By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

In the 11th-round, the Toronto Blue Jays went with a physical specimen, 6-foot-6, 285-pound high school first baseman/outfielder Nick Neal from Randleman High School in North Carolina. Before the 2019 season, Neal, who is still 17, was noticed for his size and athleticism, getting 104mph exit velocity on his hits and having a "positional velocity" of 86 mph on his throws at first base. He showed power in-game too at the Prep Baseball Report Future Games, hitting an opposite field home run on the first day.

Neal is an interesting draftee by the Blue Jays. He has a commitment to Walters State Community College which makes him more signable since he doesn't have a four-year college commitment.

The Jays went with another pitcher in the 11th round, the first since the second, by selecting righty Sam Ryan from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Ryan is a junior, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 205 pounds, coming to prominence in 2018, splitting time between the bullpen and the rotation, pitching to a 4.14 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 63 innings. In 2019, he was used solely as a reliever, tossing 53 1/3 innings in 20 games, striking out 61 and walking 19 with seven saves with a 2.70 ERA.

12th-round pick Trevor Schwecke is a junior coming out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. At 6-foot-1 and 185, he's primarily a second baseman going into the pros (although he played shortstop in college) and was a First-Team All-Horizon League mention this year and a Second-Team All-Horizon League at least twice before. He hit .335/.416/.507 in 2019 with 20 doubles, three triples and four home runs, and maintained a .322 batting average for his college career.

MLB.com notes that Schwecke's swing has "a lot of moving parts, but he possesses a good feel for hitting and some pop."

The Blue Jays selected centre fielder Eric Rivera from Florida Atlantic University with their 14th-round pick. The 6-foot, 185-pound junior was a Conference USA Hitter of the Week in 2018 and was named to the Conference USA All-Tournament team in 2018. He improved on his sophomore stats (.277/.387/.409) with a .332/.434/.435 slash line, hitting nine doubles and six home runs, giving him six home runs in each of his three seasons. He also had 11 stolen bases in 2019 and looks like he's got some pop, some speed and could be a decent defender in the outfield.

With their 15th-round pick, the Jays selected right handed high school pitcher Michael Dominguez from Jefferson High School in Tampa. One scouting report from the 2019 World Showcase, noted that he's got a medium frame (5-foot-11, 175 pounds) and athletic build and has "plus arm speed" and he "creates plane to the plate from high three quarters slot, quality extension, uses lower half well." He threw 89-92 mph (touching 93), flashing solid arm side life and showed the ability to both work down in the zone and elevate the fastball. The scout liked his slider, saying "pitch will be a bat-misser for him as he continues to throw it harder" and he also threw a changeup that was "effective."

With a commitment to Florida State, Dominguez might not be very signable in the later rounds, but he also only threw 24 innings in spring baseball this year, striking out 44 and posting a 0.88 ERA. Is the low number of innings due to an injury that caused him to drop down the draft board?

In the 16th-round, the Blue Jays selected Puerto Rican high school pitcher Jackxarel Lebron. Also known as Jackxarel Lebron Figueroa, this young man comes from Maunabo, Puerto Rico and has a commitment to San Jacinto Community College. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 170 pounds, Lebron has touched 92 mph with his fastball, sitting 90-92 mph with a 77 mph curveball. Lebron was named a Perfect Game Pre-Season All-High School Senior First Team pitcher in the Canada/Puerto Rico region.

In round 17, the Blue Jays tapped pitcher Jared DiCesare, a junior from George Mason University. The 6-foot, 185-pound righty comes from Chantilly, Virginia and has a record as both a solid athlete and for his academic record. In 2018, he was a two-time Atlantic 10 Conference Pitcher of the Week with a 3.33 ERA and 0.98 WHIP, splitting time between starting and relieving. In 2019, he was a starter almost exclusively (coming into one game in relief) and logging 80 innings with a 5.40 ERA, striking out 59 and walking 17. He did pitch in the Cape Cod League last summer, posting a 2.95 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, striking out 28 and walking only two in 36 2/3 innings.

It would seem DiCesare is a strike-thrower who has had trouble striking batters out this season and so we'll have to see what he is able to do as a professional.

In round 18, the Blue Jays selected lefthanded pitcher Brandon Eisert out of Oregon State University. The junior moved into the starting rotation for OSU because of an injury and went on to have a stellar season finishing with a 2.03 ERA in 62 innings, striking out 74 and walking only 13.

Eisert was ranked #348 in the draft by Baseball America and they noted that he "has a solid four-pitch mix, enough that he could get a chance to start at the next level." His fastball touches 93 mph but BA notes that it could play up in the bullpen. They like his "solid slider and changeup" and he also has a curveball but, while the stuff is good, he "does more with control and command than by overwhelming." BA also notes that he has a "crossfire landing" and "hides the ball well which also allows his stuff to play up."

The Blue Jays took Gustavo Sosa out of Tottenville High School in Staten Island, New York, a catcher who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 180 pounds. He has a commitment to Rutgers and showed some impressive pop times (1.85 seconds was his best) while throwing the ball fairly hard from behind the plate. He also had a 93 mph exit velocity from a Perfect Game event. He was scouted with quickness and athleticism both in the infield and behind the plate and has a "loose fluid extended swing" from the right side. He "has some lift in his swing and is consistent in his timing." He could be an interesting sign for the Jays and, could be someone to watch.

The Blue Jays selected another left-handed pitcher in the 20th round, taking Jimmy Robbins of NCAA DII Rollins College in Florida. Robbins is a 6-foot-2, 170-pound junior from Orlando who pitched for Troy University in Alabama in 2017, redshirting in 2018 due to injury and then transferring to Rollins for 2019. In 76 2/3 innings, he had a 3.40 ERA with 105 strikeouts and 35 walks.

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!