ESPN insider identifies which Blue Jays 2024 draft pick is a ‘sleeper to watch'

The Toronto Blue Jays took a step towards ‘re-stocking the cupboards’ starting on July 14 when they drafted 21 players into their organization to improve the team’s prospect rankings, which have languished towards the bottom of the league for a few years now.

Despite picking 20th overall, analysts have given positive marks for the Jays’ draft class, and many were surprised they were able to land Trey Yesavage, the third-best pitcher on many draft boards. ESPN recently published a draft recap article naming each team’s best value, best player drafted, and where they rank on each team’s prospect list. It also names a sleeper to watch and one big thought for all 30 MLB teams.

Johnny King, a 17-year-old (turns 18 on July 26th) left-handed pitcher out of Collier County High School in Florida, was selected by the Blue Jays in the third round, 95th overall, and named as the best value pick and the sleeper to watch. He’s tall (6-foot-4) and has a fastball that routinely hits the mid-90s, and well as three other developing pitches that described as having “above-average potential.”

King is one of just five high-schoolers Toronto drafted this year and is a University of Miami signee. He can opt out and sign his first professional contract or play for the Hurricanes next season. Considering his potential, Jays brass are hoping he picks the former. King’s draft slot carries a signing bonus of $762,200. The teenager throws from a lower arm slot, which should increase his ability to generate lateral movement on his breaking ball and changeup.

In addition to falling to the Blue Jays at #20, Yesavage also profiles as a pitcher who could have a quick path to the show. He heroically came back from suffering a collapsed lung to pitch 7.1 innings of one-run, one-hit ball in the NCAA Greenville Regional, a win over Wake Forest in one of the most memorable games of the college baseball season. During Sunday’s broadcast, Sportsnet analyst Arden Zwelling reported that Yesavage had yet to sign his major-league contract. That shouldn’t sound off alarm bells, however, as only nine first-round picks have put pen to paper. Yesavage has a draft pick value of $4,073,400. 

In the one big thought section, the post mentions Khal Stephen, the club’s second-round pick, having a profile like Yesavage but with less raw stuff. Still, it says the Purdue product is a candidate to rise to the upper minors next year.  The section concludes by highlighting Austin Cates as a potential mid-level starter who could excel with improved velocity, and Carson Messina, the brother of Cole Messina, a third-round pick by the Rockies. Carson is another righthanded pitcher whose stuff has touched the mid-90s. Finally, the piece mentions a position player, Sean Keys, a third baseman out of Ivy-League Bucknell, who has a reputation for getting on base and hitting homers.