Twins select Illinois left-hander Tyler Jay with 6th pick overall
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The Minnesota Twins bolstered their organizational pitching depth Monday by securing the top left-handed college pitcher in the draft, taking Illinois southpaw Tyler Jay with the sixth overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft.
Jay, 21, was instrumental in helping the Fighting Illini to 27 straight wins this spring after drawing attention for his performance with the U.S. collegiate national team last summer.
Though he only stands 6-foot-1, Jay's fastball hovers around 93-95 mph and tops out as high as 98. Scouts believe Jay's stuff plays better as a reliever, however, the Twins will surely look to stretch him out given his high draft position.
Jay's above-average fastball is complemented well by a sharp curveball and power curveball, giving him the arsenal to pitch in a major-league rotation provided he continues to develop his game.
Bio
Position: LHP
School: University of Illinois
Height/Weight: 6-1, 185 pounds
Age: 21
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Stats
| W-L | ERA | IP | SO | Opp Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-1 | 0.60 | 60.1 | 70 | .151 |
Overview
The second first-round pick ever from the University of Illinois, Jay is the best left-handed pitcher in the draft.
Featuring plenty of pitches for a reliever, the 21-year-old compliments his fastball with a plus slider and a solid curveball. His ability to through a number of pitches could have him feature as a starter one day but it's likely he remains in the bullpen.
Jay was virtually unhittable this season, allowing four runs and seven walks in 60 1/3 innings while striking out 70 and holding the opposition to a .151 average.
Highlights
(Courtesy: MLB.com)