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

By Tyson Shushkewich

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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TORONTO, ON – JUNE 10: Chad Jenkins #64 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch in the 7th inning against the Minnesota Twins during MLB action at the Rogers Centre June 10, 2014 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JUNE 10: Chad Jenkins #64 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch in the 7th inning against the Minnesota Twins during MLB action at the Rogers Centre June 10, 2014 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images) /

2009-Chad Jenkins: Drafted 1st round, 20th overall

Chad Jenkins was a starting pitcher when he was drafted out of Kennesaw State University. He signed with the team with an attached $1.35 million dollars bonus shortly after he was drafted.

He would work his way through the Blue Jays farm system and make his first appearance for the big league club in August of 2012 against the Tampa Bay Rays. He would spend the next three years riding the options train from Buffalo to Toronto, and pitching to an ERA of 4.50 (2012), 2.70 (2013), 2.56 (2014), and 4.91 (2015) as a spot starter and a reliever when with the big club.

While his ERA was decent in 2012 and 2013, he could not keep a position in the Blue Jays bullpen and would spend almost the entire 2015 season in Buffalo.

In 2016, Jenkins would be designated for assignment (DFA’d) off the 40 man roster, clearing waivers, and would spend the season at AAA before being released on June 30 by the organization.

After his release from the team, Jenkins would not suit up for another professional baseball organization again. He went back to Kennesaw State to complete his degree and got back into baseball as a coach for youth teams. He will always be known as a player drafted before superstar Mike Trout if it is any consolation.

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