2023 MLB Draft: Breaking down the Blue Jays' top picks

Needing to improve their farm system, the Toronto Blue Jays welcomed 19 new prospects to their organization during the 2023 MLB Draft in Seattle, which concluded with rounds 11-20 on Tuesday.

The Blue Jays did not own a second-round pick in this year’s event due to signing qualified free agent Chris Bassitt to a three-year, $63-million contract last offseason. They also forfeited $500,000 in international bonus pool money.

Toronto entered the 2023 draft with roughly $6.53 million in bonus money to sign draftees, the fifth-lowest amount in the majors. The only teams with fewer were the St. Louis Cardinals ($6.375 million), San Diego Padres ($5.416 million), New York Yankees ($5.299 million) and Philadelphia Phillies ($5.185 million).

So let’s explore the franchise’s top-five selections, who’ll almost certainly consume most of their limited budget.

Round 1 - No. 20: SS Arjun Nimmala, Strawberry Crest HS

Nimmala, the first player of Indian descent to be selected in the first round, was among the youngest prospects in this year’s class at 17 years old. But it’s easy to understand why he was Toronto’s first selection of 2023.

The right-hander has the make-up to be an impact player at the major-league level. He can drive the ball to all fields, has strong pitch recognition, power that should continue to grow, plus enough range and arm strength to remain at shortstop long term.

At a projected $3.75 million slot value, Nimmala will likely require a sizeable offer to forgo his commitment to Florida State.

Round 3 - No. 89: RHP Juaron Watts-Brown, Oklahoma State

After skipping the second round, the Blue Jays selected Watts-Brown in the third, adding yet another athletic-style delivery to their prospect pool.

The 21-year-old hurler, originally a multi-sport athlete who also played football and basketball, led the Big 12 Conference in strikeouts (124) and strikeout rate (33%) over 82.1 innings at Oklahoma State this past season.

Watts-Brown features a devastating mid-80s slider, which generates most of his swings and misses, and pairs it with a below-average fastball sitting in the 93-mph range. He made 15 starts in 2023, but his future could come as a high-strikeout reliever.

Round 4 - No. 121: RHP Landen Maroudis, Calvary Christian HS

Maroudis, who also played shortstop in high school, also features an athletic profile — a trait the Blue Jays have continued to covet over the previous few drafts.

The 18-year-old righty’s premier offering is his mid-90s fastball, a weapon some scouts believe can top out even higher with age. His arsenal also includes a plus-changeup that serves as his top secondary offering, with his slider slotting behind it.

Altogether, Maroudis — already committed to North Carolina State — appears to have a decent chance to stick as a starting pitcher while transitioning to professional ball.

Round 5 - No. 157: LHP Connor O'Halloran, Michigan

Selecting pitchers in three consecutive rounds, the Blue Jays grabbed a left-hander from their own backyard in the fifth, drafting O'Halloran, a native of Mississauga, ON.

The 20-year-old is coming off a much-improved junior campaign with the Wolverines, refining his command and accuracy of the strike zone, performing to a 4.11 ERA with 110 strikeouts across 103 innings. He was named Big Ten Conference Pitcher of the Year just one season after struggling to a 5.44 ERA and 9.5% walk rate over 92.2 innings.

O'Halloran located his low-90s fastball effectively in 2023, which perfectly set up his low-80s slider, leading to his career-high 110 punchouts.

Here’s the remainder of the Blue Jays’ 2023 draft selections:

Round 6 - OF Jace Bohrofen, Arkansas

Round 7 - SS Nick Goodwin, Kansas State

Round 8 - OF Braden Barry, West Virginia

Round 9 - OF Sam Shaw (Canadian), Lambrick Park SS

Round 10 - RHP Josh Mollerus, Oregon

Round 11 - RHP Grant Rogers, McNeese State

Round 12 - RHP Chay Yeager, Pasco Hernando CC

Round 13 - OF Brennan Orf, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Round 14 - RHP Joe Vogatsky, James Madison University

Round 15 - RHP Kelena Sauer, San Diego State

Round 16 - C Jackson Hornung, Skidmore Col

Round 17 - 1B Sam Kulasingam, Air Force

Round 18 - OF Chase Brunson, San Clemente HS

Round 19 - RHP Aaron Munson, Angelo St U

Round 20 - LHP Kai Peterson, Sierra JC