Jays Draft pick 1.20 - RHP Chad Jenkins

The Jays had a couple of top quality pitchers to select from when their #20 pick came up. There was highly touted but injured Kyle Gibson, and Rex Brothers, but the Jays decided on the 6'4" 225 lbs RHP Chad Jenkins out of Kennesaw State. Chad has a 90-95 MPH fastball and is mainly described as a workhorse who has an easy delivery, pounds the bottom of the strike zone, and will be quick to have an impact. He throws a vicious slider and is said to have 3 plus pitches, including an above average change up - the pitch that seems to define an easy transition to The Show. He keeps hitters off balance with the change up and is said to have good command and great pitching knowledge.

Negatives

Like all young kids he tends to overthrow and go for the strike outs, but that's something that all pitching coaches know how to deal with and I'm sure it won't take long for the Doc Halladay tapes to come out. He is also not very highly tested since he comes from a small school. His success has also not be long-lived and so could be fairly unproven over the longer term.

Chad Jenkins 2009 stats:
8-1, 2.54 ERA, 5 CG, 92 IP, 80 HA, 26 ER, 15 BB, 98 SO, allowed 11 doubles and 3 HRs, hitters hit .229 against him.

He'll be 22 in December and the Jays could start him as high as HiA Dunedin if they feel they can push him that far and sign him early enough this year.

Overall I give the Jays an A grade for this pick. the only reason I didn't go to A+ was due to Gibson being available, but I understand wanting to minimize the risk while getting a similar talent.