polacios should grade out as a good runner with the potential to steal some bases, but most scouting reports suggest that he may be challenged to stick at centre field when he ascends through the minor leagues.

His numbers at the plate last season, however, do jump off the page. Polacios his .384 in 143 at-bats with an incredible .463 on-base percentage. He added in nine doubles, four triples, and five home runs for 23 RBIs with 12 stolen bases.