Baseball America, Perfect Game, MLB Pipeline project Naylor as 1st rounder
C-3B Noah Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) of the Ontario Blue Jays is projected to go in the first round next month by both Baseball America and the Perfect Game Scouting Service.
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
It’s mock time ...
Not mock turtlenecks, but mock drafts.
And Ontario Blue Jays C-INF Noah Naylor (Mississauga. Ont.) has seen his stock climb after the recent Canadian Junior National Team’s trip to The Ballpark of The Palm Beaches in Palm Beach, Fla.
The highly-respected Baseball America has Naylor going 12th over-all in North America to the Blue Jays. MLB.Pipeline sees Naylor going 16th over-all to the Tampa Bay Rays. Perfect Game Scouting Service has Naylor going in the first round, 29th over-all to the Cleveland Indians.
The earliest the Blue Jays ever selected a Canuck was when they chose RHP Trystan Magnuson (Vancouver, BC) of the University of Louisville 26th over-all in 2007. Magnuson was given a $462,500 signing bonus.
The largest amount that the Blue Jays gave a Canadian high schooler was when RHP Tom Robson, (Ladner, BC) of the Langley Blaze, was selected in the fourth round (139th overall) and given a bonus of $325,000.
Slot money for the Jays first spot -- 12th over all -- is $4,200,900. That would knock Magnuson and Robson out off the charts ... if that much went to a Naylor.
MLB.Pipeline has the Jays chosing LHP Shane McClanahan of South Florida with the 12th pick with Naylor going 16th to the Rays. Slot dough for that spot is $3,603,500.
Perfect Game has the Jays selecting Oregon State OF Trevor Larnach, with Naylor going 29th over-all to the Cleveland Indians. Slot money for 29th is $2,332,700.
Unsigned Blue Jays pick RHP Brady Singer of the Florida Gators is ranked fourth by Perfect Game, fifth by Baseball America and by MLB.Pipeline.
Baseball America
12th. Toronto Blue Jays
Noah Naylor St. Joan of Arc Catholic SS, Mississauga, Ont. 3B/C
Notes: Naylor has been rising in recent weeks and, given his strong track record against professional hitters with Team Canada, has an argument as the most polished prep bat in the class.
MLB.Pipeline
12. Blue Jays: Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida
Toronto also looks to be honing in on college and high school pitchers and could grab McClanahan, the Draft’s hardest-throwing southpaw but also an inconsistent performer this spring.
16. Rays: Noah Naylor, C, St. Joan of Arc Catholic SS (Mississauga, Ontario)
The younger brother of former Marlins first-rounder and current Padres prospect Josh Naylor, Noah has similar power potential and more defensive value as a possible catcher or third baseman. He’s one of several prep hitters mentioned here, along with Adams, Casas and Florida OF Connor Scott.
Perfect Game
12. Toronto Blue Jays | Trevor Larnach, OF, Oregon State
Larnach not only has convinced scouts of his first round-worthy hitting ability but he has also largely impressed most as a better athlete than anticipated who should be comfortable staying in the outfield long-term. In fact, it wouldn’t be shocking for Larnach to join his Oregon State teammate Madrigal as a top 10 pick.
29. Cleveland Indians | Noah Naylor, C/3B, St. Joan of Arc Catholic SS (Ontario)
Naylor’s lefthanded bat and very high-level of athleticism have plenty of scouts speculating about whether the top Canadian prospect in the class might be better off starting his career at third base to maximize those two talent areas.