The Toronto Blue Jays head into the weekend with the eighth overall pick in the MLB Draft, with the first round slated for Sunday, July 13th at 6:00 pm. The first three rounds will go on Sunday evening. However, the Blue Jays only have two picks that night after losing their second one as compensation for signing Anthony Santander this past offseason.

Toronto experienced considerable early success from the 2024 MLB Draft, utilizing its top three picks on pitchers. Trey Yesavage has been an early riser in the system, Khal Stephen took home Northwest League Pitcher of the Month honours for June, and Johnny King is demolishing opposing bats out of the gate between the FCL and single-A. Not every draft is going to be a success, and for the Jays to get some early returns on some top arms is a success in the now.

That being said, the Jays should consider using the eighth overall pick on another pitcher this time around to give a boost to the farm system, and here are three names to consider for the first round.

The right-hander is easily the highest-ranking prep hurler this summer, and if he’s still on the board, the Blue Jays have been predicted to be his floor. Already standing at 6-foot-4, Hernandez is a projectable arm that had a strong 2024 showing on the various summer circuits and followed that with a strong spring at Corona High School.

He ranks at #3 on MLB Pipeline’s draft board, but things can change in a hurry on draft day, hence why the Jays are likely his floor. His fastball sits in the mid-90s but can flirt with triple digits, he has a 60-ranked curveball and changeup, and mixes in a slider to get some swing and miss as well. His fastball, curveball, and changeup are all considered elite pitches, with his changeup being the go-to offering to get the punchouts.

Toronto may not be as keen on selecting a prep arm this high in the draft, given their volatility and injury risk, but Hernandez does have a lot of excitement going for him at just 19 years old.

One of the top southpaws heading into draft weekend, Florida State’s Jamie Arnold is likely going to go within the first ten picks. Like Hernandez, he may be gone before the Jays step up to the podium, but adding a left-hander such as Arnold to the farm system may be too tempting to pass up if he is still hanging around.

Arnold has spent all three of his collegiate years at FSU, struggling to find his footing during his freshman season between the bullpen and rotation before emerging as a go-to start for the Seminoles through his sophomore and junior seasons. He posted identical 2.98 ERA’s in both years, pitching 105 2/3 and 84 2/3 innings, respectively, missing a start this past season due to illness. The left-hander possesses elite command while striking out tons of batters, accumulating 278 punchouts over the last two years compared to 53 walks.

Arnold draws comparisons to Chris Sale because of his delivery from the low-three-quarter slot and his ability to sit in the mid-90s with his fastball. His slider is considered one of the best in the class, and the Jays may benefit from adding a college southpaw into the farm system.

The Jays are experiencing some success with Oklahoma State University product Juaron Watts-Brown this season, and the organization may look to the Cowboys’ arch nemesis to add another pitcher into the mix.

Oklahoma right-hander Kyson Witherspoon is one pitcher that has been tied to the Blue Jays in a few different mock drafts this summer, and it’s easy to see why. Standing at 6-foot-2, he has a starter frame and can hit the mid-90s with his fastball while also being able to hit 98-99 MPH. He pairs this fastball with a softer cutter that sits in the low 90s and mixes in his slider, changeup, and curveball to get some outs as well.

Maxing 16 starts for the Sooners this past season, Witherspoon struck out 124 batters through 95 innings and posted elite command numbers, walking just 23 batters. He allowed just 28 runs off of 73 hits this past year and finished with a 10-4 record and a 1.011 WHIP. A right-hander like Witherspoon has the potential to follow the same track as Yesavage, which would be a strong addition to the Jays pitching staff in the minors.