Blue Jays 2022 Draft Watch: Outfield draft prospects to consider

There’s a lot of activity within the land of the Blue Jays, with a new manager running the ship, a few Blue Jays going to the All-Star game, and of course the Major League Baseball Draft.  The Blue Jays are less than 24 hours away from making the 23rd overall pick in round one of the fiesta, followed by 21 other selections to complete the 2022 draft.

With a wide spread of talents across the board, the Blue Jays will have opportunity to prematurely revive the farm system, in preparation for the possibility of current Toronto prospects being moved in deals prior to the trade deadline.

Which prospects could the Blue Jays have eyes on? Who would fit the puzzle for future success in the outfield?

Blue Jays: Possible Draft Prospects in the Outfield

Gavin Cross, Virginia Tech

This Junior outfielder from Virginia Tech ranks 10 of 200 top MLB ranked prospects. He does everything from the left side with an above average arm, strong with the bat, and shows patience, aggression, and recognition at the plate. He has power, demonstrated in 28 college home runs, with the ability to drive in runs. His only concern is his tendency to strike out more than often.

Jordan Beck, Tennessee

Scouts have seen tools in this kid early, with a high school draft selection back in 2019 in the 14th round by the Boston Red Sox. Beck has skills with the bat and his arm. He has an above-average arm in the outfield with the ability to air it out often. His bat is strong, containing raw power, good contact, and the ability to use all fields. Beck had a good 2022 season as a Junior where he hit out 18 bombs, driving in 61 RBI, with a mediocre average of .298; his overall college numbers make him a contender for the first round, with a ranking of 23 of MLB’s top 200 prospects.

Drew Gilbert, Tennessee

The counterpart of Jordan Beck and neighbour in the outfield is Drew Gilbert of Tennessee, ranking 32 of MLB’s top 200. Another high-school draft pick in 2019’s 35th round by the Minnesota Twins, Gilbert showed early tools which has developed to this point. He’s now a reliable centre fielder for Tennessee with a bat that’s well trusted in big-game scenarios. He too, has raw power with a strong barrel swing through the zone, making hard launching contact. He’s totalled 22 home runs and 140 RBI on 160 hits, with a .314 ERA in three college seasons.

These three names can be great additions to the Blue Jays organization from this class of outfielders. Three very defensively sound prospects, with athleticism, and ability to swing it.