3s.113 Toronto Blue Jays - Marcus Knecht, OF, Connors State JC (OK)

The Blue Jays spent the 113th overall pick on Marcus Knecht.

Follow the jump for his pre-draft report.

Marcus Knecht   Position: OF   School: Connors State JC   State: OK   Year: So.   Height: 6’3’’   Weight: 210

Bats: R   Throws: R   Birth Date: 6/21/90   Seiler Rating: 1C2   Commitment: NC State   Last Drafted: 2008 (MIL-23)

*At Oklahoma State

Marcus Knecht is a toolsy outfielder from Connors State Junior College in Oklahoma. Knecht originally attended St. Michael’s College School in Mississauga, Ontario, a large town near Toronto. He was a well-known prospect in high school, despite not being from the traditional hotbed for Canadian baseball talent in British Columbia. He was thought of as a possible top ten rounds prospect in the 2008 draft, but he fell due to a strong Oklahoma State commitment, and the Brewers used a twenty-third round pick on him, though they failed to sign him. Despite his strong commitment to Oklahoma State, they didn’t have as strong a commitment to him, and he only appeared in ten games off the bench as a freshman. That obviously wasn’t enough playing time for him, and he headed to Connors State last fall, where he immediately became one of their best players. He’s produced non-stop this spring, and he’s consistently climbed draft boards to the point that scouts view him as a potential solid starting corner outfielder at the pro level. His tools are solid across the board, including a solid-average hit tool that relies a little bit too much on hitting mistakes, and his only true plus tool is his plus raw power. He’s also an above-average runner, which is surprising for his size, but he got there with what is deemed a plus work ethic. He’s rawer defensively than offensively, as he’s a below-average corner outfielder, but with an above-average arm, he should be fine with repetitions in either corner outfield spot. He could go in the second or third round as the top junior college bat not named Harper or Washington, and he’s likely to sign for slot money.