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With their fourth-round pick, the Toronto Blue Jays have selected centre fielder Joshua Palacois from Auburn 132nd overall in the 2016 MLB draft. Palacois was previously drafted by the Reds in the 31st round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
4 (132): @BlueJays select Auburn CF Joshua Palacios. https://t.co/26j7u8CvIH #MLBDraft
— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) June 10, 2016
The left-handed hitting Palacois was ranked as the 169th top prospect by MLB Pipeline .
Palacois received the following grades on his offensive and defensive skills from MLB Pipeline:
Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
MLB Pipeline had the following to say:
“The nephew of former big league catcher Rey Palacios, Joshua couldn’t make Xavieran High’s (Brooklyn) team as a sophomore but emerged as the 2013 New York City player of the year as a senior at the crosstown High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology. He spent the fall of his freshman college season at Stony Brook before transferring to San Jacinto (Texas) JC and turning down the Reds as a 31st-round pick in 2014. After moving on to Auburn this spring, he was hitting .408 and challenging for the Southeastern Conference batting title before injuring his right wrist diving for a ball in early April.”
“Palacios went just 2-for-13 during the Tigers’ final 26 games but showed enough early to sell scouts on his hitting ability. A switch-hitter in high school who has hit exclusively left-handed in college, he has a quick swing and makes consistent hard contact. He manages the strike zone well and focuses on producing line drives, though he shows occasional power to his pull side.”
“Most scouts grade Palacios as a plus runner, though some rate him closer to average, and he can steal a few bases. He tried catching at San Jacinto before settling in the outfield, and he played left field this spring because Auburn had the quicker Anfernee Grier in center. Whoever drafts Palacios likely will try him in center field, but his instincts are suspect and will land him back in left. His arm is average.”
Here’s MLB Pipeline’s scouting video featuring Palacois:
Lead Photo: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports