Blue Jays 2022 Draft: 1st round, 23rd overall, LHP Brandon Barriera

The Toronto Blue Jays took to the draft boards yesterday, selecting left-handed pitcher Brandon Barriera 23rd overall, out of American Heritage High School, located in Plantation, Florida.

The 18-year-old New Yorker was a 2021 All-American Classic player and is currently committed to the notorious Vanderbilt University. Barriera has a Perfect Game positional ranking of second overall in the state of Flordia, and a player ranking of third overall.

He’s ranked 10th overall in the country, and third overall in national positional ranking. Barriera is Major League Baseball’s 15th-ranked prospect on the top 200 MLB Draft Prospect list.

Blue Jays 1st Round Pick, Brandon  Barriera: Analysis and Synopsis

With a 6’2″ built, weighing 180lbs, Brandon Barriera is on the smaller-slim athletic range, considering he’s a pitcher, however, this in no way hinders his ability to succeed on the bump. Barriera’s delivery is very simple, smooth, and mechanically sound. He has good arm action, delivering over the top with a good finish, through the full to the stretch. He is able to control the running game on his part, with good tempo, and movement to the plate with runners on base.

The Blue Jays select LHP Brandon Barriera in the 2022 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Barriera ranks 15th of MLB’s 200 top prospects.

Barriera comes with a stealth repertoire which makes him so valuable, earning a first-round selection. His duty belt of pitch selections includes four dependable and projectable options with great velocity and movement.

His fastball bites, which sits between 92-95mph, and can ramp up 96-97 as he continues throughout the game.  Scouts have seen up to 99mph in 2022. Barriera has a sweeping curveball in which hitters will fish in vulnerable counts, along with a change-up that works in against his fastball. Brandon’s out-pitch is most definitely his slider, which has heavy breaking movement and is very effective in counts against 3-4 sticks in volatile counts.

This Blue Jays selection is nothing but good for the organization and its farm system. As I’ve previously mentioned in another piece, the Blue Jays do require immediate help in all pitching aspects of the team, and re-stocking arms into the system is nothing but beneficial. Barriera’s projection could have him in a future starting role with the club; if retained by the organization, his projection would be one to compete in the mighty American League East.