(Image from FanRagSports)
1st round, 22nd overall. Logan Warmoth, SS, North Carolina. Bats Right, Throws Right. 5-foot-11, 165 pounds. Born September 6, 1995. (Slot value - $2.8 million)
MLB.com Scouting Report
Warmoth took over North Carolina's shortstop job a month into his freshman season and hasn't relinquished it. After a solid summer offensively and defensively in the Cape Cod League last summer, he has stepped up his game this spring and should be the first college middle infielder drafted. He has a good chance to go in the first round, which would make him the sixth Lake Brantley High (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) product to do so, following big leaguers Jason Varitek, Felipe Lopez, Rickie Weeks, Jemile Weeks and Nick Franklin. While Warmoth doesn't have a standout tool, he also doesn't have any obvious shortcomings. He's a gifted hitter who controls the strike zone, handles good velocity and uses the entire field. He started to show some power toward the end of his sophomore season, and has enough to hit 12-15 homers per season in the big leagues. Warmoth has solid speed and the savvy to use it on the basepaths. His instincts and quick hands help him make plays at shortstop, and he'll get the chance to play there as a pro. With average range and arm strength, he's probably better suited for second base. Video
Baseball America has this story on Warmoth.
Compared to Zach Cozart, J.J. Hardy and Brian Dozier by MLB Network Analysts.
Twitter Reaction
@JeffLongBP He has a killer swing, and I think he'll be solid defensively. Think Hardy but with a better hit tool maybe a touch less power. @BProToronto
@KeeganMatheson It's possible Warmoth stays at SS. Not flashy, but solid. A little Devon Travis, a little Cavan Biggio (from #BlueJays 2016 Draft) in there.
@Sportsnet Logan Warmoth is the first #BlueJays pick from UNC taken in the 1st round of the MLB Draft since Russ Adams in 2002.
Danny Graves @dgravy32 Congrats to my man @loganwarmoth drafted 22nd overall! Great player and great family! This kid will be in @MLB for years to come! @BlueJays
(Image from MLB.com)
1st round, 28th overall. Nate Pearson, RHP, College of Central Florida. 6-foot-6, 240 pounds. Born August 20, 1996. (Slot Value - $2.3 million)
MLB.com Scouting Report
It's a good year for hard-throwing pitchers in the Florida junior college ranks, with a few who have the chance to go in the top three rounds. Pearson put up video-game type numbers at Central Florida this spring, raising his Draft profile in the process, then created a huge amount of buzz by hitting triple digits consistently in a bullpen session in late May. There is no question about the quality of Pearson's fastball coming from his 6-foot-6 frame. He was consistently up to 97 mph all spring and has shown an ability to throw strikes with it as well. His secondary stuff, however, has been inconsistent. He throws both a slider and a curve, though the latter is his fourth pitch, and on some days he has two distinct, effective breaking balls. At other times, they run together, and it might serve him well to focus on just one at the next level. His changeup has improved, but it also comes and goes. There is an injury history with Pearson -- he had a screw put in his right elbow in high school -- but he's been nothing but healthy and durable in junior college. There's some debate over whether his future lies in the rotation or out of the bullpen, where his stuff would play up, but there's bound to be a team that believes he can start that will take him in the early rounds. Video.
Baseball America had this story on Pearson in April.
Twitter Reaction
Scott Mitchell @ScottyMitchTSN Baseball America had Warmoth ranked 19th overall and Pearson at 13th overall on their top 500 coming into the night. #BlueJays
@KeeganMatheson Pearson as SP would be big for #BlueJays, but given market rate of RPs, teams are open to fast-tracking RP arms. Interested to see #BlueJays
@ShiDavidi Nate Pearson is 6-6, 245, Baseball America says he pitched at 93-94 and touched 97 in most of his starts. #BlueJays
Josh Norris @jnorris427 The #BlueJays selected Nate Pearson, who recently threw 102 mph in a bullpen session. Video.
(Image from Orange County Register)
2nd round, 61st overall. Hagen Danner, RHP/C, Huntington Beach High School. Bats Right, Throws Right. 6-foot-2, 195 pounds. Born September 30, 1998.
Known since starring in the 2011 Little League World Series, Danner is one of the better legitimate two-way players in this Draft class. The scouting industry is still split down the middle on whether he'd be better suited on the mound or behind the plate at the next level. Danner has spent more time, especially in showcases, showing what he can do as a pitcher. He has a live fastball that can touch 94-95 mph and complements it with a solid curveball and a changeup that flashes above-average. He can fill the strike zone with all three, coming from a high slot. The UCLA commit also has the chance to a special catcher. He has good hands and a plus arm defensively and while he's a below-average runner, his athleticism helps him move well behind the dish. He swings the bat well from a crouch set up, with quiet pop that could end up being average power in the future. The one thing scouts agree on is that Danner's grades will improve once he starts to focus on one craft. But even as the spring unfolded, there was division among scouts whether he should stay on the mound or behind the plate at the next level. Video
Twitter Reaction
Eric Longenhagen @longenhagen Hagen Danner has plus raw, needs reps to be viable backstop but I think he has a chance. I had him in as a C.
@NathanRode On the bump, Hagen Danner has plus fastball, plus curveball. #BlueJays
@NathanRode Not a bad idea giving Hagen Danner a shot with the bat. He's got power and could be C or 3B. Fallback to mound if it doesn't work. #BlueJays
JJ Cooper @jjcoop36 Blue Jays take Hagen Danner at 61 as a C. Was a true 2-way guy who could have gone either way. Ranked 61 on #BA500.
Kyle Glaser @KyleAGlaser Hagen Danner goes as a catcher. One of the mysteries of the draft was if he'd go as a pitcher or catcher. #BlueJays make the call.
Brian Sakowski @B_Sakowski_PG #Jays going with Hagen Danner, prefer him on the mound, advanced curveball.