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BJN Draft Profiles: Chase Brunson fills a need of the Blue Jays
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Photo credit: © Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jun 25, 2026, 18:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 25, 2026, 15:27 EDT
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The 2026 Major League Baseball draft is a little over two weeks away.
After picking JoJo Parker eighth overall in the 2025 draft, the Toronto Blue Jays’ first pick comes all the way at the 39th spot. There’s certainly talented players to be found at the spot, but also far more options than they had picking in the top 10 last season.
One player who is in range is actually a player that the Blue Jays have drafted before, Chase Brunson. MLB Pipeline ranks the right-handed batting outfielder as their 44th-best draft prospect after three seasons at Texas Christian.
It seems fitting to make him Blue Jays Nation’s first draft profile of the year.

Scouting report

The Blue Jays selected Brunson 18th overall in the 2023 draft, a hedge pick of sorts. They were able to get everyone else they drafted in 2023 signed, and Brunson headed to Texas Christian University. Standing at 6’3”, 200 lbs, Brunson is a right-handed batting outfielder who’ll turn 21 years old a few days before the draft.
He’ll also go far sooner than the 18th round in this draft. Brunson is the exact type of hitter the Blue Jays like, not only because they’ve drafted him before, but because he’s also a well-balanced hitter who has solid exit velocities and makes good contact. He’s an all-field type of hitter who’s capable of driving the ball out of the park.
Defensively, Brunson features an above-average arm with good instincts, allowing him to play all three outfield spots. The 20-year-old isn’t a burner on the bases, but he’ll nab some bases and Pipeline considers him an above-average runner.
According to Pipeline, Brunson has no tool below average. He’s a safe bet with a high floor and some potential, but how’d he perform with TCU?

The statistics

In his freshman season, Brunson slashed .291/.390/.426 with four home runs in 177 plate appearances, good for a 96 wRC+ Despite it being his first season in college, Brunson posted a great 11.3 BB% and a fantastic 14.7 K%.
His sophomore season put the right-handed outfielder on the map, though. In 58 games, Brunson slashed .317/.395/.554 with 12 home runs in 258 plate appearances. Once again, he showed he was capable of drawing a walk (10.1 BB%) and even lowered his strikeout rate to 13.6%.
Brunson raised his draft stock with a strong 2026. Over 51 games with the Horned Frogs, the outfielder slashed .304/.462/.556 with 10 home runs in 225 plate appearances. His BB% and K% both jumped, finishing the season with a 14.7 BB% and 18.7 K%. Overall, Brunson had a 131 wRC+ for the season.

What Brunson can offer the Blue Jays

If the Blue Jays are to draft Brunson 39th overall, he’d presumably join an organization with a much different landscape compared to three years ago. Back in 2023, Addison Barger and Alan Roden were the Blue Jays’ top left-handed hitting outfielder prospects.
Fast forward three years, and now the Blue Jays have the problem of too many left-handed batting outfielders. With Barger’s impending return, he’ll join a 26-man roster that already features left-handed batting outfielders Jesús Sánchez, Daulton Varsho, and Nathan Lukes.
That doesn’t even mention the glut of LHB outfielders in Triple-A. Yohendrick Piñango has split his time between Triple-A and the big leagues, while RJ Schreck is on the verge as well. Although not an outfielder, Sean Keys is also on the cusp of a big league call up.
All of this is to say that a right-handed batting outfielder like Brunson is a need in the organization. Now, a team show always draft the best player available, but if Brunson is available when the Blue Jays pick 39th, they may draft the best player available who also fills a need.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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