Blue Jays may have found a gem despite tough spot on draft day

Left-hander Cole Carlon brings fastball, advanced slider

Published Jul 11, 2026  •  Last updated 25 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks on stage during the 2026 MLB Draft at Pennsylvania Convention Center on July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia. Photo by Stefon Young-Rolle /Getty Images

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The Blue Jays went into the amateur draft with their hands basically tied, but it didn’t stop them from securing an arm that could be helping them in the not-too-distant future.

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With their first pick at No. 39, the beginning of the second round courtesy of a 10-pick penalty for exceeding the second surcharge threshold of the Competitive Balance Tax, hopes were not particularly high of landing a prospect that Jays fans could get excited about, but the Jays managed to do just that.

The pick, Arizona State left-hander Cole Carlon, didn’t become a starting pitching until this year, and he’s no sure thing to stay in a starting role but, if he can this pick will be one that helps the Jays down the road.

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Carlon already possesses a high 90s fastball and a slider that some in the game consider already extremely advanced for his present stage. If Carlon can refine his curveball and a change-up and give himself an expanded arsenal, he can attack opposing lineups with, the previously mentioned fastball and slider should play well enough to make him a guy opponents would rather not face.

Besides being left-handed, Carlon has a few extra things going for him. The 21-year-old is a full 6-foot-5 weighing in at a solid 230 pounds, so that high 90s fastball could soon be hitting triple digits with regularity (he’s touched it periodically already) with some professional instruction.

In addition to the disadvantage of picking where they were, the Jays were also up against things financially with just a total draft bonus pool of $5,543,100 to work with. That number would have to be split between all of the Jays picks in the draft. Only the defending World Series champion Dodgers had less with just $3,951,900 to spend.

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To put that number in perspective, the Jays selected JoJo Parker eighth overall in last year’s draft and paid him slot money of $6,197,500, more than the entire Jays draft class will receive this year.

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With their second pick in the draft the Jays selected shortstop Ryan Cooney from the University of Oregon with pick No. 103. With pick No. 131 the Jays added to their growing list of catching prospects with high schooler Will Brick out of Christian Brothers HS in Tennessee.

The draft will continue Sunday with rounds 5 through 20.

Day 1 didn’t have a ton of surprises around the rest of the major leagues. The White Sox, selecting first, went with the expected selecting UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky.

The top Canadian selected was Saskatchewan native Carter Beck. The Indiana State outfielder was selected by the Atlanta Braves with the 26th overall pick.

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