The Toronto Blue Jays have secured the fifth overall selection in the upcoming 2020 amateur draft with their 66-95 record.
With one game remaining in the 2019 season the Blue Jays could conceivably end up tied with the Seattle Mariners, however, the Jays have the tiebreaker which would afford them the lower pick. This past draft the fifth-round pick carried a slot value of $6,180,700.
The last time the Blue Jays had a top-five selection in the first round was 1997 when the team selected outfielder Vernon Wells. He would sign for $1.8 million and spend 12 seasons north of the border accumulating a 28.7 WAR with the Blue Jays.
The Detroit Tigers hold the worst record in the majors and for the effort will be awarded the first overall selection. Rounding out the top five will be the Orioles, Marlins, Royals, and Jays.
Turns out the #Rays weren't the only ones to clinch something at Rogers Centre last night. With the loss, #BlueJays secured the No. 5 overall pick in next year's draft. They could still tie #Mariners at 67-95, but hold the tiebreaker by virtue of worse record in 2018
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) September 28, 2019
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According to My MLB Draft, the Jays could select left-handed pitcher Asa Lacy from Texas A&M University. Lacy fanned 130 in just 88. 2 innings of work while featuring a mid-nineties fastball coupled with a devastating change-up.
The crop of available players in 2020 is said to be much deeper and talented than the previous 2019 draft. This past draft the Jays drafted pitcher Alek Manoah with the 11th overall selection. Manoah started six games for the Vancouver Canadians earning a 2.65 earned run average while striking out 27 in 17 innings of work.
I would be shocked if the Jays did not select another college pitcher this time around with the fifth overall pick. A possible front of the rotation arm would complement the likes of Nate Pearson, Eric Pardinho and Manoah quite nicely in the farm system.
It has been over 20 years since the Jays have had a top-five selection so hopefully, the scouting department and brain trust do their due diligence and hit it out of the park with this one.