Toronto Blue Jays: Draft Targets 2.0: Position Players

The MLB Draft is quickly approaching. After taking a look at some more pitching prospects that could be potential targets for the Blue Jays last week, I’m putting out my second round of position players that they could have an interest in this July.

The Jays are slated to pick 19th overall and will have plenty of talented options to choose from due to how deep of a class this appears to be.   If you missed the first round of draft targets on either the pitching or position player side, or second round of pitchers, make sure to check it out so you have all the information you need heading into the draft.  With that being said, let’s jump in and see some potential position players that could be joining the Jays this summer.

Matt McLain SS UCLA, #12 on MLB Pipeline 

Despite being selected 25th overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2018 MLB Draft, Matt McLain decided to honour his commitment to UCLA and headed to Los Angeles to begin his college career.

This turned out to be a wise decision, as after an underwhelming freshman year, McLain took off in the COVID shortened season, posting an eye popping .397 batting average and an OPS north of 1.000 in 13 games for the Bruins.  The SoCal native has continued to impress so far this season, hitting .325 with an 1.010 OPS, and has established himself as one of the top college infielders in this year’s draft class.

McLain thrives in his ability to make consistent contact.  He has a short, quick swing that allows him to stay back on the ball and hit to all parts of the field. The California native’s eye has improved over the course of his career, and he displayed this by walking more than he struck out in his final season as a Bruin.   McLain is small in stature, standing at 5’10” and weighing in at 175 pounds, but despite the lack of size, there’s still plenty of pop in his bat as he has 62 extra-base hits in 171 games during his time at UCLA and the Cape Cod League.

Along with his advanced bat and above average power, McLain brings plus speed to the table, receiving a 60 run grade on MLB Pipelines 20/80 scale.  His combination of speed and baseball smarts has turned him into a threat on the bases, where he swiped nine bags in nine attempts this season.  Defensively, McLain has played all over the infield during his time at UCLA and in the Cape, but has “improved his footwork and hands” leaving scouts to believe that he has the tools to handle shortstop at the next level.

I really like McLain as a player, as he plays a gritty style of baseball and is not afraid to lay out for a ball, drop down a bunt for a hit, or take an extra-base when the opportunity arises.  Watching him play, he reminded me of a more athletically gifted Dustin Pedroia, who is someone Jays fans know all too well from his time with the division rival Red Sox.

McLain is the 12th ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline’s board, but I have seen him go higher than this in many mock drafts, reaching the top 10 in some cases.  Shortstop is slowly becoming a need for the Jays, with Bo Bichette’s inconsistent defensive play becoming more of an issue this season.

McLain could provide the Jays with a rare opportunity to fill a position of need while still drafting the best player available if he is on the board at 19, which would make it a home run selection in my eyes.