Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 80 | Arm: 60 | Field: 65 | Overall: 45

Cook is an eye-popping athlete. Recruited as a two-way player at Southern Mississippi, he focused on pitching and reached 96 mph with his fastball, but his inability to throw strikes led to him redshirting in 2023 and working just two innings last year. Converted to a center fielder in the spring of 2025, he batted .350 with a 6.7 percent strikeout rate and displayed some of the best speed and outfield range in college baseball. The Blue Jays selected him in the third round and signed him for $922,500. 

Cook immediately becomes the fastest player in the Blue Jays’ organization, and they’re ready to let him run wild. He’s not here to slap ground balls and sprint, though. Toronto, already excited by what Cook was able to do in his final year of college ball -- which was essentially just him in “reaction mode” -- is working with him to develop more of a conscious approach that lets his exciting tools shine.

This will be a case study for the difference between fast guys and true base stealers. If Cook develops a true feel for reading deliveries and getting jumps, then look out. He’ll already be a plus defender with the potential to be one of the better ones in Toronto’s system, but if he can tilt games on the bases, that’s when his potential will really become unlocked. Cook is still extremely raw, so leave room for more patience than you’d give the average 22-year-old, but if you’re ranking this system on how “fun” of a development project each prospect could be, Cook is No. 1.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 80 | Arm: 60 | Field: 65 | Overall: 45

Cook may have had the biggest dichotomy between tools and track record of any position player in this year’s Draft. Recruited as a two-way player by Southern Mississippi, he focused on pitching and reached 96 mph with his fastball, but his inability to throw strikes led to him redshirting in 2023 and working just two innings last year. Converted to a center fielder this spring, he batted .350 with a 7 percent strikeout rate and displayed some of the best speed and outfield range in college baseball. The Blue Jays selected him in the third round and signed him for $922,500.

Cook didn't look like a hitter who hadn't faced live pitching in an official game for two years, using a disciplined approach to consistently put the ball in play to all fields. He has a slappy left-handed stroke and generates a lot of his contact on the ground and to the left side, which yields infield hits but not much power. He has some strength in his 6-foot-1 frame but will have to rework his swing path to do damage at the next level.

A legitimate top-of-the-scale runner, Cook can get from home to first in less than 3.8 seconds and turned in the best 30-yard dash (3.51 seconds) and long jump (10 feet, 8.25 inches) of all players who participated in athletic testing at the Draft Combine. He has yet to develop any basestealing acumen, swiping just three bags in eight attempts this spring. His quickness plays much better in center, where he covers both gaps with ease and has a stronger arm than most at the position.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	OF Jake Cook assigned to Toronto Blue Jays Prospects.
	08/04/2025	OF Jake Cook assigned to FCL Blue Jays.
	07/18/2025	Toronto Blue Jays signed OF Jake Cook.
	06/03/2025	LHP Jake Cook assigned to College Workout.