Boldly stating that every team that passed on him had just made a huge mistake, the Jays' top pick, 18-year-old Brandon Barriera brought the heat on draft night, GregorChisholm writes. Opinion
find out exactly what they have in left-hander Brandon Barriera, but one thing that’s already crystal clear is the 18-year-old doesn’t lack confidence.
“Looking at those 22 teams before me, they’re going to regret this,” Barriera said during an on-stage interview with MLB Network shortly after he was picked. “I’m going to become the best pitcher in MLB.” At six-foot-one, the 180-pounder doesn’t have the big frame like Alek Manoah or Nate Pearson that teams often crave in the early rounds, but the Jays were sold on his athleticism and how good he looks at such a young age.
The Jays have until Aug. 1 to convince Barriera to forego a commitment to Vanderbilt University and sign a professional contract. That has been an issue before with this organization, albeit under a previous regime, after first-rounders Tyler Beede and Phil Bickford declined to sign in the previous decade, but it likely won’t be an issue here. If it is, the Jays will get another pick in next year’s draft.
“There’s a greater risk when you’re selecting a high school pitcher in that area,” Farrell said. “But as somebody like Brandon, with his pitch mix, we’re excited about the quality of stuff he’s going to bring to the field.”
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