MLB: Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rays

MLB Draft: Blue Jays Select OF J.B. Woodman With 57th Pick

For analysis and scouting reports on the Blue Jays earlier pick, click here

With their first second-round pick (57th overall) of the 2016 MLB draft, the Toronto Blue Jays selected J.B. Woodman, a 6’2” outfielder out of Mississippi.

Woodman, who can play any outfield position, was ranked as the 83rd top prospect by MLB Pipeline and 120th by Baseball Prospectus’ Chris Crawford.

Woodman received the following grades on his offensive and defensive skills from MLB Pipeline:

Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

MLB Pipeline had the following to say:

“Woodman might have gone in the top five rounds of the 2013 Draft based on talent, but signability dropped him to the Mets in the 40th round. After a late-season surge left him leading the Southeastern Conference with 14 homers entering NCAA tournament play, he should go around the third this time around. He doesn’t have a true plus tool but he’s at least average across the board and can play up the middle, claims few college players in this Draft class can match.”

“Woodman hit .284 with a total of nine homers in his first two seasons at Mississippi, and he struck out in 37 percent of his plate appearances and slugged just .344 with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer. He’s doing a much better job of recognizing offspeed pitches and making contact this spring. He employed more of a line-drive approach in the past but is driving the ball more consistently now and has the bat speed and strength for at least average power.”

“His solid speed and instincts should allow Woodman to remain in center field, where his arm is stronger than most at the position. His quickness should enable him to steal a few bases but he needs to refine his technique.”

Here’s MLB Pipeline’s scouting video featuring Woodman.

Lead Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

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