This One's For Nick

The Toronto Bluejays drafted pitcher heavy in the 2010 MLB Draft. In their first 7 picks, 6 of them were pitchers; 4 of them being high school arms. Fans seem to get blinded past right-handers Deck McGuire, Aaron Sanchez, and Noah Syndergaard. Respectfully, McGuire and Syndergaard have performed very well. Aaron Sanchez has run into some trouble in the Appy League.

But the biggest surprise is 2nd round selection Justin Nicolino, a left-handed pitcher out of a Florida high school. Experts projected Nicolino to fall between the 4th and 6th round, but the Jays took a chance, and it looks like a chance well taken.

Out of all the high school pitchers selected by the Jays, Nicolino had the toughest assignment. Reporting to the Vancouver Canadians, a short-season low-A team, he has pitched exceptionally well, well past his years. After his 3 inning relief appearance tonight, Nicolino is now 5-1, with a 1.22 ERA in 8 games, 7 of them in which he started. With a complete game under his belt, the 19-year-old has punched out 51 in just 37 innings of work. More impressively, he’s only surrender 21 hits in those innings.

He might have 10 walks on the season, but that’s due to his only rough start. Nicolino stands at 6’3″ 160 lbs, clearly there is room for growth. He’s a sleeper Bluejays pitching prospect from the 2010 draft and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Jays give Nicolino a taste at Lansing.