2026 MLB Draft Review: Toronto Blue Jays

The players

The Blue Jays came into the draft with a nice cache of pitching prospects. Toronto added one more with Cole Carlon, the Arizona State ace.

It would be fair to state that Carlon slid to the Blue Jays at #39. The left-hander posted staggering numbers with Arizona State in 2026, including a Whiff% over 44%, and made it very difficult for opposing hitters to put the ball in play. Per the ASU athletic department, Carlon hit 101 MPH as a high with his fastball, although it mostly sat in the mid-to-upper-90s.

That fastball, which has some cutting and carrying action, was largely complemented by a very good slider that profiles as his best secondary offering. And, realistically, it may be his best weapon.

Carlon was one of two big-bonus players for the Blue Jays. The other was catcher Will Brick, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Tennessee. Brick reclassified from 2027 to 2026, a win for the Blue Jays. Very strong catcher with some experience in the infield.

However, he’s likely a catcher. Great recorded pop times (1.84s in the PG showcase circuit from 2025) behind the dish as a high schooler. Plus, pop in the bat as well.

Sandwiched in between was Ryan Cooney, part of a strong infield for the Oregon Ducks this season. Cooney led the Ducks with 82 hits this season, and walked (32) almost as much as he struck out (35) during his junior season.

The additions of Carlon and Brick exhausted much of the Blue Jays’ allotted pool money. Because of that, the club had to go frugal with many of its other picks in the top 10 rounds to compensate. However, the club did get creative to add some talent on a budget.

Iowa has a history of producing pro talent, and Gable Mitchell will join the list of many Hawkeyes who have made it to that level. Mitchell hit .360 for Iowa this season, finishing second on the club in hits (82) and striking out just 35 times. He was one of several contact-oriented hitters taken by Toronto this season.

Former Maryland Terrapin Brayden Martin didn’t show a ton of home run pop in the Big 10, as he hit just five home runs over his three seasons. But in his junior year, Martin hit .352 with 21 stolen bases.

Another one of those players, by the way, who likely looked interesting to analytically friendly teams was Dean West. West was part of a deep UCLA lineup this season. Shorter player, listed at 5’9” or 5’10”, depending on where you look. Fast hands and got on base a lot this season. West walked 37 times and was hit by a pitch 22 times, earning himself the honor of leadoff man for the Bruins.

The Blue Jays also dipped back into the Southern Miss program. One year after the club took Jake Cook from the Golden Eagles, Joey Urban went in the ninth round to Toronto in 2026. A solid track record with both Southern Miss & Butler.

Toronto also took some college pitchers aside from Higgins, including LSU pitcher Santiago Garcia and Mathis Nayral from Kansas. Nayral was tied for the most starts (17) on a good Kansas team, striking out 71 over 69 IP. An eclectic pitch mix for a college pitcher, including a low-to-mid-90s fastball, cutter, sinker, slider, and changeup.