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Blue Jays select SS Arjun Nimmala 20th overall in 2023 MLB Draft
The Blue Jays have drafted shortstop Arjun Nimmala out of Tampa Bay, Florida in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft.
The Toronto Blue Jays have added another young star to their middle infield corps, drafting shortstop Arjun Nimmala from Strawberry Crest High School with their first round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft on Sunday.
Nimmala, a 20th overall selection, is one of the youngest high school products in this year’s draft class, at 17 years old. He is the first player ever drafted straight from Strawberry Crest High School.
The Tampa Bay, Fla., native — already committed to Florida State — was ranked 11th on MLB Pipeline’s pre-draft board, whereas Baseball America had him slotted at 17th.
As a senior, Nimmala slashed .479/.573/.904 with six home runs and 29 RBIs across 25 games during his final year of high school. He also walked (14) more than he struck out (13), achieving that feat in two of his four seasons.
MLB Pipeline grades the right-hander’s skills at 50 for hit, 55 for power, 50 for run, 55 for arm, 50 for field and 50 overall as a prospect.
At a Perfect Game showcase, Nimmala’s top exit velocity was clocked at 103 mph, placing the teenager in the 99th percentile of the class. In the field, he threw as hard as 87 mph, placing in the 92nd percentile.
The highly-touted infielder, who grew up playing cricket as a child, is considered to have a top-10 ceiling due to his plus-power, swing decisions and ability to drive balls to all three fields. Many scouts also believe he possesses the range and quickness to remain on the left side of the diamond.
The @BlueJays select Arjun Nimmala with the 20th pick!
We sat down with the standout high school shortstop and his family leading up to the @MLBDraft to discuss his baseball journey. pic.twitter.com/bX9H8mvZPl— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 10, 2023
Nimmala joins a Blue Jays prospect system headlined by 2022 first-round selection Brandon Barriera, Ricky Tiedemann and Orelvis Martinez. As a newcomer, he will immediately skyrocket to one of the organization’s top infield prospects.
Toronto forfeited its 2023 second-round pick after signing qualified right-hander Chris Bassitt to a three-year, $63-million contract last offseason. They were also deducted $500,000 in international signing bonus pool money.
The Blue Jays will be back on the clock at No. 89 in the third round on Monday.
