“The Jays have selected left-handed pitcher Brandon Barriera with the 23rd overall pick.
This will be the first time that the Mark Shapiro era Blue Jays will select a prep pitcher with their first round pick. Despite that, this is a pretty good pick. It’s been said that Barriera has some of the best pure stuff in the draft class.
The moment Brandon Barriera joined a COUNTRY 🇨🇦 #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/ClppcNhElh
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 18, 2022
According to MLB Pipeline, he has multiple fastballs which sit in the low 90s, but has touched 99 mph. He has a plus slider and a feel for his changeup, but it’ll need to develop some more. His pitching has sinking action and his slider and has impressive spin rates, sitting between 2,500-2,600 rpm. He occasionally throws in a mid-70s curveball, but it’s not used as often.
Here's a glimpse at #BlueJays 1st-round selection Brandon Barriera: #MLBDraftpic.twitter.com/j1z6OJj1T4
— Thomas Hall (@ThomasHall85) July 18, 2022
He pounds the zone and has a bulldog mentality. This can be said in his post draft interview:
“Looking at the 22 teams before me, they’re going to regret this. I’m going to be the best pitcher in the MLB.”
https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1548844845963280384
He was the 15th best available draft prospect according to MLB Pipeline, but here are his grades.
Fastball: 55
Slider: 55
Changeup: 55
Control: 55
Overall: 55
Getting a 55 future value prospect is quite impressive, and he very well could’ve been the best available draft prospect. Joe Doyle (who has been breaking everything” notes that Jays fans should be excited about the left-handed Barriera as he’s a better pure athlete than 2021 3rd rounder, Ricky Tiedemann.
After what the Blue Jays have done with Ricky Tiedemann, fans should feel awfully excited about Brandon Barriera. Up to 99;sinking, flashing a plus slider and feel for a changeup. Better pure athlete than Tiedemann too. Could be scary.
— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) July 18, 2022
With all that being said, I’m incredibly excited to watch the 18-year-old make his professional debut. If I had to guess, he would be assigned to the FCL to work on pitch development, much like Ricky Tiedemann and Irv Carter after they were drafted in 2021.
The Jays still have three more picks tonight, so stay tuned!
Update:
It’s always a pain in the butt to try and find high school stats, but I’ve managed to find some for Barriera!
This past season, he posted a 2.27 ERA in 37 innings with his high school team. He had a K/9 of 16.54 and a BB/9 of 2.68. He only pitched 33 innings between 2020 and 2021.
In terms of his high school career (largest season being his freshman season), he had a 2.21 ERA in 126.2 innings. His K/9 sat at 13.57 while his BB/9 sat at 4.06.
I was able to ask a member of the Jays organization about Brandon Barriera, they had this to say:
“The stuff is really impressive. Great heater and slider. Our scouts had good things to say about who he is as a person and worker. We’re really excited he’s a blue jay and to start working with him soon.”
I certainly am excited to see him as well!
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Brennan_L_D. I still want the Jays to pick Ryan Cermak with the 60th overall pick.
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