Blue Jays: Revisiting first round selections since the 2009 amateur draft

SECAUCUS, NJ - JUNE 5: Commissioner Allan H. Bud Selig at the podium during the MLB First-Year Player Draft at the MLB Network Studio on June 5, 2014 in Secacucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NJ - JUNE 5: Commissioner Allan H. Bud Selig at the podium during the MLB First-Year Player Draft at the MLB Network Studio on June 5, 2014 in Secacucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 29: A glove and balls sit on the infield before a game between the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 29, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

2018: Jordan Groshans: Drafted 1st round, 12th overall

Since Ross Atkins liked drafting a shortstop so much the year prior, he decided to do it again by going off the board and drafting high schooler Jordan Groshans with the 12th overall pick. Rated as the 31st prospect by MLB Pipeline going into the draft, the Blue Jays drafted him well before he was expected to come off the board, and gave him a bonus of $3.4 million. While this is a large sum, it is still under the slot allotment of approximately $4.2 million.

Groshans would have a strong start to his professional career,  splitting time between two different leagues of Rookie league ball. He would go on to hit for a combined .296/.353/.446, which is quite an accomplishment for the teenager.

This hot start gave the Blue Jays the confidence to start Groshans off in Class-A Lansing, where he will most likely spend the season. A strong season in Lansing could see his advancement to Advanced-A ball, but the Blue Jays will most likely take a cautious approach. There are quite a few infield prospects in Groshans way if he is to make the Toronto Blue Jays in the future, so rushing is not needed for the young potential star.

dark. Next. Blue Jays: Clay Buchholz expected to start Saturday

I should have tried harder in high school ball, but I don’t think I was ever destined for the show. Teach your kids to throw hard. They may be able to pay off your mortgage one day.