List of Toronto Blue Jays first-round draft picks explained

The Toronto Blue Jays are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They play in the American League East division. Since the Blue Jays' entrance into the league in 1977, the Blue Jays have selected 72 players in the first round. Officially known as the "First-Year Player Draft", the Rule 4 draft is MLB's primary mechanism for assigning amateur players from high schools, colleges, and other amateur clubs to its teams. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with the team possessing the worst record receiving the first pick.^[1] In addition, teams which lost free agents in the previous off-season may be awarded compensatory or supplementary picks.^[2] The First-Year Player Draft is unrelated to the 1976 expansion draft in which the Blue Jays initially filled their roster.

Of the 72 players picked in the first round by Toronto, 35 have been pitchers, the most of any position; 26 of them were right-handed, while nine were left-handed. 14 shortstops, 12 outfielders, four catchers and third basemen, and three first basemen have also been selected. The team has never drafted a player at second base in the first round.^[3] 38 players were drafted out of high school, while 31 came from four-year college programs and two from junior colleges.^[3] They have also drafted two players from Puerto Rico: Alex Ríos (1999) and Miguel Negrón (2000).^[3]

Ed Sprague Jr. (1988), who was with the franchise when they won the World Series in 1992 and 1993, is the only pick to win a championship with the team.^[4] No picks have won the MLB Rookie of the Year Award, though Shawn Green (1991) and Alex Ríos (1999) finished fifth in the voting in 1995 and 2004, respectively.^{[5] [6]} Roy Halladay (1995) is the only first-round pick of the Blue Jays to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, occurring in 2019, and to earn a Cy Young Award with the team, winning in 2003.^{[7] [8]} Jay Schroeder (1979) was drafted as a catcher, but ended up becoming a quarterback for ten years in the National Football League.^[9]

The Blue Jays have made 23 selections in the supplemental round of the draft and 31 compensatory picks since their entry into the league in 1977.^[3] These additional picks are provided when a team loses a particularly valuable free agent in the previous off-season,^{[2] [10]} or, more recently, if a team fails to sign a draft pick from the previous year.^[11] The Blue Jays have failed to sign three of their first-round picks, James Paxton (2009), who opted to return to the University of Kentucky, Tyler Beede (2011), and Phil Bickford (2013).^[12] The Blue Jays received the 38th pick in 2010, the 22nd pick in 2012, and the 11th pick in 2015 as compensation.^[13]

Key

Year	Links to an article about that year's Major League Baseball Draft
Position	Indicates the secondary/collegiate position at which the player was drafted, rather than the professional position the player may have gone on to play
Pick	Indicates the number of the pick
	Player did not sign with the Blue Jays
§	Indicates a supplemental pick
†	Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame
'92–'93	Player was a member of Blue Jays' 1992 and 1993 championship teams

Picks

Year	Name	Position	School (location)	Pick	Ref
1977		Shortstop	Sidney High School (Sidney, Ohio)		^[14]
1978		First baseman	Oakland High School (Oakland, California)		^[15]
1979		Catcher	Palisades High School (Pacific Palisades, California)		^[16]
1980		Shortstop	Hoover High School (San Diego, California)		^[17]
1981		Right-handed pitcher	Rice University (Houston, Texas)		^[18]
1981		Left-handed pitcher	Amherst College (Amherst, Massachusetts)
1982		Shortstop	University of New Orleans (New Orleans, Louisiana)		^[19]
1983		Catcher	Los Altos High School (Hacienda Heights, California)		^[20]
1984
1985		Outfielder	Barron G. Collier High School (Naples, Florida)		^[21]
1986		Right-handed pitcher	Jackson State University (Jackson, Mississippi)		^[22]
1987		Right-handed pitcher	University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, California)		^[23]
1988	'92–'93	Third baseman	Stanford University (Stanford, California)		^[24]
1989		Shortstop	California State University, Fresno (Fresno, California)		^[25]
1990		Right-handed pitcher	Christ The King Regional High School (Queens, New York)		^[26]
1991		Outfielder	Tustin High School (Tustin, California)		^[27]
1991		Right-handed pitcher	Old Dominion University (Norfolk, Virginia)	§
1991		Shortstop	Millikan High School (Long Beach, California)	§
1992		Outfielder	Miami Southridge High School (Miami, Florida)		^[28]
1992		Outfielder	Arizona State University (Tempe, Arizona)
1992		Shortstop	Lexington High School (Lexington, South Carolina)	§
1993		Right-handed pitcher	Trinity High School (Manchester, New Hampshire)		^[29]
1993		Outfielder	East Pennsboro High School (Enola, Pennsylvania)	§
1993		Right-handed pitcher	Galesburg High School (Galesburg, Illinois)	§
1993		Left-handed pitcher	Brevard Community College (Cocoa, Florida)	§
1994		Shortstop	Bishop Kenny High School (Jacksonville, Florida)		^[30]
1995	^†	Right-handed pitcher	Arvada West High School (Arvada, Colorado)		^[31]
1996		Right-handed pitcher	Clemson University (Clemson, South Carolina)		^[32]
1996		Shortstop	Alfred M. Barbe High School (Lake Charles, Louisiana)
1996		First baseman	Providence College (Providence, Rhode Island)	§
1997		Outfielder	Bowie High School (Arlington, Texas)		^[33]
1998		Third baseman	Lake Brantley High School (Altamonte Springs, Florida)		^[34]
1999		Outfielder	San Pedro Martin High School (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico)		^[35]
2000		Outfielder	Manuela Toro High School (Caguas, Puerto Rico)		^[36]
2000		Right-handed pitcher	Long County High School (Ludowici, Georgia)	§
2001		Outfielder	Auburn University (Auburn, Alabama)		^[37]
2002		Shortstop	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)		^[38]
2003		Shortstop	Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)		^[39]
2004		Left-handed pitcher	University of Oklahoma (Norman, Oklahoma)		^[40]
2004		Left-handed pitcher	Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas)	§
2005		Left-handed pitcher	California State University, Fullerton (Fullerton, California)		^[41]
2006		Outfielder	Henry M. Jackson High School (Everett, Washington)		^[42]
2007		Shortstop	Memorial High School (Houston, Texas)		^[43]
2007		Catcher	University of Tennessee (Knoxville, Tennessee)
2007		Left-handed pitcher	University of Maryland, College Park (College Park, Maryland)	§
2007		Shortstop	T. C. Roberson High School (Asheville, North Carolina)	§
2007		Right-handed pitcher	University of Louisville (Louisville, Kentucky)	§
2008		First baseman	University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, California)		^[44]
2009		Right-handed pitcher	Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, Georgia)		^[45]
2009		Left-handed pitcher	University of Kentucky (Lexington, Kentucky)	§
2010		Right-handed pitcher	Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, Georgia)		^[46]
2010		Right-handed pitcher	Barstow High School (Barstow, California)	§
2010		Right-handed pitcher	Legacy High School (Mansfield, Texas)	§
2010		Right-handed pitcher	The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina (Charleston, South Carolina)	§
2011		Right-handed pitcher	Lawrence Academy (Groton, Massachusetts)		^[47]
2011		Outfielder	Chino High School (Chino, California)	§
2011	Joe Musgrove	Right-handed pitcher	Grossmont High School (San Diego, California)	§
2011		Outfielder	McIntosh High School (Peachtree City, Georgia)	§
2011		Right-handed pitcher	Seneca High School (Tabernacle Township, New Jersey)	§
2012		Outfielder	Stone County High School (Wiggins, Mississippi)		^[48]
2012		Right-handed pitcher	Duke University (Durham, North Carolina)
2012		Left-handed pitcher	Solon High School (Solon, Ohio)	§
2012		Third baseman	Hamilton High School (Chandler, Arizona)	§
2012		Right-handed pitcher	Madison High School (San Antonio, Texas)	§
2013		Right-handed pitcher	Oaks Christian School (Westlake Village, California)		^[49]
2014		Right-handed pitcher	East Carolina University (Greenville, North Carolina)		^[50]
2014		Catcher	Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, Georgia)	§
2015		Right-handed pitcher	Missouri State University (Springfield, Missouri)		^[51]
2016		Right-handed pitcher	University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)		^[52]
2017		Shortstop	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)		^[53]
2017		Right-handed pitcher	College of Central Florida (Ocala, Florida)	§
2018		Shortstop	Magnolia High School (Magnolia, Texas)	12	^[54]
2019		Right-handed pitcher	West Virginia University (Morgantown, West Virginia)	11	^[55]
2020		Shortstop	Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee)	5	^[56]
2021		Right-handed pitcher	University of Mississippi (Oxford, Mississippi)	19	^[57]
2022		Left-handed pitcher	American Heritage School (Plantation, Florida)	23
2023		Shortstop	Strawberry Crest (Dover, Florida)	20	^[58]
2024		Right-Handed Pitcher	East Carolina University (Greenville, North Carolina)	20

See also

• Toronto Blue Jays minor league players

Footnotes

• Through the 2012 draft, free agents were evaluated by the Elias Sports Bureau and rated "Type A", "Type B", or not compensation-eligible. If a team offered arbitration to a player but that player refused and subsequently signed with another team, the original team was able to receive additional draft picks. If a "Type A" free agent left in this way, his previous team received a supplemental pick and a compensatory pick from the team with which he signed. If a "Type B" free agent left in this way, his previous team received only a supplemental pick.^[11] Since the 2013 draft, free agents are no longer classified by type; instead, compensatory picks are only awarded if the team offered its free agent a contract worth at least the average of the 125 current richest MLB contracts.^[59] However, if the free agent's last team acquired the player in a trade during the last year of his contract, it is ineligible to receive compensatory picks for that player.^[60]
• The Blue Jays gained a compensatory first-round pick in 1981 from the Milwaukee Brewers for losing free agent Roy Howell.^[61]
• The Blue Jays lost their first-round pick in 1984 to the Chicago White Sox as compensation for signing free agent Dennis Lamp.^[62]
• The Blue Jays gained a compensatory first-round pick in 1991 from the San Francisco Giants for losing free agent Bud Black.^[63]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1991 for losing free agent George Bell.^[63]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1991 for losing free agent Bud Black.^[63]
• The Blue Jays gained a compensatory first-round pick in 1992 from the Los Angeles Dodgers for losing free agent Tom Candiotti.^[64]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1992 for losing free agent Tom Candiotti.^[64]
• The Blue Jays gained a compensatory first-round pick in 1993 from the Texas Rangers for losing free agent Tom Henke.^[65]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1993 for losing free agent David Cone.^[65]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1993 for losing free agent Tom Henke.^[65]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1993 for losing free agent Jimmy Key.^[65]
• The Blue Jays gained a compensatory first-round pick in 1996 from the Baltimore Orioles for losing free agent Roberto Alomar.^[66]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 1996 for losing free agent Roberto Alomar.^[66]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2000 for losing free agent Graeme Lloyd.^[67]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2004 for losing free agent Kelvim Escobar.^[68]
• The Blue Jays gained a compensatory first-round pick in 2007 from the Texas Rangers for losing free agent Frank Catalanotto.^[69]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2007 for losing free agent Justin Speier.^[69]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2007 for losing free agent Frank Catalanotto.^[69]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2007 for losing free agent Ted Lilly.^[69]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2009 for losing free agent A. J. Burnett.^[70]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2010 for losing free agent Marco Scutaro.^[71]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2010 for failing to sign draft pick James Paxton.^[13]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2010 for losing free agent Rod Barajas.^[71]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2011 for losing free agent Scott Downs.^[72]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2011 for losing free agent John Buck.^[72]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2011 for losing free agent Kevin Gregg.^[72]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2011 for losing free agent Miguel Olivo.^[72]
• The Blue Jays gained a compensatory first-round pick in 2012 for failing to sign draft pick Tyler Beede.^[48]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2012 for losing free agent Frank Francisco.^[48]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2012 for losing free agent Jon Rauch.^[48]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2012 for losing free agent José Molina.^[48]
• The Blue Jays gained a compensatory first-round pick in 2014 for failing to sign draft pick Phil Bickford.^[50]
• The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round pick in 2017 for losing free agent Edwin Encarnación.^[53]

References

General references

• Web site: MLB First Round Draft Picks. ESPN.com. June 10, 2010.
• Web site: Toronto Blue Jays 1st Round Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 10, 2010.

In-text citations

Notes and References

1. Web site: First-Year Player Draft Rules. MLB.com. June 10, 2010.
2. Web site: Brewers offer three arbitration. McCalvy. Adam. Brewers.MLB.com. Milwaukee Brewers. June 10, 2010.
3. Web site: Toronto Blue Jays 1st Round Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 10, 2010.
4. Web site: Ed Sprague Statistics and History. June 10, 2010. Baseball-Reference.com.
5. Web site: 1995 Awards Voting. Baseball-Reference.com. June 10, 2010.
6. Web site: 2004 Awards Voting. Baseball-Reference.com. June 10, 2010.
7. Web site: Roy Halladay. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. July 12, 2020.
8. Web site: Roy Halladay Statistics and History. June 10, 2010. Baseball-Reference.com.
9. Web site: Jay Schroeder NFL & AFL Football Statistics. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. June 10, 2010.
10. Web site: First-Year Player Draft FAQ. MLB.com. June 3, 2010.
11. Web site: MLB, MLBPA reach five-year labor accord. MLB.com Players Association. June 10, 2010. October 24, 2006.
12. MLB draft deadline winners and losers. John. Manuel. Sports Illustrated. August 18, 2009. July 1, 2010.
13. News: Jays take pitcher McGuire in first round of MLB draft. John. Lott. The Vancouver Sun. June 8, 2010. June 10, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100610023435/http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Jays+take+pitcher+McGuire+first+round+draft/3124451/story.html. June 10, 2010.
14. Web site: 1977 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
15. Web site: 1978 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
16. Web site: 1979 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
17. Web site: 1980 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
18. Web site: 1981 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
19. Web site: 1982 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
20. Web site: 1983 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
21. Web site: 1985 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
22. Web site: 1986 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
23. Web site: 1987 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
24. Web site: 1988 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
25. Web site: 1989 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
26. Web site: 1990 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
27. Web site: 1991 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
28. Web site: 1992 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
29. Web site: 1993 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
30. Web site: 1994 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
31. Web site: 1995 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
32. Web site: 1996 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
33. Web site: 1997 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
34. Web site: 1998 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
35. Web site: 1999 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
36. Web site: 2000 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
37. Web site: 2001 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
38. Web site: 2002 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
39. Web site: 2003 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
40. Web site: 2004 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
41. Web site: 2005 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
42. Web site: 2006 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
43. Web site: 2007 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
44. Web site: 2008 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
45. Web site: 2009 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
46. Web site: 2010 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 6, 2010.
47. Web site: 2011 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 7, 2011.
48. Web site: 1st Round of the 2012 June Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 8, 2012.
49. Web site: 1st Round of the 2013 June Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 28, 2013.
50. Web site: 1st Round of the 2014 June Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 19, 2014.
51. Web site: 2015 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. March 5, 2016.
52. Web site: 2016 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. March 5, 2016.
53. Web site: 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. August 21, 2016.
54. Web site: Blue Jays sign first-rounder Jordan Groshans, 25 other picks. Sportsnet. June 12, 2018. June 4, 2019.
55. Web site: Blue Jays select pitcher Alek Manoah with 11th pick in MLB Draft. Nicholson-Smith. Ben. Sportsnet. June 3, 2019. June 4, 2019.
56. Web site: 2020 Toronto Blue Jays Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 12, 2020.
57. Web site: Blue Jays select Gunnar Hoglund with 19th pick in 2021 MLB Draft. Sportsnet. July 11, 2021.
58. Web site: Blue Jays select SS Arjun Nimmala with 20th overall pick in 2023 MLB Draft .
59. News: MLB players, owners sign agreement . ESPN.com . November 23, 2011 . November 23, 2011.
60. News: How the new CBA changes baseball . Jayson . Stark . Jayson Stark . ESPN.com . November 22, 2011 . November 23, 2011.
61. Web site: 1st Round of the 1981 MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 11, 2010.
62. Web site: 1st Round of the 1984 MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 11, 2010.
63. Web site: 1st Round of the 1991 MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 11, 2010.
64. Web site: 1st Round of the 1992 MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 11, 2010.
65. Web site: 1st Round of the 1993 MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 11, 2010.
66. Web site: 1st Round of the 1996 MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 11, 2010.
67. Web site: 1st Round of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 11, 2010.
68. Web site: 1st Round of the 2004 MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 11, 2010.
69. Web site: 1st Round of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 11, 2010.
70. Web site: 1st Round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 11, 2010.
71. Web site: 1st Round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 11, 2010.
72. Web site: 1st Round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft. Baseball-Reference.com. June 7, 2011.