Toronto Blue Jays 2023 MLB Draft Report Card
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Revisiting the 2023 Blue Jays MLB Draft class after the conclusion of the minor league season.
Best Pure Hitter: Shortstop Arjun Nimmala (1) drew strong reviews for his hitting chops in his pro debut. He always had impressive bat speed and pop, but his contact and swing decisions were impressive in a brief nine-game look in the Florida Complex League despite an odd .200/.500/.320 slash line.
Best Power Hitter: Nimmala (1) could wind up being the top power hitter in this class as well given his hand speed and strength projection. But right now outfielder Jace Bohrofen (6) has some of the best raw power of the class and also posted some of the best exit velocities of this group. If he hits enough he has a chance for above-average game power.
Fastest Runner: Outfielder Braden Barry (8) is an above-average runner who can cover plenty of ground in the outfield. In his two full seasons with West Virginia he went 40-for-47 (85.1%) in stolen base attempts.
Best Defensive Player: Barry (8) could be a good choice for this category as well, but what about shortstop Nick Goodwin (7)? He has solid actions and instincts in the middle infield with above-average arm strength that could give him a chance to be a solid defender on the left side.
Best Fastball: Righthander Landen Maroudis (4) jumped up draft boards this spring by taking a step forward with his fastball velocity. This is more of a projection on the fastball than some others might be, but Maroudis already gets into the mid 90s and should continue to add strength and throw harder in the future as well.
Best Secondary Pitch: Righthander Juaron Watts-Brown (3) loved to use a mid-80s slider that has hard, tight spin and real plus potential. He generated a 53% miss rate with the pitch this spring with Oklahoma State while using it 40% of the time.
Best Pro Debut: Bohrofen (6) was the best offensive player among Blue Jays draftees this summer. He played in rookie ball and the Florida State league, where combined he hit .299/.443/.636 with seven home runs and five doubles, while walking at a strong 19.6% clip and striking out at a respectable 24.7% rate.
Best Athlete: Watts-Brown (3) is an elite mover on the mound with a fluid delivery and he fields his position well. He was a multi-sport athlete in high school who also played football and basketball.
Most Intriguing Background: Lefthander Connor O’Halloran (5) was a three-year member of Canada’s 18U National Team in high school and his father and brother both played college baseball at Orange Coast (Calif.) JC.
Closest To The Majors: Watts-Brown (3) doesn’t have the usual touch and feel of a college pitcher who would fit in this category, but both Nimmala and Maroudis might need a bit more physical development and adjustment to the pro game. Watts-Brown has the sort of two-pitch mix that could play well if he was pushed in a reliever role—though he should be developed as a starter.
Best Day Three Pick (Or NDFA): Righthander Kelena Sauer (15) had an excellent pro debut. He struck out 19 batters and walked seven in 14 innings with Low-A Dunedin, pitched in the low 90s and showed solid feel for a low-80s changeup.
