Jays Draft Review- Jays Load Up On Arms

The opening day of the First-Year Player Draft has netted the Toronto Blue Jays four great arms. The Jays first pick, 20th overall, was right-hander 21-year-old Stephen “Chad” Jenkins, from NCAA division one Kennesaw State University in Georgia.

Jenkins had an impressive 2009, earning Atlantic Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year Award, with a record of 8-1 with a 2.54 ERA, striking out 98 batters in 92 innings with just 15 walks.

Jenkins also had a 41-inning scoreless streak, a KSU record. Impressive? Indeed! Jenkins Throws consistently between 92-96 mph, is a workhorse and is considered a very intelligent pitcher.

KSU baseball head coach Mike Sansing said of Jenkins, “The whole KSU family is happy for Chad and his family, to see the whole maturation process is amazing and I'm sure he'll have a very good professional career...I feel Chad has the mentality to be successful with his physical and mental ability, he is the complete package and is exactly what a Major League team is looking for.”

Admittedly I have never watched Jenkins pitch, but his coaches endorsement sounds good to me.

With the No. 37 pick the Jays took 6'4", 215-lbs. left-hander James Paxton. Paxton, a native of Ladner, B.C., played for the University of Kentucky Wildcats last season, where he was their No. 1 starter.

Paxton went 5-3 last season with a 5.86 ERA, while striking out 115 and walking just 20 this past season. Paxton, who was slated to go as early as 14th in the draft, was acquired with a pick the Jays’ were awarded for the loss of pitcher A.J. Burnett to free agency.

With the No.68 pick the Blue Jays took left-hander Jake Eliopoulos. Eliopoulos, who stands 6’3", 167-lbs, is a member of the Brantford Red Sox and baseball Canada program, was considered Canada’s top high school prospect this year.

When asked how it felt to be drafted by the Blue Jays he responded, “"How could any Canadian, especially someone from the Toronto area, not be ecstatic to be drafted by a team that they've been following for years and years? This is a dream come true."

With the No. 99 pick the Blue Jays took 17-year-old right-hander Jake Barrett. Barrett, who stands 6’4",-235-lbs., played for Desert Ridge High School in Arizona last season. Barrett has a fastball that consistently reaches 90-94 mph, a power curve that reaches 74-77 Mph and possesses a decent splitter as well.

To close out the first day of the draft the Blue Jays used the number 104 pick to select center fielder Jacob Marisnick of Riverside Poly High school in California. Marisnick, who has an active Twitter account, stands 6’3", 200-lbs, has an above average arm, but is considered to have weak power numbers.

Here is a sample of some of Marisnick’s current Twitter post reads, “Can’t wait to get to the mall and get a Blue Jays hat...I am so pumped to be a Blue Jay. I know we can get a Championship! Greg Myers, the former Blue Jays catcher was my H.S. coach”.

Overall it looks as if the Blue Jays did their due diligence and drafted some good, yet raw talent. Obviously, it will be a few years before we know if today was a “Good” day or a “Great” day, fact is most of the players drafted on Tuesday will not make the big leagues. Here’s wishing all who joined the Blue Jays depth charts the best of luck, the Jays need you, Jays fans have their collective fingers crossed that you will be under the dome before long.