The Toronto Blue Jays selected Lawrence Academy right-hander Tyler Beede with the 21st overall pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Monday night.
Widely considered the best high school prospect in the state in a decade, Beede has wowed scouts this year. Utilizing a fastball that can reach the mid 90s and quality secondary pitches in an extremely smooth delivery, he went 8-0 with an ERA of 0.69 and 102 strikeouts in 51 innings.
Because of a verbal commitment to Vanderbilt, many thought Beede would drop to the end of the first round or even into the supplemental round. But Toronto nabbed him with its first selection, just three spots after Boston's initial pick and three before the Red Sox' second.
It is a bit down the road, but if Beede signs with the Blue Jays, he may get a chance to work with former Boston pitching coach John Farrell, now the manager in Toronto.
