Batter's Box Interactive Magazine

The Jays have taken a High Schooler with their top pick two years in a row. Who might be on the radar this year?

There's a couple HS bats at the top of the draft. Tim Beckham, a SS from Georgia and Eric Hosmer, a 1B from Florida. They'll both be off the board before the Jays select at #17 and almost certainly in the top 10 (and if Hosmer is around it's a signability issue and the Jays would very likely pass as well on him). After that a catcher, Kyle Skipworth has a chance to go in the top 10 and not much further if he doesn't.

There's two HS pitchers are in the mix in the 10-20 range: Tim Melville and Ethan Martin. The Jays have yet to show that they're willing to take a HS pitcher and I don't see that changing this year.

Aaron Hicks is a toolsy OF that might be available to the Jays in the first round. When I read the linked scouting report I think of Cam Maybin.

Canadian Brett Lawrie wasn't looked at as a first rounder (as far as I could tell) as recently as a month ago. Now he's almost certain to be a first rounder, with a very real possibility that he could be selected by the Jays. In BA's first mock draft on May 16th they had him going 27th to the Twins. Jon Mayo's mock draft as of 5/21 had him going 19th to the Cubs. His biggest asset is his 'plus, plus raw power' generated from 'strong hands and bat speed'. Works for me. The issue with Lawrie is where he'll play. I've actually seen him listed just about everywhere: C, 2B, 3B, CF. So it appears he has at least decent athleticism. And I imagine that he's Canadian gives him a bit of an edge if the Jays have him as a similar player to others that they are considering.

Other HSers in the first round mix are: SS Anthony Hewitt, SP Jake Odorizzi, SS Casey Kelly, OF Zach Collier, and SP Gerritt Cole.

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Of the players listed above, I think the only ones the Jays are considering at #17 is Brett Lawrie. And I think they would only take him if the premium college hitters that might make it to them (Alonso and Wallace) are already selected.

Next week we'll have a community mock draft with bloggers of each team, organized by Future Redbirds, making picks so we'll see how the draft might shake out next Thursday.

Posted by Pistol on Tuesday, May 27 2008 @ 09:30 AM EDT.

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Helpmates - Tuesday, May 27 2008 @ 12:55 PM EDT (#185989) #

I'm hoping that they'll take one of the bevy of college first basemen who'll be available. I'm intrigued by Allan Dykstra, but I guess he's considered one of the lesser choices, when compared to the Alonsos and Wallaces of the world. However, Dykstra looks like a behemoth, and he'll probably be around once it's the Jays' turn.

ayjackson - Tuesday, May 27 2008 @ 01:04 PM EDT (#185990) #

I could definitely see us taking Lawrie at #17. I see Keith Law is ready to pounce as well, having him ranked him 50-something and declared that someone will seriously overdraft him.

I think Ethan Martin is in the conversation at #17 as well. JP wetted his appetite on HS talent in the past few drafts and he may be ready to try it on a pitcher. Especially one like Martin who has a fall back bat and was described by Baseball America as "having a country strong swing and dirtbag mentality. He seems to be in the Marcum mold with more raw talent.

If those whom we expect to be gone are gone, I would expect to see Brett Wallace, Brett Lawrie or Ethan Martin plalying short season ball for the Jays this year.

Marc Hulet - Tuesday, May 27 2008 @ 01:22 PM EDT (#185992) #

The talk on "the street" is that Lawrie won't make it to the Jays. He has been outstanding with Team Canada... they are currently playing in the Dominican Republic playing MLB Dominican Summer League teams. In five games, Lawrie has eight homeruns, a .550 BA (11 for 20), with a 1.500 slugging percentage and 23 RBIs. That is against professional baseball players, albeit at the Rookie Level. Teams have been knocking down his door in recent days and he is booked solid with showcases, etc. until the draft.

As a shameless plug, I am schedule to interview Lawrie on Friday and should have an interview up next week at Baseball Analysts as we beginning our draft coverage.

Pistol - Tuesday, May 27 2008 @ 02:49 PM EDT (#186000) #

For what it's worth, the Cardinals, Twins, Dodgers and Brewers are the four teams ahead of Toronto in Round 1. I could see any of them taking Lawrie (in that they're willing to take HS players). The Brewers and Twins each have extra picks last year so if they really want Lawrie they'd probably be wise not to let him be available when the Jays pick.

Mylegacy - Tuesday, May 27 2008 @ 04:59 PM EDT (#186008) #

Like Helpmates above, I think the Jays will snag one of the excellent 1st basemen in the draft. However, BA - and me - both think (if he's there) Yonder Alonso. Personally, I'm not as high on Dykstra however I like Ike Davis out of Arizona State quite a bit. 3rd baseman Conor Gillaspie has also been rumoured, he's a good hitter but short on the power side of htings.

I fear that JP will be drawn to lefty Christian Friedrich - who seems to me to be a clone of Ricky Romero - been there done that.

metafour - Tuesday, May 27 2008 @ 07:43 PM EDT (#186018) #

Theres a poster from St.Louis (I'm guessing a Cardinals fan) who claims to have some connections with scouts and even cross-checkers for some teams. A few months ago he posted that the Jays were seriously looking at HS RHP Jake Odorizzi, and mind you this was before he became a first round lock (at the time not many were talking about Odorizzi). Recently he had the Jays taking HS RHP Ethan Martin and his explanation was that he's spoken with our central US cross-checker who told him that we are "in love" with Martin's video and that we feel he'd be too good to pass up at 17. Martin probably wont be available when we pick but that may be something to watch.

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