Missouri State RHP Jon Harris Selected by Toronto Blue Jays in First Round of 2015 MLB Draft

Jon Harris, a righthanded starting pitcher out of Missouri State University, has been selected by the Toronto Blue Jays with the 29th pick in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft. Harris had been ranked as the 10th-best prospect in this draft class according to MLB.com. However, he ended up falling much lower than expected, as he dropped to the compensatory portion of the round and was the 13th pitcher selected.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Harris had a strong junior campaign for the Bears, going 8-2 while throwing for a 2.45 ERA, 116 strikeouts, 36 walks, and a .202 opponent batting average in 15 starts. His fastball sits between 92 and 94 miles an hour, and he features a curveball, slider, and changeup that scouts say can be viable pitches at the next level.

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Harris, a product of Hazelwood Central High School in St. Louis, was originally taken by the Blue Jays in the 33rd round of the 2012 MLB Draft, but did not sign. We’ll see if Toronto has better luck signing him this time. If he signs, Harris would join an organization that has several high-profile young pitching prospects, including Marcus Stroman, Daniel Norris, Jeff Hoffman, and Miguel Castro, but will need to replace aging starters R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle within the next few years.

Harris, who joins a long line of Missouri State pitchers to be drafted, is the first player from Missouri State to be taken in the first round since the Chicago Cubs took starting pitcher Pierce Johnson in the first round in 2012.

Next: Cardinals Take Nick Plummer in First Round of MLB Draft