By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

4th round - Will Robertson, OF

The Toronto Blue Jays went with another outfielder in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB draft but this time, they went with a collegiate player, power-hitting junior Will Robertson of Creighton University in Nebraska with the 117th pick overall.

Robertson was ranked #81 by MLB.com, who noted that he had a modest freshman season in Creighton in 2017, but "made a run at the Big East Conference triple crown in 2018 and continued to produce in the Cape Cod League during the summer). He's noted for his ability to put balls in the seats, despite his home ballpark's home-run-suppression capabilities. He's a lefthanded hitter who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 215 pounds and hit 12 home runs in 2018 with another 15 this season (with a combined 36 doubles over that span of time).

Robertson was ranked #95 (one spot ahead of third-round pick Dasan Brown) by Baseball America who noted that he shows "a level, line-drive swing from the left side that provides plenty of contact and some power because of his innate strength." THey noted that he hit .300/.380/.435 in the Cape Cod League and suggested that the "plus raw power" goes with an "average hit tool" and that he's "more solid than spectacular." He's got average defense with a "fringe-average arm" and is "an average runner."

5th round - Tanner Morris, SS

In the fifth round of the 2019 MLB draft, the Blue Jays selected a college shortstop, Tanner Morris, out of the University of Virginia at #147 overall.

A draft eligible sophomore, Morris is another lefthanded hitter (like fourth-round pick Will Robertson) and played for former closer Billy Wagner in high school. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Morris had a solid season in his freshman year at Virginia, hitting .298/.397/.374 with nine doubles and two home runs but really turned things up a notch in his sophomore year after a strong showing in the Cape Cod League in 2018.

MLB.com ranks Morris at #104 and writes that "Morris has a very good track record for hitting and most scouts believe he'll continue to hit for average at the next level." He's walked more than he's struck out in both of his collegiate seasons and scouts seem to think that there's more power in the future. That said, they also think that Morris's future isn't at shortstop although he has "decent hands and enough arm" and the thought is that he could slide over to second base.

Baseball America ranked Morris as the #124 draft prospect and note that he "has one of the more complete hitting approaches in the class dating back to his days as a high schooler," noting that "he's filled out more physically and started to tap into more extra-base power in 2019." He's shown a bit of a tendency to become more pull happy although his swing works well going the other way. Like MLB.com, Baseball America think that he won't play shortstop as a pro but think he'll be better suited for third base or a corner outfield spot.

Clearly Morris is a hit-first infielder who's bat will determine how high he rises rather than where he plays on the diamond.

6th round Cameron Eden - SS/OF

The Toronto Blue Jays went with another infielder in the sixth round of the 2019 draft, taking Cameron Eden of the University of California Golden Bears at #177 overall.

Eden wasn't ranked by MLB.com, but he shows up as the #320 ranked player by Baseball America who noted that the junior is a 6-foot-1, 181 pounder who was a three-year starter at Cal. He struggled in his sophomore year after a strong freshman season with the bat but rebounded in his junior year.

Eden has had much more power show up in 2019 after a 2018 season in which he hit just seven doubles. In 2019, he hit .370 with eight doubles, three triples and eight home runs in 49 games, stealing 20 bases in 24 attempts while improving his walk rate. He did play in the Cape Cod League last summer, hitting .254/.302/.325 with two doubles and two home runs in 35 games.

Baseball America notes that he has "a strong arm and solid range at shortstop and could probably play the infield, though scouts think he profiles best in a utility role. He's an above-average runner whose speed plays on the bases and in the outfield."

7th Round - L.J. Talley, 2B

With the 207th overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft, the Toronto Blue Jays selected another college infielder, taking second baseman L.J. Talley out of the University of Georgia in the seventh round.

Like Cameron Eden before him, Talley wasn't ranked by MLB.com but he was ranked #343 by Baseball America. Talley is a senior who started all four years with Georgia and saw a pretty linear progression, breaking out in his senior year. He hit .332 in 63 games, with 11 doubles, a triple and eight home runs. He doesn't seem to have a ton of speed, stealing five bases.

Talley stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 203 pounds and, according to Baseball America, is known for his "sure hands, defensively." But with his offensive breakout, he walked more than he struck out and makes him a solid pick for the Jays to get under contract at a below-slot bonus (the slot value is $218,500). MLB.com thinks that his improvements at the plate come from a shorter swing, a better approach as well as improved strength. Baseball America like his "defensive actions" but think that his "below-average arm strength makes him a better fit for second base."

8th to 10th Round Selections

With their 10th round pick, 237th overall, the Toronto Blue Jays selected third baseman Angel Camacho out of Jacksonville University.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Camacho is a Jacksonviller through and through after attending Creekside High School in Jacksonville. He had a distinguished career, earning Atlantic Sun Conference All-Academic Team honours three times and All-ASUN First Team honours twice. In his senior year, he hit .317/.407/.480 in 58 games, hitting a career-high 10 home runs. As a senior sign, he'll likely sign for well below slot of $175,000.

The Jays' ninth-round pick, catcher Philip Clarke out of Vanderbilt, decided to go to Vanderbilt instead of sign for a seven-figure bonus out of high school. Now a sophomore, Clarke DH'ed mostly in his first year of college but moved behind the plate more often in his sophomore year. He's called an "average receiver" by Baseball America (who ranked him #162) and threw out 37% of basestealers despite what BA calls a "below-average throwing arm." They note that has "solid bat speed and power potential, giving him a chance to be an average hitter with average power." They think that if he remains a catcher, he has a lot of potential but he may not have a better position based on his bat and defensive capabilities.

MLB.com ranked Clarke a little higher, at #139. They said that he may be a tough sign as he still has two more years of college eligibility before he's behind the eight ball to sign. MLB.com notes that he "stands out as a lefty-hitting catcher with the ability to handle the bat. He regularly puts the barrel on the ball, uses the entire field and manages the strike zone well." Clarke hit a solid .306/.387/.479 in 61 games this year, hitting 13 doubles, four triples and seven home runs.

Whether he signs or not is the big question. If he stays in college and continues to develop as a catcher while bolstering some of his numbers with a summer in the Cape Cod League, he could considerably boost his draft stock. Otherwise, the Blue Jays will probably have to overpay to sign him.

10th-round pick Glenn Santiago comes to the Blue Jays as a high schooler from Puerto Rico. The shortstop is 6-feet and 165 pounds and is likely a raw prospect. His "official scouting report" at the Baseball Factory.com says that he's "an athletic MIF who shows a tremendous future on the diamond with the makings of a special type player at the next level. At the plate, hands are quick (87 mph exit velocity) as he squares the ball up consistently driving it on a line. Defensively he takes a quick first step and has plus lateral range. He works around the GB with fluid actions. DP turns are quick with zip (91 mph velocity) on his throws. Defensive abilities are outstanding as he shows big play potential. Glenn has a ton of upside and possesses the skill set that will play at a very high level."

We do need to take that scouting report with a grain of salt, as this was probably written as hype by his advisors/agents. Another scouting report likes his raw tools and says that the righthanded hitter "has loose hands and an easy swing, fluid path, hits with rhythm and barrels up the ball consistently, not strong yet but will improve as he matures physically."

He had a commitment to Florida International University but he'll probably sign for around slot money ($145,500).

If you like us here, like us on Facebook!

The 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook is available now! Visit the Handbook page for more information!