Blue Jays, Rays, and Yankees have similar draft strategies with first picks

The Toronto Blue Jays and their division rivals, the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees, all selected high school shortstops in the first round as the MLB Draft got underway Sunday night. Toronto took JoJo Parker from Purvis HS in Mississippi with the 8th overall pick. Six selections later, the Rays drafted Daniel Pierce out of Mill Creek HS in Georgia. As the first round rolled on, the Yankees nabbed Dax Kilby of Newman HS in Georgia. These first-rounders will players to keep an eye on as they strive to make their way to the big leagues. 

Parker, committed to Mississippi State, is an 18-year-old left-handed hitter who earned the Gatorade State Player of the Year award after a breakout senior season. He projects as a hit-first prospect, with a 60-grade hit rating from MLB Pipeline, and scouts suggest that a move to second base or third base could be in his future. The 6’2”, 200-pound teenager is destined to join Arjun Nimmala atop the team infield prospect rankings.

Pierce is a right-handed hitter with a speed-contact profile, and a 60-grade run grade per MLB Pipeline. He’s smaller than Parker (6’0”, 185 lbs.), and comes with a better reputation as a defender at shortstop, with developing power. He’ll provide organizational depth up the middle for the Rays, with top prospect, 2021 first-round pick, fellow shortstop Carson Williams expected to make his MLB debut as soon as this season. He’s committed to play at the University of Georgia next season. 

Kilby, taken with the penultimate pick in the opening round, has a similar build to Parker (6’2”, 190 lbs.) and is a left-handed hitter with a well-rounded game. His best tools are his hitting and running (both graded at 55 per MLB Pipeline), and he entered the draft known as one of the more polished high school hitters available. Like Parker, Kilby isn’t necessarily expected to reach the majors as a shortstop, but could project at second base or left field. He’ll join George Lombard Jr. as the highest-ranked Yankees infield prospect. Kilby is committed to Clemson.

These new draft picks are all just 18 years old and are likely at least two to three years from contributing at the major league level. In a division that's as competitive as it’s ever been, keeping an eye on these young infidelders and their respective developments will be an interesting story to follow.