St. Louis Cardinals Select Virginia RHP Connor Jones with Second Round Pick
The St. Louis Cardinals took another college righthander to finish off their slate of first-day picks.
The St. Louis Cardinals wrapped up the first day of picks in the 2016 MLB Draft by selecting pitcher Connor Jones, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound righthander from the University of Virginia, with their second-round pick (70th overall).
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Jones was the Cards’ fourth pick of the day, following three first-rounders: Puerto Rican shortstop Delvin Perez, outfielder Dylan Carlson, and righthander Dakota Hudson. Hudson and Jones are the sixth and seventh college righthanders, respectively, that the Cardinals have taken in the first two rounds since 2010.
Jones was a valuable member of a Virginia team that won the 2015 College World Series and lost in the final the year before. Ranked 21st among this year’s draft prospects by MLB Pipeline, Jones was the Cavaliers’ Friday night starter and posted an 11-1 record through 15 starts, throwing for a 2.34 ERA and .225 opponent batting average while striking out 72 and walking 38. Jones went the distance in three of his starts.
Jones has a solid fastball that sits in the low 90s but features plus movement. He also throws a slider, curveball, and changeup that are considered to be solidly developed pitches. Like recent Cardinals draftees such as Luke Weaver and Andrew Morales, Jones’ advanced skill set will likely allow him to advance rather quickly through the minor-league system, even if his ceiling is as a fourth or fifth starter.