Blue Jays select Jake McCoy 552nd overall in 2026 MLB Draft

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Jul 12, 2026, 18:30 EDTUpdated: Jul 12, 2026, 18:58 EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays remain locked in on adding college pitching in the 2026 MLB Draft.

With their 18th-round pick, the Blue Jays selected left-hander Jake McCoy from the University of Carolina. Selected at 552nd overall, McCoy is now the seventh consecutive pitcher the Blue Jays have taken in the draft.

McCoy did not pitch in 2026 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in January, but was the 152nd-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline heading into the 2026 MLB Draft. Most of McCoy’s success came in the Cape Cod League, when he struck out 25 of the 54 batters he faced and walked only three.

With a fastball that sits at 94-95 MPH and topped out at 98 MPH, it will be interesting to see where McCoy’s velocity stands when he returns to the mound. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, McCoy’s future could be working out of the bullpen as he enters professional baseball.

Through 14 starts with the Gamecocks in 2025, McCoy went 4-5 with a 6.90 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. The lefty struck out 77 batters over his 60 innings, but allowed 62 hits and walked 40 batters during that span. In 12 games (one start) in 2024, McCoy went 1-0 with a 7.88 ERA and 1.81 WHIP. The lefty struck out 20 batters over 16 innings but allowed 14 hits and 15 walks, driving up his numbers in his first season in the NCAA.

With teams passing due to his injury, the Blue Jays took a chance in the 18th round on a pitcher who has shown an electric arsenal in the past. That said, this could end up being a hedge pick as the left-handed pitcher is committed to the University of Tennessee.