The Toronto Blue Jays were pitcher-heavy at the top of the MLB Draft this summer, selecting three starters before turning their attention to position players.
For outfielder <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=michel000edd">Eddie Micheletti Jr.</a>, the grind to be in a position to be in consideration for the draft spanned four years &#8211; starting with three years at George Washington University before finishing his collegiate career at Virginia Tech, suiting up for the Hokies.
&#8220;I learned a lot through my first few years with George Washington and I am grateful for the experiences and connections I made there,&#8221; said Micheletti, speaking to Blue Jays Nation. &#8220;The reason for my move to Virginia Tech was to get some more reps in the ACC and put myself in a position to get on the draft radar to turn pro.&#8221;
<h2>Blue Jays prospect Eddie Micheletti Jr. discusses the MLB Draft and turning pro</h2>
While his sophomore season was limited to just 16 games due to injury, the left-handed batter was an integral part of the team over the years. His best season came in his Junior campaign, where he put forward video-game-like numbers in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Starting all 55 games for the Colonials, Micheletti authored a .384/.460/.563 slash line with 18 doubles, six home runs, and 48 RBIs while showing excellent plate discipline &#8211; 28 walks compared to 19 strikeouts.
With an impressive track record through his first three collegiate years, one that included a summer in the prestigious Cape Cod League (.751 OPS with nine doubles and 22 RBIs), several schools were interested in Micheletti for his senior campaign and he decided Virginia Tech was going to be his home.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Three hours in between pitches? No problem for Eddie Micheletti. 
Mick pounces on the first pitch out of the delay for an RBI single. <a href="https://t.co/YC6bq7pbIS">pic.twitter.com/YC6bq7pbIS</a>
&mdash; Dunedin Blue Jays (@DunedinBlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/DunedinBlueJays/status/1828970001081967091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;After speaking with the coaching staff and just looking over the facilities, I knew Virginia Tech was going to be the right school for me,&#8221; said Micheletti. &#8220;Given their recent draft history and the success that has followed this program, everything fell right into place and just seemed like the right fit.&#8221;
As a senior, the outfielder posted a .311/.464/.599 slash line with 11 doubles and a career-high 12 home runs and 50 RBIs. His 1.063 OPS finished second behind Carson DeMartini and he also ranked in the top five on the squad in OBP, SLG, home runs, and RBIs and led the team in walks with 48 free passes.
With an impressive season, Micheletti started to gain some traction on day two of the draft.
&#8220;I had some interest from a few different teams before the draft, including the Blue Jays,&#8221; said Micheletti. &#8220;It was an exciting but stressful process, not knowing the next steps. I wanted to take my talents to the professional level and just needed a chance.&#8221;
And it was in the eighth round that the Blue Jays gave him that chance.
<h2>Blue Jays draft Micheletti</h2>
&#8220;I had a few teams interested and at the end of the day, it was Toronto who gave me a chance. I was super excited to hear my name called by the Blue Jays and I have heard great things about the organization. I celebrated with my family and was able to share the moment with them but then it was right to business. I couldn&#8217;t wait to get to Dunedin and get things going.&#8221;
Once the business side was taken care of and the Delaware product was officially a pro baseball player, it was off to the races for Micheletti and the rest of the draft class. The group got to meet one another and participate in some camps both on and off the field before players started getting individual assignments.
For the 22-year-old, he was getting thrown right into single-A Dunedin and was going to face live pitching sooner than most of the players selected by the Blue Jays. He would make his debut on August 8th, appearing in the second game of a doubleheader and getting his first pro hit out of the way early &#8211; leading off the game and crushing a high sinker for a double in the bottom of the second inning while scoring Canadian Bryce Arnold from second base.
&#8220;I think the biggest difference between the college level and here in single-A is just the way everyone carries themselves,&#8221; said Micheletti. &#8220;Everybody has so much composure both on and off the field and everyone has the same goal in mind in getting better and trying to advance up the ladder. You&#8217;re the one in control of your future.&#8221;
In terms of adjusting to the next level, Micheletti is finding a rhythm early with his new squad.
Through 14 games, the outfielder has collected 19 hits through 52 at-bats (.365) and has amassed a .493 OBP and a .538 SLG early in his pro career. He continues to showcase his top-notch plate discipline, collecting 11 walks to eight strikeouts, and has six doubles and one home run to his credit with 11 RBIs.
&#8220;Every time I step in the batter&#8217;s box, I have a specific routine,&#8221; said Micheletti. &#8220;I take a deep breathe, look at the foul poles and where the fielders are positioned, and then I go on the attack. I want to win every single pitch. Just attack and take things one pitch at a time. If I get a strike call or swing at a bad pitch, I regroup, take a deep breathe, look at the poles, and go back to trying to win the next pitch.&#8221;
While any player&#8217;s first professional home run is one to remember, Michelett&#8217;s knock was even more special. The Jays and the Clearwater Threshers were in a back-and-forth contest on August 25th, with the lead changing hands a few times throughout the game.
With the score tied heading into the ninth inning, the Jays got one run back early and were now up by one run with one out on the board and the bases loaded.
Micheletti needed to plate one run to give the Jays the lead heading into the bottom of the ninth but instead, the lefty-batter capitalized on a hanging slider and launched the offering over the right field wall. The grand slam travelled 387 feet and left the yard at 97.8 MPH and gave Dunedin a five-run lead to help the club win the ballgame.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Eddie Micheletti Jr. enjoys a grand salami for his first pro homer!<a href="https://twitter.com/DunedinBlueJays?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DunedinBlueJays</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BlueJays</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/HokiesBaseball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HokiesBaseball</a> <a href="https://t.co/jCxwgJd6BE">pic.twitter.com/jCxwgJd6BE</a>
&mdash; Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiLB/status/1827812205364232650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;It was such an amazing feeling, not only to get my first home run but to be able to do it in such a back-and-forth game,&#8221; said Micheletti. &#8220;Just being able to put the game on ice with that swing, celebrating with my teammates and just keeping that energy high, that will be a moment I remember forever. This is such a good group of guys and we just want to win every single day.&#8221;
While it is early in his pro career, Micheletti is finding a groove with Dunedin right from the get-go. He continues to showcase his strong eye at the plate and is putting the ball in play with consistency and reaping the rewards.
If he can finish the season strong, there is no doubt that he will be in Vancouver to start next season.

The Toronto Blue Jays were pitcher-heavy at the top of the MLB Draft this summer, selecting three starters before turning their attention to position players.

For outfielder <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=michel000edd">Eddie Micheletti Jr.</a>, the grind to be in a position to be in consideration for the draft spanned four years - starting with three years at George Washington University before finishing his collegiate career at Virginia Tech, suiting up for the Hokies.

"I learned a lot through my first few years with George Washington and I am grateful for the experiences and connections I made there," said Micheletti, speaking to Blue Jays Nation. "The reason for my move to Virginia Tech was to get some more reps in the ACC and put myself in a position to get on the draft radar to turn pro."
<h2>Blue Jays prospect Eddie Micheletti Jr. discusses the MLB Draft and turning pro</h2>
While his sophomore season was limited to just 16 games due to injury, the left-handed batter was an integral part of the team over the years. His best season came in his Junior campaign, where he put forward video-game-like numbers in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Starting all 55 games for the Colonials, Micheletti authored a .384/.460/.563 slash line with 18 doubles, six home runs, and 48 RBIs while showing excellent plate discipline - 28 walks compared to 19 strikeouts.

With an impressive track record through his first three collegiate years, one that included a summer in the prestigious Cape Cod League (.751 OPS with nine doubles and 22 RBIs), several schools were interested in Micheletti for his senior campaign and he decided Virginia Tech was going to be his home.

https://twitter.com/DunedinBlueJays/status/1828970001081967091

"After speaking with the coaching staff and just looking over the facilities, I knew Virginia Tech was going to be the right school for me," said Micheletti. "Given their recent draft history and the success that has followed this program, everything fell right into place and just seemed like the right fit."

As a senior, the outfielder posted a .311/.464/.599 slash line with 11 doubles and a career-high 12 home runs and 50 RBIs. His 1.063 OPS finished second behind Carson DeMartini and he also ranked in the top five on the squad in OBP, SLG, home runs, and RBIs and led the team in walks with 48 free passes.

With an impressive season, Micheletti started to gain some traction on day two of the draft.

"I had some interest from a few different teams before the draft, including the Blue Jays," said Micheletti. "It was an exciting but stressful process, not knowing the next steps. I wanted to take my talents to the professional level and just needed a chance."

And it was in the eighth round that the Blue Jays gave him that chance.
<h2>Blue Jays draft Micheletti</h2>
"I had a few teams interested and at the end of the day, it was Toronto who gave me a chance. I was super excited to hear my name called by the Blue Jays and I have heard great things about the organization. I celebrated with my family and was able to share the moment with them but then it was right to business. I couldn't wait to get to Dunedin and get things going."

Once the business side was taken care of and the Delaware product was officially a pro baseball player, it was off to the races for Micheletti and the rest of the draft class. The group got to meet one another and participate in some camps both on and off the field before players started getting individual assignments.

For the 22-year-old, he was getting thrown right into single-A Dunedin and was going to face live pitching sooner than most of the players selected by the Blue Jays. He would make his debut on August 8th, appearing in the second game of a doubleheader and getting his first pro hit out of the way early - leading off the game and crushing a high sinker for a double in the bottom of the second inning while scoring Canadian Bryce Arnold from second base.

"I think the biggest difference between the college level and here in single-A is just the way everyone carries themselves," said Micheletti. "Everybody has so much composure both on and off the field and everyone has the same goal in mind in getting better and trying to advance up the ladder. You're the one in control of your future."

In terms of adjusting to the next level, Micheletti is finding a rhythm early with his new squad.

Through 14 games, the outfielder has collected 19 hits through 52 at-bats (.365) and has amassed a .493 OBP and a .538 SLG early in his pro career. He continues to showcase his top-notch plate discipline, collecting 11 walks to eight strikeouts, and has six doubles and one home run to his credit with 11 RBIs.

"Every time I step in the batter's box, I have a specific routine," said Micheletti. "I take a deep breathe, look at the foul poles and where the fielders are positioned, and then I go on the attack. I want to win every single pitch. Just attack and take things one pitch at a time. If I get a strike call or swing at a bad pitch, I regroup, take a deep breathe, look at the poles, and go back to trying to win the next pitch."

While any player's first professional home run is one to remember, Michelett's knock was even more special. The Jays and the Clearwater Threshers were in a back-and-forth contest on August 25th, with the lead changing hands a few times throughout the game.

With the score tied heading into the ninth inning, the Jays got one run back early and were now up by one run with one out on the board and the bases loaded.

Micheletti needed to plate one run to give the Jays the lead heading into the bottom of the ninth but instead, the lefty-batter capitalized on a hanging slider and launched the offering over the right field wall. The grand slam travelled 387 feet and left the yard at 97.8 MPH and gave Dunedin a five-run lead to help the club win the ballgame.

https://twitter.com/MiLB/status/1827812205364232650

"It was such an amazing feeling, not only to get my first home run but to be able to do it in such a back-and-forth game," said Micheletti. "Just being able to put the game on ice with that swing, celebrating with my teammates and just keeping that energy high, that will be a moment I remember forever. This is such a good group of guys and we just want to win every single day."

While it is early in his pro career, Micheletti is finding a groove with Dunedin right from the get-go. He continues to showcase his strong eye at the plate and is putting the ball in play with consistency and reaping the rewards.

If he can finish the season strong, there is no doubt that he will be in Vancouver to start next season.

Blue Jays prospect Eddie Micheletti Jr. discusses the MLB Draft and his first few weeks as a professional baseball player

Recent articles from Tyson Shushkewich

Breaking News