Tip of the Tower
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Toronto Blue Jays select outfielder Griffin Conine with 52nd overall pick

By Austin Owens

TORONTO, CANADA - JULY 11: A general view of the Rogers Centre and the CN Tower before the Toronto Argonauts CFL game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on July 11, 2013 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JULY 11: A general view of the Rogers Centre and the CN Tower before the Toronto Argonauts CFL game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on July 11, 2013 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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After selecting Jordan Groshans with their first-rounder on Monday, the Toronto Blue Jays took outfielder Griffin Conine with their second-round pick

The Toronto Blue Jays wrapped up the first day of the 2018 MLB draft by picking up another player with MLB bloodlines.

With the 52nd-overall pick, the Jays selected Griffin Conine, an outfielder from Duke University.

The son of two-time MLB All-Star and 17-year veteran Jeff Conine, Griffin had just finished his junior season with the Blue Devils. Over his career in Durham, he was a .276/.399/.531 hitter, with 113 runs, 31 home runs, and 114 RBI’s.

Conine was tabbed as the 11th on Baseball America’s list of Top 100 College prospects for the 2018 draft and 19th best on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 MLB Draft Prospects list.

"“Conine has an athletic and well-proportioned frame. Starting from a crouched and open stance. He gets closed in plenty of time to maintain adequate plate coverage and spray line drives to any field.He remains balanced throughout his left-handed swing, combining plus bat speed with natural loft to drive the ball over the fence in batting practice and games alike.He projects as an above average hitter, with feel for the strike zone and ability to control the barrel. An average runner with an above average arm, Conine profiles well in a corner-outfield position as a professional.” – 2080 Baseball"

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Conine looks like he could become a right-fielder, which is currently a spot of need for the Blue Jays, who have Randal Grichuk (and his under .100 average) starting on the roster currently.

While he’d have to work his way up in the system, outfield depth is something the Jays had to address this year.

Most draft pundits are saying that the Blue Jays got a fair bit of value in this position. Conine was once considered a first-rounder by many. Having him slip down is massive.

He is yet another addition to the growing number of Blue Jays prospects who are second-generation players in the making.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, and Kacy Clemens were all acquired by the Jays separately. With any luck, the five individuals will find themselves together in the majors in the next five years or so.

Next: Toronto Blue Jays: No concern regarding Guerrero Jr. injury

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