Advertisement

Blue Jays draft RHP Jeff Hoffman, C Max Pentecost in first round of MLB draft

israel fehr

The Blue Jays' front office saw an opportunity to make a bold move with the first of their two first-round picks and they took advantage of it.

Toronto chose right-handed pitcher Jeff Hoffman with the ninth overall pick in the 2014 MLB draft. Hoffman, 21, is seen as a slight risk as he is recovering from Tommy John surgery and will spend most of the next year rehabbing. ESPN analyst Keith Law believes Hoffman, who played college baseball at East Carolina, would have been gone before Toronto's pick had it not been for the injury.

Law: Hoffman would likely be a top-four pick had he not blown out his elbow and required Tommy John surgery last month; he's still set to get a seven-figure bonus from a team comfortable with taking him and rehabbing him.

With their pick at No. 11, Toronto selected Kennesaw State catcher Max Pentecost. The Jays were awarded this pick as compensation for failing to sign their 2013 first-rounder RHP Phil Bickford, who opted to attend Cal State Fullerton instead. Law sees Pentecost, 21, as a well-rounded player who will stick behind the plate.

Law: The draft's best pure catcher, Pentecost can catch, throw, run and hit for average. The biggest question facing him is how his unorthodox swing will handle wood bats and pro pitching.

Pentecost is the first catcher the Blue Jays have drafted since 2007, when they used the 21st pick on J.P Arencibia.

Toronto went with highly-regarded high school right-hander Sean Reid-Foley in the second round, 49th overall. Reid-Foley, 18, starred at Sandalwood HS in Jacksonville, Fla. and has a commitment to Florida State.

The Jays have until July 18th to come to terms with most of their draft picks. This is especially relevant for Toronto as on top of not signing Bickford last year, they were unable to agree to a deal with 2011 first-round pick, RHP Tyler Beede. Beede was back in this year's draft after three years at Vanderbilt and was drafted with the 14th pick by San Francisco.

Gareth Morgan was the only Canadian taken on Day 1. The North York, Ont. native was drafted by the Seattle Mariners with the 74th pick. Morgan, 17, is a right-handed hitting outfielder who has impressed scouts with his raw power. If he does not sign with Seattle he will attend North Carolina State.

Canadians that could go in the coming rounds include RHP Brock Dykxhoorn, RHP Zachary Pop, 3B Mitchell Robinson, and RHP/IF Michael Foster.