Blue Jays sign 24, including 1st-rounder Zeuch

June 17th, 2016

BALTIMORE -- Blue Jays first-round pick T.J. Zeuch highlighted a list of 24 signees from the 2016 Draft announced by the team on Friday, including nine of Toronto's 11 picks from the first 10 rounds.
MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis reported that Zeuch, a Pittsburgh right-hander who went No. 21 overall, had agreed to terms of a deal worth $2.175 million. That comes in slightly under the slot value for the 21st pick in the Draft, which is $2,285,100. Zeuch was ranked the No. 28 prospect entering the Draft by MLBPipeline.com.
2016 Draft signing and bonus tracker
Zeuch is a big, physical pitcher who can get his fastball up to 97 mph and mixes in four pitches. He led the Panthers' starting rotation this season with a 6-1 record and 3.10 ERA in 10 starts, including one complete game. The 20-year-old struck out 74 batters in 69 2/3 innings.

"I'm feeling very excited," Zeuch said after he was picked by the Blue Jays. "My first initial feeling when they said my name was relief. I've been working at this since I was 5 years old, throwing a baseball for the first time. I fell in love with the game then, and I knew this was what I wanted to do. Getting a chance to play professionally is a dream come true."
Other Draft selections signed by the Blue Jays include their two second-round picks -- Mississippi center fielder J.B. Woodman, who was rated the No. 83 Draft prospect by MLB Pipeline, and Floridian high school shortstop Bo Bichette, who was rated No. 90 overall.
Bichette is the son of longtime Major Leaguer Dante Bichette, and he wasn't the only Toronto signee to boast a Major League legacy. Fifth-round pick Cavan Biggio, the youngest son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, was also among the Draft picks signed by the Blue Jays.
"I just had a very good comfortability with this organization," Bichette said last week. "I wanted to be a Blue Jay more than any other team, so when they called, I knew it was a good opportunity, and I took it."
The remaining picks from the first 10 rounds who officially signed deals includes: CF Joshua Palacios (fourth round), CF D.J. Daniels (sixth round), RHP Andy Ravel (seventh round), RHP Kyle Weatherly (eighth round) and RHP Nick Hartman (ninth round). Third-round pick Zach Jackson and 10th-round pick Kirby Snead have not yet officially signed.