3 college pitchers the Blue Jays should target in Round 1 of the MLB Draft

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The 2023 MLB draft is upon us, taking place between July 9-11 at Lumen Field in Seattle. It's an interesting time for every team and their fans, including the Blue Jays.

For the first round in particular, the Blue Jays have the 20th pick in what is widely regarded as a deep draft class. For this selection, they have a bonus pool of just under $3.75 million US. (Their total bonus pool is just under $6.53 million, which is 26th in the Majors.)

The question is, who will the Blue Jays take with their first round pick? We've already offered three college position players, but here are three college pitchers for them to also seriously consider:

Chase Dollander

Age	Height	Weight	Throws	Bats
21	6 ft 2 in	200 lbs	Right	Right

Chase Dollander had the world at his feet following an outstanding 2022 season in Tennessee, which came after transferring from Georgia Southern. He went 10-0 in 16 games (including 14 starts), highlighted by posting a 2.39 ERA and 0.797 WHIP.

As a result of his pitching, Dollander was voted SEC Pitcher of the Year and named First-Team All-American nearly across the board. There was talk of him being a generational talent and the best college pitcher since Stephen Strasburg.

Given all this, why would the Blue Jays even entertain the idea of the righty still being available for the 20th pick in the first round? It comes down to a disappointing encore in 2023, which has seen him fall down a few spots in the rankings list for pitchers.

Dollander went just 7-6 in 17 starts for the Volunteers, posting a 4.75 ERA -- his worst in three years at college -- and a 1.270 WHIP. One of the main reasons for his fall from grace, was struggles with his location.

With this said, it doesn't mean the 21-year-old has now become an average pitcher. He still has the potential to develop into a staff ace in the Majors - he just isn't perceived as such a sure thing anymore.

Helping Dollander's chances to suceed are a fastball which can reach 99 mph, along with a slider which is arguably the best in this class. He also possesses a decent changeup and curveball, both of which he continues to work on.

The Evans, Georgia native has good size at 6 ft 2 in and 200 lbs, and can still fill out some more. He is durable and capable of being an innings eater, something which could prove invaluable for whoever selects him.

On the subject of selecting him, you would still lean towards Dollander being gone by the time it's the Blue Jays' turn to pick. However, thanks to a drop in the pre-draft prospect rankings, there is now at least some hope he could end up in Toronto.

Hurston Waldrep

Age	Height	Weight	Throws	Bats
21	6 ft 2 in	210 lbs	Right	Right

After Dollander there's a bit of a gap before you reach the next pitcher in the prospect rankings according to MLB.com, i.e. Hurston Waldrep at 19. He makes for an intriguing option, with both plenty of potential and questions.

Waldrep only moved into the Southern Mississippi rotation for the 2022 season due to a lack of options for the team. And yet, he went on to excel for the Golden Eagles.

The Cairo, Georgia native went 6-2 in 17 starts, recording a 3.20 ERA and 14 strikeouts per nine innings. He also showed an ability to power through outings, highlighted by throwing two complete games.

Waldrep made the decision to transfer to Florida for the 2023 season but the results weren't quite as impressive, notably with a 1.397 WHIP which was his worst in three years at college. However, he did go 10-3 in 19 starts and average 13.8 strikeouts per nine innings, recording a serviceable 4.16 ERA in the process.

To highlight the mercurial talent, consider that the righty is just one of 10 SEC pitchers to average at least 13 strikeouts per nine innings in a season since 2011. (Minimum 75.0 innings pitched.) However, he is also just one of two pitchers to record a walk-rate worse than 4.0 per nine innings (5.0) during the same time frame.

Despite the inconsistency, the raw talent at Waldrep's disposal is clear. He has three quality pitches, including a fastball which almost touches 100 on the radar gun, to go along with a high-80s slider and low-80s curveball.

From a scouting perspective, the main question is whether the 21-year-old projects as a long-term starter? Even if he doesn't though, he would offer a valuable addition to a bullpen, capable of throwing multiple innings.

Overall, Waldrep is a top athlete who previously played football as a kicker and punter. He will be drafted in the first round -- whether the team drafting him is Toronto, remains to be seen.

Joe Whitman

Age	Height	Weight	Throws	Bats
21	6 ft 5 in	200 lbs	Left	Left

With MLB.com ranking Joe Whitman at 37, he may sound like an underwhelming option to some. However. there's plenty to like about him.

In a draft with few quality southpaw options, Whitman stands out. Any uncertainty comes purely from a lack of a long track record, with him only becoming a full-time starter this year.

That said, the 21-year-old was excellent in his one season at Kent State. He went 9-2 in 15 starts for the Gold Flashes, with a 2.56 ERA and 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings among his highlights.

Whitman allowed two or less runs in all but a couple of his starts. As a result of everything achieved, he was voted MAC Pitcher of the Year and named First-Team All-America.

At 6 ft 5 in and 200 lbs, the Akron, Ohio native is an imposing presence, armed with three quality pitches. He mostly relies on a fastball-slider combination more than his changeup, with the slider being his best overall pitch.

Helping Whitman ultilize his physical attributes effectively, is a strong mindset. As per Dan Zielinski of Baseball Prospect Journal, he said:

Mentality on the mound is my biggest strength. I like to go after hitters and attack them with my best stuff and try to get them out as quickly as possible.

Overall, the combination of Whitman's size, talent, mentality and being a left-handed pitcher is extremely intriguing. Despite his current ranking, Blue Jays fans should not be disappointed if the team does end up picking him.

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