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Toronto Blue Jays: the 10 biggest mistakes in Blue Jays history

By David Salituro

DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 18: Starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets throws in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 18, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 18: Starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets throws in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 18, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 5: Chad Jenkins #64 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch in the eighth inning during MLB game action against the New York Yankees on May 5, 2015 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 5: Chad Jenkins #64 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch in the eighth inning during MLB game action against the New York Yankees on May 5, 2015 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Blue Jays mistake No. 7 Drafting Chad Jenkins over Mike Trout

On the clock in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft, the Toronto Blue Jays used the 20th overall pick to select Chad Jenkins, a hard-throwing right-hander from Kennesaw State. Five spots later, the Los Angeles Angels picked a superstar.

Jenkins made his Major League debut for the Blue Jays in 2012. He appeared in 46 games across parts of four seasons in Toronto, including six starts. The Blue Jays got 100 total innings out of their first round pick. Jenkins was out of the big leagues by 2015.

The same season Jenkins was making his debut, the Angels’ 25th-overall selection was also in his rookie season. Mike Trout would go on to win Rookie of the Year and finish second in MVP voting on his way to establishing himself as the best player of this generation.

Since 2012, Trout’s WAR of 72.8 is 30 points higher than anyone else in the 2009 draft class, including Stephen Strasburg, Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt. He’s the only batter in that span with an OPS above 1.000. His wOBA is 24 points higher than all other hitters. He’s the first AL player to record an OPS of at least 1.070 in three straight seasons since Ted Williams, and the first to lead the AL in on-base percentage four straight years since Wade Boggs.

Trout went 1-2 in his career against Jenkins. Last week, his autographed rookie card sold for $900,000; Jenkins’ rookie card is currently worth $1.58.

Clubs had 24 picks to select Trout before the Angels did. The Blue Jays had one of them, and, like the other teams that passed him up, they’ll always wonder what could’ve been.

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