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Blue Jays Nation’s 2026 Pre-Season Prospect Countdown – No. 8: Jake Cook
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Photo credit: © Matt Bush/Special to USA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Feb 26, 2026, 10:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 26, 2026, 02:19 EST
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The Toronto Blue Jays may have selected their future lead-off hitter, Jake Cook, in the 2025 draft.
This is Blue Jays Nation’s bi-annual prospect ranking, where we’ll look at the top 35 prospects in the system in the month of February. As always, I’ll look at the player’s stats, what other publications have to say, as well as my own observations of the players. If you missed the ninth-ranked prospect, you can read about RJ Schreck here.

Getting to know Jake Cook…

Position: Outfield
Bats: Left
Born: July 13th, 2003
Acquired: Third round, 2025 MLB Draft
Previous ranking: 9th
Cook began his collegiate career as a two-way player, but didn’t appear in a game in 2023, and only pitched two innings in 2024. Entering the 2025 season, Cook focused solely on hitting with Southern Mississippi, slashing .350/.436/.468 with three home runs in 284 plate appearances over the course of 60 games. The speedy outfielder finished the season with a higher BB% (10.9%) than K% (6.7%), as he had a 131 wRC+.
With their third round pick, the Blue Jays selected Cook 81st overall last July. Instead of making his professional debut, Cook went to the Blue Jays Player Development Complex to work on his swing, according to The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon. The goal is clear: adding more power, because everything else in his game is above-average or better.
Cook has 80-grade speed, which helps him run out ground balls, giving him a 55 grade hit tool according to both MLB Pipeline and Fangraphs. It also allows Cook to run down balls in the outfield, and since he could reach the mid-90s with a heater on the mound, he has a plus arm.
The issue is power, as MLB Pipeline graded it at 30 in their mid-season update, while Fangraphs also gives him a 30 grade in future value, as well as 40 grade future raw power. His floor, if he can remain healthy, is a lead-off hitter. Cook’s ceiling is largely dependent on how well he can hit for power, because if he can even hit for fringe power, we could be looking at an All-Star calibre centre fielder. There’s some hope he can improve in the power department, as he stands at 6’3”, 185 lbs.
The sky is truly the limit for Cook, and keep an eye on him as he begins his season with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays in early April.
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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