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Toronto Blue Jays select Texas LHP Jared Spencer in 2025 MLB Draft

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh07/14/25griffin_mcveigh
Jared Spencer
Texas Longhorns pitcher Jared Spencer (12) throws a pitch during the game against Dartmouth at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

After Jim Schlossnagle’s first season in Austin with the Texas Longhorns, the 2025 season’s ace is off the board at the 2025 MLB Draft. Left-handed pitcher Jared Spencer has been taken by the Toronto Blue Jays with the No. 322 overall pick in the 11th round.

Spencer would have been a higher draft pick if not for a season-ending injury. Around halfway into the year, Texas had to shut down its Friday night starter in order to get shoulder surgery. Before then, Spencer was pitching like someone who was in contention to be a first-round selection.

Ten starts from Spencer resulted in a 3.27 ERA in 52.1 innings pitched. Six of those appearances came against SEC opponents, with his last being on April 17 against Auburn. Opposing batters were hitting just .215 against him while striking out 66 times and forcing just 23 walks.

This is actually the second consecutive year Spencer is going through the MLB Draft process. He was a 14th-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies after a great season with Indiana State. Spencer instead decided to sign with Texas out of the NCAA transfer portal. While he did not get a full campaign of health, the move certainly paid off.

What MLB Draft analysts are saying about Jared Spencer

Spencer received a scouting report from MLB.com ahead of the draft. A portion went over his exact pitches, breaking down the velocity on all of them. Adding a little more to the fastball was a big deal for Spencer while adding a third pitch under Texas pitching coach Max Weiner — something Major League starting pitchers need.

“Spencer added 2 mph to his fastball this spring, sitting at 93-96 mph, touching 98 and maintaining his velocity deep into games, albeit with more downhill angle than carry or run,” the scouting report said. “His sweeping slider always has been his best pitch and it became a wipeout offering after it picked up 5 mph compared to a year ago, averaging 88 mph and reaching 91. He barely threw a changeup at Indiana State but now has the makings of a solid mid-80s cambio with depth.”

Had it not been for the shoulder surgery, MLB.com believes Spencer was trending toward being a first-round pick. Getting back to full health is priority No. 1 and from there, development can continue. Maybe Spencer can wind up being viewed as the steal of the draft in the coming years.