Blue Jays select Dylan Watts 202nd overall

The Toronto Blue Jays have selected Auburn right-hander Dylan Watts with their eighth-round selection, or 202nd overall pick.

This seems to be the money saver pick by the Blue Jays to go over-slot to sign Tim Piasentin, who was their 5th round selection. The Tigers’ right-hander is incredibly athletic on the mound with high-octane stuff that should result in swing and miss as he becomes more refined at the professional level.

Watts is a pure reliever. He made 17 appearances at the Collegiate level this year, all out of the bullpen, and posted a 7.39 ERA across 28 innings and matched that exact amount in strikeouts as well. Watts saved a couple of games for the Auburn University Tigers this year as well as he mainly worked the 6-9 innings out of the bullpen.

Stuff wise, Watts has an electric fastball that he rides in the mid-90s and touches 99, while mixing in a high-80s slider that he uses to get whiffs. It’s a classic two-pitch mix of a late-inning reliever who’s going out there to simply blow it by you for an inning. Standing in at 6’4, 195 pounds, Watts has a long, lanky frame and generates really good extension as he drives down the mound upon releasing his ball, which will make his already high velo fastball play even more in terms of perceived velocity.

Given that Watts has pitched for Auburn for a couple of seasons and will turn 21 years old on Tuesday, it stands to reason he’ll likely make his pro debut this season shortly after inking his deal, likely starting with Dunedin before potentially moving on up. Watts has been drafted before, as the Milwaukee Brewers drafted the reliever in the 18th round of Tacoma Community College in the 2023 draft.