The Toronto Blue Jays’ third pick in the 2025 draft is the 112th overall pick in the fourth round.
They’ve only selected from this position once since joining the league, and only two players selected 112th overall played for the Blue Jays. However, there are quite a few notable players who never played for the Jays who were selected 112th.
In this article, we’ll look at the history of the 112th overall pick. If you missed the last article, we looked at the history of the 81st overall pick.
Blue Jays selected Anthony Alford in 2012
The only time the Jays picked 112th was in 2012, using that pick to select high school outfielder Anthony Alford from Petal High School in Petal, Mississippi. Alford was often a top-ranked prospect because of his interesting blend of defence, speed, and power, but he was never able to figure it out in the big leagues.
Interestingly, he attended the University of Southern Mississippi from 2012-2014 to play college football while being under contract with the Blue Jays. Alford eventually focused on baseball full-time at the end of the 2014 season
He made his big league debut in 2017, registering his first hit in eight plate appearances that season. In 2018, Alford received 21 plate appearances, followed by 30 plate appearances in 2019, where he hit his first home run in walk-off fashion.
Alford hit a home run in one of his 16 plate appearances in 2020, but was designated for assignment that season and claimed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he received 13 plate appearances. The 2021 season was his only real action in the big leagues, where he slashed .233/.311/.406 with five home runs in 148 plate appearances with the Pirates. He had another four plate appearances with them in 2022, before spending the rest of his career in Korea.
The 30-year-old hasn’t played since 2023.
Other notable players picked 112th
The 112th overall pick has selected two All-Stars and one World Series champion. Scott Erickson is the player who fits both categories, posting a 3.18 ERA in 204 innings pitched with the Minnesota Twins in 1991, being named an All-Star and winning the World Series with the team the same year. He also finished second in American League Cy Young voting.
Erickson never hit those heights again, finishing his career with a 4.59 ERA in 2,360.2 innings pitched, with a 12.2 K% and 8.4 BB%. He played for the Twins, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees, retiring after the 2006 season. Erickson’s 24.8 bWAR was the most for any player picked 112th overall.
The other 112th overall pick who went on to become an All-Star was Paul Byrd. In 1999, Byrd posted a 4.60 ERA and 5.59 FIP, making that year’s All-Star Game. In 14 seasons, the right-handed pitcher finished his career with a 4.41 ERA and a 4.72 FIP in 1,697 innings pitched, playing for the Mets, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland Guardians, and Boston Red Sox. He finished with 16.2 bWAR.
Not far behind him in bWAR is an active player, Rich Hill. The left-handed pitcher was selected in 2002 and is currently in the Royals’ organization, most recently pitching for the Red Sox in 2024. Hill has played for 13 teams and has a 4.01 ERA and 4.08 FIP in 1,409 innings pitched in his career. If he receives a call-up, the Royals will be his 14th team. It’s also worth noting that Hill made his debut in 2005 and is 45 years old.
There is one other player with 10 or more bWAR, left-handed pitcher Rick Waits, who was selected by the Washington Senators in 1970. Waits mainly played with Cleveland, but had stints with the Texas Rangers and Milwaukee Brewers. Over his 12-season career, Waits had a 4.25 ERA and 3.98 FIP in 1,427 innings pitched.
Dave Geisel was the other player selected 112th overall who went on to play for the Blue Jays. The left-handed pitcher played two seasons with the Jays, posting a 4.39 ERA in 84 innings pitched, all but two of his 63 appearances were out of the bullpen. Geisel only had a seven-season career, playing for the Chicago Cubs, Jays, and Seattle Mariners. He finished with a 4.01 ERA and 3.76 FIP in 208.2 innings pitched.
In total, the 112th overall selection has produced 17 big leagues from 41 different selections. Other players with a bWAR above 0.1 are Turk Wendell (1988), Tristan Beck (1.6), Daniel Descalso (2007), and Matt Andriese (2011).
Alford, A.J. Morris (2009), Steve Engel (1983), Rob Segedin (2010), Chris Gissell (1996), Ryan Kriedler (2019), Jeremy Powell (1994), and Jeff Barry (1990) finished with a bWAR below 0.
Kriedler and Beck are currently in affiliate ball, as are Eddie Rynders (2024), Grayson Hitt (2023), Marcus Johnson (2022), and Dustin Saenz (2021).
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.