Enter Spencer Miles
That brings us to 2025, and the Jays’ selection of RHP Spencer Miles. The San Francisco Giants had selected him in 2022 out of the University of Missouri in the fourth round. They had seen his ceiling as extremely high, but a series of elbow injuries limited Miles’ action across his first four years of pro ball. The Jays swooped in at just the right time, when Miles was no longer protected in the Giants’ 40-man.
The results have been almost immediate and have made the Jays’ current brass of front-office executives look extraordinarily clever. The sample size is relatively small, but Miles’ work has been beyond impressive so far. His dismantling of the powerful Yankees’ offense to hold a slim lead and help the club even an important 4-game series in the Bronx was a testament to his poise.
As a fellow standout Mizzou alum, perhaps he is getting some interactive advice from future Hall of Fame teammate Max Scherzer, who, despite being injured, will often lurk in the dugout and openly talk shop with any pitcher who will engage. Whatever the change or lack thereof, Spencer Miles is emerging as the prize of the 2025 Rule 5 draft, and his pitching metrics, including his velo and command, make the common fan search and wonder how any team could have ever let him go.
Blue Jays Hanging Around The WC Despite Underperforming Offence
With an offense hobbling with injuries and inconsistency, it has been the pitching as of late that has carried the weight. The bullpen, often a concern in years past, has seemingly settled into clear roles. Miles has become a weapon of a long man who can bridge the gap between their solid starting-five and Louis Varland, who seems to be paving a path towards his first All-Star game nod. Rule 5 was once again taken seriously by the Toronto Blue Jays, and it is paying off big time.
