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Toronto Blue Jays draft infielder Jordan Groshans with 12th-Overall Pick

By Austin Owens

TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 8: President and CEO Mark Shapiro of the Toronto Blue Jays with his daughter Sierra and general manager Ross Atkins on the field before the start of MLB game action against the Boston Red Sox on April 8, 2016 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 8: President and CEO Mark Shapiro of the Toronto Blue Jays with his daughter Sierra and general manager Ross Atkins on the field before the start of MLB game action against the Boston Red Sox on April 8, 2016 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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With their 12th-overall selection in the 2018 MLB Draft, the Toronto Blue Jays went off the board a bit selecting high schooler Jordan Groshans

It was a rough 2017 campaign for the Toronto Blue Jays organization. What looked to be a promising team with several bright lights turned into an injury-riddled squad that had trouble putting all the pieces together.

After a solid opening month of the year, the Jays spiralled out, finishing out May well under .500. The team has still had issues trying to right the ship now. Luckily for them, the 2018 MLB Draft began on Monday.

The Blue Jays have the 12th-overall selection in the draft. With that pick, they took shortstop Jordan Groshans out of Magnolia High School in Texas.

The 18-year-old, who also hails from Magnolia, TX., was projected to go somewhere in the early to mid-teens in the draft.

The 6’4″, 190-pound infielder was announced as a shortstop by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, however, he can also play at third base.

Here’s the latest scouting report on Groshans from Perfect Game back in 2017.

"Long and loose athletic build, plenty of room to get stronger. 6.65 runner, has good footwork in the middle infield, long arm slot with a good carry on his throws, can improve his release quickness, charges the ball well. Right handed hitter, has a simple path to contact, hits the ball out front with excellent raw bat speed, loose and quick hands, hits the ball hard to the pull side, showed his game power with a long home run on a 92 mph fastball, really stood out in all aspects at the plate. Also pitched, fastball up to 88 mph from a tall delivery with a high arm circle, limited lower half use, have seen up to 91 mph in the past. Lots of similarities to 2016 PG All-American Ryan Vilade. Good student, verbal commitment to Kansas. Selected for the 2017 Perfect Game All-American Classic.”"

There were other options on the board, including Canadian Noah Naylor, as well as top pitcher Matthew Liberatore, but the Jays decided to stock up on infielder prospects.

Now that Groshans has finished high school, he will be moving on to the University of Kansas.

With that pick done with, the Blue Jays now have one more pick to make on Monday. They will step to the podium to make their second-round selection, 52nd overall later in the night.

Until then, the Jays organization and their fans can look over their newest asset and wonder what he can become in the future.

Next: Toronto Blue Jays: How to turn their season around

What do you think of the pick? Who would you have selected with at 12th overall? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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