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Blue Jays select pitcher Brandon Barriera 23rd overall in 2022 MLB Draft

The Toronto Blue Jays selected left-handed pitcher Brandon Barriera with the 23rd-overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft on Sunday.

Barriera was selected out of American Heritage School in Florida and was the 15th ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline heading into the draft. The 18-year-old signed with Vanderbilt but has until Aug. 1 to decide if he will sign with the Blue Jays.

"It's definitely something that I'll never feel again in my life," Barriera told MLB Network after getting drafted. "Looking at those 22 teams before me, they are going to regret this and I'll become the best pitcher in MLB."

Barriera has a four-pitch mix with a fastball that ranges from 90 to 95 mph to go with a changeup, curveball, and slider.

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      "He's the best pitcher we've ever had come through here," American Heritage head coach Mike Macey said of Barriera ahead of the draft. "I'm not even going out on a limb to say that. I think that's pretty obvious. He's the only pitcher that we've ever had you'd consider to be a first-round guy. He's got the most hype around him."

      Barriera said he looks up to former New York Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte as a model for his game and a reason he decided to learn how to pitch left-handed.

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          Alek Manoah (No. 11 in 2019), Austin Martin (No. 5 in 2020) and Gunnar Hogland (No. 19 in 2021) were Toronto's last three first-round selections.

          With the 60th overall pick, Toronto selected shortstop Josh Kasevich who was the 67th ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline. In 61 games this season, Kasevich slashed .310/.383/.445 with seven home runs and 44 RBI for Oregon.

          The Blue Jays also hold the 77th, 78th, and 98th selections, giving the team five picks within the top 100.

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