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Jake Cook is officially the most intriguing athlete in the Toronto organization, and new reports suggest his transition to the outfield is ahead of schedule.
While the offseason headlines usually focus on big-money free agents, this prospect profile is the kind of story that true baseball nerds dream about.
The Athletic just shined a spotlight on him, and for good reason—you simply cannot teach this kind of athleticism.
Jake Cook (Drafted Round 3, 2025 by Blue Jays) is not your typical prospect.
He was recruited to Southern Mississippi as a pitcher who could touch 96 mph, but control issues forced a dramatic pivot to the outfield.
The results were instantaneous and shocking.
In his final collegiate season, he slashed .350 and posted a .436 on-base percentage over 60 games.
But the real story is the "80-grade" speed tool.
Scouts clocked him at 3.51 seconds in the 30-yard dash, making him arguably the fastest player in the entire 2025 Draft class.
Speed never goes into a slump
We have seen how dynamic baserunning can change the complexion of a game.
Cook gives the Blue Jays a legitimate burner who can patrol center field with effortless range.
It is rare to find a player who can impact the game so dramatically without even swinging the bat.
His low strikeout rate (just 7% in college) proves he has the bat-to-ball skills to utilize that speed.
Sure, he is still raw defensively and needs to refine his route running.
But when you have a guy who is an ex-pitcher with a rocket arm and world-class wheels, you bet on the upside every single time.
This is the type of high-ceiling talent that can explode up the rankings in 2026.
Fans should be keeping a very close eye on box scores in Dunedin this spring.
If he puts it all together, we are looking at a leadoff hitter who terrorizes pitchers for a decade.
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