Whether the Toronto Blue Jays decide to buy or sell at the trade deadline, there’s one thing they can’t afford to miss — getting the 2025 MLB Draft right. With their farm system in need of replenishment, holding the No. 8 overall pick presents a major opportunity. All Toronto needs to do here is select the best available talent. With a slot value of $6.8 million, they’re well-positioned to lock in either a top-tier high schooler or a college junior with serious upside.
But the margin for error is slim. The Blue Jays can’t afford another misstep, having seen their prospect depth take a hit in recent years due to underwhelming draft results.
Mock Draft Prediction: Kyson Witherspoon
According to Just Baseball, Toronto could land University of Oklahoma right-hander Kyson Witherspoon — a pick that could offer significant upside.
“Witherspoon tends to get overlooked compared to college lefties like Anderson, Doyle, and Arnold — plus Seth Hernandez — but he could quietly emerge as one of the best starters in this class,” they noted.
A former Sooner, Witherspoon brings impressive athleticism and a lethal fastball-slider combo to the table, not to mention battle-tested experience from the SEC, the Cape Cod League, and Team USA. Toronto may opt for him if they view fellow pitcher Liam Doyle as more suited for a bullpen role.
Why Witherspoon Fits in Toronto
Witherspoon has all the makings of a high-upside arm for the Blue Jays. His 2024 season at Oklahoma was dominant — he posted a 2.65 ERA with 124 strikeouts over 95 innings. That built on a solid debut year in 2023, when he finished with a 3.71 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 80 innings.
Currently ranked No. 8 overall by MLB.com, Witherspoon would represent good value if the Jays go that route.
Scouts have tracked him since high school, and his stuff has only gotten better. He now throws a mid-90s fastball that can touch 99 mph, paired with a mid-80s slider that has reached 91. That combo alone could translate well at the major league level.
MLB.com also highlighted his expanding repertoire: “His fastball is powerful, even if it lacks much movement. The slider is sharp and can morph into a cutter, while his curveball is gaining consistency. The changeup is still developing, but shows flashes of quality fade.”
If the Blue Jays do select Witherspoon, fans should be optimistic. He’s got the tools, the track record, and the ceiling to become a legitimate MLB starter.
