Blue Jays: An overview of the early 2022 first-round mock drafts

Andrew Dutkanych – RHP

Predicted via Ryan Miller at JustBaseball.com

A product of Brebeuf Jesuit located in Indianapolis, Indiana, right-hander Andrew Dutkanych is one of the top-ranked prep-school pitchers heading into the 2022 MLB Draft.

The baseball season is still underway for Brebeuf but Dutkanych is already impressing so far, sporting a 1.00 ERA through six appearances and 28.0 innings of work. He has only allowed four earned runs on the season and has 61 strikeouts compared to 18 balls while allowing just 13 hits so far.

The Blue Jays hold the 23rd pick in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft this year. Let’s take a look at some early mock drafts on potential draft candidates.

The right-hander possesses a solid arsenal that features a tough slider that sits in the mid-80s that many believe is his top pitch, complimented by a fastball that can touch 97 MPH on occasion. He also throws a curveball that sits just below 80 MPH while also mixing in a changeup that is a work in progress but is another added pitch to keep hitters on their toes. He has an easy, repeatable delivery from the 3/4 slot and attacks hitters at the plate with his 6’3″ frame that should fill out as he continues to develop, potentially adding some more MPH to his fastball and other offerings.

The Indiana product does have a commitment to Vanderbilt University, which will be a challenge for a team like the Blue Jays who sit just far enough down the draft board where he could choose to go to school to try and improve his draft ranking in a couple of years time. The risk is that he may require above-slot bonus money if he falls far enough down the board, which could be tricky given the high volume of picks and with a commitment to a top school in Vanderbilt.