Jays take college shortstop Warmoth, pitcher Pearson in first round of draft

Warmoth, a 21-year-old from Orlando, Fla., helped lead the No. 2 Tar Heels to a 49-14 record this season, batting .336 with 10 home runs through 63 games while Pearson, a six-foot-six, 245-pound 20-year-old from Tampa, Fla., also impressed in his sophomore year at junior college.

Pearson went 5-2 with a 1.56 earned-run average through 13 starts for the Patriots, striking out 118 over 81 innings to earn the Rawlings JUCO Pitcher of the Year honours from Perfect Game.

Danner is an 18-year-old from Huntington Beach, Calif., who also pitched with his high school team.

“We took three players from three different demographics, and not necessarily by design,” Sanders said. “Our goal going in was to take the best player available and that’s what we did — three very different players from very different backgrounds. Logan being a college shortstop in a big conference in the ACC, Nate a junior college pitcher from Florida whose stuff really trended upwards through the later part of the season …. And Hagen who’s an exceptionally athletic high school player both as a pitcher and a catcher who we’re excited to send out as a catcher.

“Three very different profiles but again three players who we were excited to get in the spots we were able to get them.”

Pearson, who’s committed to Louisiana State University for the upcoming school year, has reached triple-digit velocity with his fastball. He also has two breaking balls and is developing a change-up.

While he has a bit of injury history — he had to have a screw implanted in his pitching elbow in high school — Sanders says he sees Pearson’s potential in a rotation role.

“It’s really good stuff, special-type stuff across the board,” Sanders said of Pearon’s arsenal. “As a bigger guy with a good delivery we feel he has a great chance to start and that’s how we intent to send him out. We’re excited about what he brings to the table when he comes to the mound.”

As for Warmoth, Sanders says he likes him in his natural position in the middle of the infield, too.

“He’s got really good instincts, his hands work really well over there and he’s a smart baseball player,” Sanders said. “He’s an instinctual defender and we feel good about how his skills will translate to the pro level at shortstop.”

Former centre-fielder Lloyd Moseby was the Blue Jays’ representative in Seacaucus, N.J., where the draft was held.

The Minnesota Twins selected California high school shortstop Royce Lewis with the No. 1 pick. The Twins also selected the first Canadian of the draft, right-handed pitcher Landon Leach of Pickering, Ont., in the second round (37th overall).

Adam Hall, a shortstop from London, Ont., went to the Baltimore Orioles with the 60th pick.

The draft continues through Wednesday.

Melissa Couto, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Jays take college shortstop Warmoth, pitcher Pearson in first round of draft

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