Blue Jays Take High-Upside Gamble on Arizona State Southpaw Cole Carlon
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Toronto uses 39th overall pick on a 6-foot-5 left-hander who recently transitioned from the bullpen to the rotation.
The Toronto Blue Jays have utilized the 39th overall pick in the first round of the MLB draft to select left-handed pitcher Cole Carlon, according to reporting from CBC Toronto.
Carlon, a 21-year-old native of Tempe, Arizona, joins the organization after completing his junior year at Arizona State University. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound pitcher arrives with a profile defined by a recent shift in role; after spending two years as a reliever—a tenure that included an all-American nod during his sophomore season—Carlon moved into the starting rotation this past year.
According to CBC Toronto, Carlon's transition to starter yielded a 5-2 record over 16 starts for the Arizona State Sun Devils. During that stretch, he recorded 133 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings and maintained a 3.87 earned-run average. His performance earned him a spot on the all-Big 12 first team, marking the second time in his career he has received that honor.
While the Blue Jays are betting on Carlon's physical tools and strikeout ability to bolster their future rotation depth, the move carries the inherent volatility of the draft. Carlon's lack of extensive experience as a starter makes him a high-ceiling project, though his success at the collegiate level suggests he could become a cornerstone of the pitching staff.
Beyond the first round, CBC Toronto reports the Blue Jays also selected shortstop Ryan Cooney from the University of Oregon with the 103rd overall pick in the third round. Cooney, a six-foot, 195-pound junior, hit .331 with eight home runs and 43 RBIs, earning all-Big Ten first team honors.
On "Jays Talk Plus," Sportsnet's Shi Davidi joined Blake Murphy to discuss the implications of the Blue Jays' draft selections and the specific attributes Carlon brings to the mound.