Draft Prospect Series: Asa Lacy

Asa Lacy is a 20 year old left handed starter who is currently attending the Texas A&M. Lacy is known as a strike thrower, a trait that is becoming more and more uncommon in pitching prospects recently, forfeiting control for velocity in today's modern game. He is widely regarded as the Blue Jays most likely pick, and after his strong 2020 season (before being cut short), he proved why.

Over Lacy’s three year college career, he holds a 14-5 record alongside a 2.07 ERA. His freshman year he was used primarily as a reliever, and statistically speaking, this would be his worst year with the team (2.75 ERA). In his second year he would be converted to a starter, where his already strong numbers would much improve. In his only full season as a starter, Lacy proved himself to be an early pick in the draft, finishing the year with a 2.13 ERA over 15 games. He was able to bring his H/9 down from an already solid 6.4 to a 5.0. He also improved on the strikeout front improving his K/9 from 11.0 to 13.2.

Before the 2020 season was cut short, Lacy was having his most incredible year by a long shot, and had the season not been cancelled, and had he continued performing like this, he would easily have been a first overall pick candidate. Across his four starts, Lacy pitched to a staggering 0.75 ERA with a 0.708 WHIP. He kept his HR/9 at 0.00, not giving up a single long shot, and increasing his K/9 yet again, this time to an incredible 17.3 K/9. Although these are in a small sample size, the numbers are incredible, and prove why he is such a sought after prospect.

Even before Lacy’s monstrous 2020 cut-short season, he was an early first round pick. He is the highest rated pitching prospect going into the draft, and is arguably the Jays most likely pick. The Marlins (who have the third overall pick) are rumored to have interest in Lacy, but if he gets by the fish, he is the Blue Jays most likely pick.