Luke Kovach wasn’t thinking too much about where he might end up as the 2025 MLB draft got underway.

“It was honestly just like another normal day for me,” Kovach told Blue Jays Nation. “Like the fourth round, the fifth round, sixth round, all the rounds had gone by, I hadn’t heard anything, so I was like, OK, it’s probably not gonna happen.”

Things changed as the draft continued to progress, and it started to become clear that Kovach would indeed hear his name called after all.

“16th round, I got a phone call from my advisor, and he was like OK, 19th round, you’re good to go,” Kovach said. “When I heard my name called for the Blue Jays, it was like I couldn’t really believe that it had happened.”

The Blue Jays selected Kovach with the 562nd pick, after the 6-foot-1, 170-pound left-hander made his return from injury to throw a handful of innings for Cal Poly during a run in the NCAA tournament. Kovach underwent Tommy John surgery and also sustained a serious knee injury, limiting him to just five appearances during the 2025 campaign.

Despite the setbacks, Kovach believes the injuries have made him a stronger person with a better perspective on what it takes to be successful.

“It was 16 months of soul-searching, and figuring out who I want to be and what do I want to be, and there’s been times where I wanted to give up so bad,” Kovach said. “Just getting out of bed in the morning was hard, going to weights when I couldn’t practice, when I couldn’t do anything. It really tests your patience, and you really figure out how resilient you are as a person and how much perseverance  you can handle as a human being.”

Kovach said he throws a fastball, ranging from 90 to 92 or 93 miles per hour, that moves up in the strike zone with a lot of ride. He also mixes in a curveball from 78 to 81 miles per hour with a lot of depth, playing well off his fastball. Kovach added that he has experimented with a changeup and a cutter as well.

After signing a contract worth $150,000, Kovach said he’s been in constant communication with the Blue Jays.

“I know everyone there is super great,” Kovach said of the Blue Jays organization. “They’re constantly asking how you’re feeling, how you’re doing, and that’s everybody from the pitching staff, to the strength and conditioning staff, or even the mental strength stuff.”

Kovach is focusing on adding strength to his body as he continues to round into form after his injuries. He grew up in Lompoc, California, attending the same high school as former Kansas City Royals left-hander Danny Duffy. The 2015 World Series champion was an inspiration for Kovach growing up.

“Yeah, he’s my favourite baseball player,” Kovach said of Duffy. “I went to the same high school as him. I grew up watching him. I kind of idolize him. I would watch videos every single day, like Danny Duffy, Danny Duffy, Danny Duffy, and I would try to throw like him.”

The 22-year-old isn’t thinking too far ahead, but relishes the opportunity of working hard to try and make his way to the big leagues at some point in his professional career.

“If I ever get the opportunity to make it to Toronto, that means I’m having a pretty good career thus far, so I’m excited to keep playing,” Kovach said.

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