Toronto Blue Jays: 4 targets for fifth overall pick in MLB Draft

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A baseball lays in the batting cage before the Chicago White Sox game against the Toronto Blue Jays. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Toronto Blue Jays pitching target – Emerson Hancock

One of the top pitching prospects in college, Hancock lost some steam heading into the draft after a less than ideal start to his 2020 season.

In 2019, Hancock was dominant in his first 10 starts allowing just eight runs but lost some steam after suffering a lat injury. The 21-year-old’s fastball sits at 94-97 and has above average secondary pitches including his slider.

Really the key for Hancock is remaining healthy and generating enough swing and misses with his fastball. With all this in mind, MLB Pipeline projects Hancock to be a frontline starter and the Blue Jays could look to pair him with Nate Pearson at the front end of the rotation for years to come.

After getting picked in 2017 by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Hancock decided to go to the University of Georgia and it looks like the decision should pay off if he goes in the top 10. While the Blue Jays don’t have a pressing need to add more pitching, getting a pitcher who has elite command isn’t something they should turn away from.

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