Toronto Blue Jays 2024 MLB Draft Report Card

Best Pure Hitter: The Blue Jays took pitchers with each of their first four picks but believe third baseman Sean Keys (4) has a blend of contact, power and plate discipline that will profile nicely at the hot corner. Keys is a career .358 hitter with Bucknell and owns a 13.7% walk rate. He also has a solid summer wood bat track record and performed well in his pro debut with Low-A Dunedin. 

Best Power Hitter: Catcher Aaron Parker (6) can be a bit of a free swinger, but he does plenty of damage when he does connect, as evidenced by big exit velocities in college and a strong 106.4 mph 90th-percentile exit velocity in his pro debut after signing. Parker played 24 games with Low-A Dunedin with five home runs and eight doubles.

Fastest Runner: Outfielder Nick Mitchell (4c) is a double-plus runner who stole 30 bases with Western Illinois as a freshman back in 2022. The Blue Jays will continue do develop him as an everyday centerfielder and believe his speed will be an asset in the field and on the bases.

Best Defensive Player: The Blue Jays were excited about shortstop Gavin Smith’s (17) athleticism and defensive skill on the third day of the draft. He has reliable hands and plus arm strength, and the club was impressed with what he showed with the glove after signing.

Best Fastball: Righthander Trey Yesavage (1) has a high release point and vertical arm slot. He fires a 93-95 mph fastball that has been up to 97 with above-average riding life and should be an above-average pitch. Righthander Khal Stephen (2) has been up to 96 with his fastball and also has solid riding life with the pitch.

Best Secondary Pitch: Johnny King (3) is a projectable lefthander who has shown multiple breaking balls with high spin rates in the 2,500-2,600 rpm range. The Rays view both as above-average breaking balls and believed his ability to manipulate his breaking stuff and land them for strikes and whiffs was one of the best among prep lefthanders.

Best Pro Debut: The Blue Jays had a number of draftees who debuted and acquitted themselves nicely. Keys (4) hit .293 with an .829 OPS in 22 games with Low-A Dunedin, Parker (6) hit .235 with an .899 OPS in 24 games with Low-A Dunedin and outfielder Eddie Micheletti (8) hit .292 with an .881 OPS in 20 games with Low-A Dunedin.

Best Athlete: Stephen (2) earned 11 varsity letters in high school as a multi-sport athlete in football and baseball. Like many college pitchers, Stephen was a standout hitter on his high school baseball team and was also all-conference and a talented safety on the football team.

Most Intriguing Background: Catcher Brock Tibbitts (13) was a multi-sport athlete in high school who played baseball, football and basketball before focusing on baseball at Indiana. He’s played a number of positions and was primarily a first baseman with Indiana but the Blue Jays selected him as a catcher and intend to develop him at the position moving forward. His father Jeff played baseball in college. 

Closest To The Majors: Yesavage (1) dealt with an injury scare this spring with ECU after he had a collapsed lung, but he’s already been back on the field since then and had perhaps the best combination of now stuff, a diverse pitch mix, advanced command and an extensive starter track record at the college level in the class. He should move quickly. 

Best Day Three Pick (Or NDFA): Righthander Jonathan Todd (15) has an elite pitching frame at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds with well-developed musculature, and the Blue Jays are excited about his fastball/slider combination. Todd posted a 4.00 ERA over 36 innings out of the bullpen with Western Carolina last spring and sits in the 92-95 mph range with a high-carry heater. He signed for just $5,000 in the 15th round.