June 16, 2017
Putting a major emphasis on pitching throughout the 2017 MLB draft process; the Toronto Blue Jays selected 22 young arms that they hope will one day be pitching on their big league roster.
Right-handed pitcher Jonathan Cheshire was one of those young arms that the organization took with their 36th round pick (1089th overall), out of Davenport University in Michigan.
As expected being selected by a professional organization was an exciting moment for Cheshire as he worked extremely hard to achieve this lifelong goal.
“Being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays was a dream come true,” said Cheshire. “It was a moment of relief, that after all of my hard work, I am given a chance to continue my baseball career and live my dream!”
And that dream took a lot of hard work, as Cheshire went from a walk-on at NAIA Davenport to a major league draft pick.
But Cheshire went into college baseball with an open mind and took advantage of every opportunity to get on the mound. In fact, Cheshire spent his entire collegiate career as a reliever, a role he loves.
“My favorite part of the relieving role is coming to the ballpark knowing that there is a chance that I get to play,” explained Cheshire. “Starters have a schedule, relievers don’t, so it’s thrilling not knowing when I’m going to be put into the game. I also love the pressure of coming in to a close game, trying to work out of a jam.”
Handling pressure is exactly what Cheshire excelled at in college, as he left Davenport as the programs all-time saves leader at 35 for his career.
With all the success he had in college there’s no question that Cheshire looks back at his four seasons at Davenport with admiration.
“My experience at Davenport was unforgettable,” stated Cheshire. “I learned so much about baseball and how to respect the game on-and-off the field, and I made memories that I’ll cherish forever.”
His success came from his ability to keep hitters off-balance with his unique pitching style that features five pitches and two different arm slots.
“I currently use five pitches, but work from two arm slots,” explained Cheshire. “I throw a side-arm 2-seam fastball, slider, and changeup. I can also mix it up and come over the top with a 4-seam fastball and a curveball.”
Jonathan Cheshire will be putting his talents on display soon with one of the Toronto Blue Jays minor league affiliates and fans of the club will definitely want to be on the lookout for the up-and-coming pitcher