The Toronto Blue Jays used their first‑round slot in the 2026 Major League Baseball draft to select left‑handed pitcher Cole Carlon with the 39th overall pick. The selection was made on July 11 in Toronto, adding the Arizona State University product to the organization’s pool of amateur talent.
The MLB draft gives each franchise the opportunity to choose eligible amateur players from high schools, colleges and other programs. By exercising their first‑round choice, the Blue Jays secured Carlon, a left‑handed pitcher who spent his collegiate career with the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Carlon joins a group of prospects the club hopes to develop in its minor‑league system. The addition of a college pitcher at the 39th slot reflects Toronto’s strategy of bolstering its pitching depth with players who have experience at the Division I level. The organization will integrate Carlon into its offseason plans as it prepares for the upcoming season.
Arizona State University has long been recognized as a pipeline for professional baseball, regularly fielding teams that compete at the top of the NCAA Division I landscape. Its program has produced numerous major‑league pitchers, giving scouts a track record of evaluating talent that can transition to the professional level.
Toronto’s recent draft activity reflects an emphasis on adding left‑handed arms, a commodity that teams value for matchup flexibility. By selecting Carlon in the first round, the Blue Jays continue a pattern of targeting collegiate pitchers who have demonstrated durability and command against high‑caliber competition.
The 2026 draft began in early July, with teams making selections over multiple days. The Blue Jays’ 39th overall pick fell in the middle of the first round, a slot that typically yields players projected to reach the majors within a few years of development.