BREAKING: South Carolina LHP Jake McCoy will play at Tennessee next year, he tells me. He was picked in the 18th round of the MLB Draft by the Blue Jays.
Jake McCoy joins the University of Tennessee, won’t sign with Blue Jays
Photo credit: © Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Jul 15, 2026, 16:15 EDT
Jake McCoy will not be joining the Toronto Blue Jays’ organization.
On Wednesday, it was announced that McCoy will transfer to the University of Tennessee to spend another season in the NCAA rather than turn professional with the Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays selected McCoy in the 18th round, 552nd overall, during day two of the 2026 MLB Draft. Heading into the draft, McCoy was ranked as the 152nd-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, but teams chose to stay away from the left-hander after missing all of the 2026 season due to Tommy John surgery and his collegiate committment.
In 2025, McCoy’s last healthy season, the now-21-year-old pitched at the University of Carolina with the Gamecocks. Over 14 starts, McCoy went 4-5 with a 6.90 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. While the numbers don’t jump off the page, he was able to flash swing-and-miss ability, highlighted by 77 strikeouts across 60 innings pitched.
Over two seasons with the Gamecocks in the NCAA, McCoy has pitched in 26 games (15 starts) and is 5-5 with an 8.41 ERA and 1.72 WHIP over 76 innings pitched. Although his first two collegiate seasons were a struggle, McCoy flashed an elite repertoire in the Cape Cod League.
In three starts, McCoy posted a 2.19 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, and struck out 25 of the 54 batters he faced during that span. Mainly using a four-pitch mix, McCoy relied on his fastball that sat around 94-95 MPH and touched 98 MPH to keep opposing teams in check.
With a high-octane arm and another NCAA season coming with the Volunteers, McCoy will look to prove he can fully overcome his arm troubles and give himself a chance to be selected higher in the 2027 MLB Draft.
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