photo credit: milb.com
With the first of their three picks in the compensation round of the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft the Blue Jays took a chance on LHP Matt Smoral out of Solon High School. Smoral was ranked as a mid-first round prospect but slipped due to a stress fracture in his right foot. Smoral is a very tall, 6’8, athletic lefty that has a easy arm action that offers up an above-average fastball that sits 91-92MPH. He has a good feel for a change-up with sinking action to it and is able to throw it for strikes which is often rare when talking about prep pitchers. He does throw a slider but it’s a below-average pitch currently as it doesn’t have much depth to it. For Smoral to reach his high-ceiling potential he will need to refine his slider to go along with his other above-average pitches. He has great mound presence and goes right after hitters.
He has a strong commitment to UCLA which is known as a pitching factory so it’s going to take some money to pry him away from that commitment. It’s unclear if the injury has any influence on his decision to go to school or not.
We hope that we can get the talented prep lefty signed and wish him the best of luck in whichever way he decides to go!
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