The Toronto Blue Jays made it official this week, signing fifth-round pick Nolan Higgins just as the club opens its second half against the Chicago White Sox.
Higgins comes over from Michigan State, where he moved into a relief role during his senior season with real results to show for it.
His strikeout rate jumped from 13.1 percent in 2025 to 30.1 percent this year, while his walk rate dropped from 12.5 percent to just 6.3 percent.
That combination produced a 3.93 FIP, the best mark of his college career, even with a 5.20 ERA across 45 innings that doesn't tell the full story on its own.
Higgins just turned 22 on July 5th, and the stuff behind those numbers explains why Toronto liked him enough to take a shot in the fifth round.
He sits 93 to 95 miles per hour with his fastball, touching as high as 98, paired with a breaking ball scouts describe as either a slider or a curveball depending on who's evaluating him.
He delivered when it mattered too, closing out both of Michigan State's Big Ten Tournament wins, striking out four batters over one and two thirds innings.
Why the timing lines up with Toronto's own bullpen needs
As a senior sign, Higgins carried little negotiating leverage, and Toronto is expected to have signed him below the roughly $421,300 slot value attached to the pick.
Those savings matter for an organization already needing extra bonus pool space to sign fourth-round pick Will Brick.
Higgins now enters a farm system that's added pitching depth from nearly every direction this summer, timed right as the big league roster deals with its own bullpen inconsistency.
It's a bit like bringing in a new hire the same week the department's been shorthanded, useful even if the impact takes time to show up.
Does a senior reliever with this kind of strikeout jump actually translate to affiliated ball, or does his stuff still need more polish before it means anything at the next level?
Toronto opens its second half tonight against the White Sox, and Higgins begins his own path through the system on the very same day.
Are you excited about the Blue Jays officially signing fifth-rounder Nolan Higgins?
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