Jays' first-round pick Groshans confident in his abilities

Toronto Blue Jays’ 2018 first-round pick Jordan Groshans batted .331 with 39 RBIs in 37 games in the Gulf Coast League last season. Photo: Gord Brown

By Gord Brown

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Jordan Groshans is the latest addition to a deep pool of Toronto Blue Jays shortstop prospects, yet he remains assertive in his potential to be a prominent player.

The 19-year-old, drafted with Toronto’s first-round pick, 12th overall, in last June’s amateur draft, believes in his ability to become, as he put it, “the face of the franchise.”

But some anticipate that Groshans may benefit from a positional change to third base to succeed at the next level.

“At this point, it’s whatever the organization feels is the best fit for me,” Groshans said, last Friday at the Englebert Complex. “I’m working on both positions right now, trying to perfect each one.”

Groshans isn’t short on confidence.

“If you have doubts, come watch me play,” the 6-foot-4 infielder out of Magnolia (Texas) High School said.

Playing 37 games with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays in 2018, he batted .331 with 39 runs batted in.

In addition to Bo Bichette, Logan Warmouth, and Kevin Smith, Groshans joins a list of promising young Blue Jays infielders.

However, being a first-round pick does not guarantee immediate success. Groshans is the franchise’s first high school draft choice in the first-round since pitcher Phil Bickford in 2013. Bickford went unsigned by the Blue Jays and is still in Class-A with the Carolina Mudcats.

Keegan Matheson, author of the annual Top-50 Toronto Blue Jays Prospects, spoke highly of Groshans’ potential.

“What he has working in his favour is a strong throwing arm so he can make the throw across the diamond from third base, which is sometimes one of the biggest question marks,” Matheson said.

“The Blue Jays want to at least try to get him as far as they can at shortstop and then go from there. Whether that happens at age 20, or perhaps 22 or 24, they’ll at least try to push that as far as they can.”

It remains to be seen, but Groshans is expected to be an impactful Major League Baseball player sooner rather than later.