Blue Jays use first choice at No. 39 to select left-hander Cole Carlon in MLB draft

Arizona State pitcher Cole Carlon (14) during an NCAA baseball game against West Virginia on Friday, March 27, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The Toronto Blue Jays drafted left-hander Cole Carlon out of Arizona State University with the 39th pick of the first round in the MLB draft on Saturday.

The six-foot-five, 230-pound Carlon recently finished his junior season in the NCAA, where he made the move to being a starter after two years working as a reliever. 

He was named an all-American as a reliever in his sophomore season.

Carlon, 21, had a 5-2 record across 16 starts this past season, with a 3.87 earned-run average and 133 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings. The Tempe, Ariz., native was named to the all-Big 12 first team this season, his second career nod.

The Blue Jays selected shortstop Ryan Cooney out of the University of Oregon in the third round (103rd overall). The six-foot, 195-pound junior had eight homers, 43 RBIs and a .331 batting average.

Cooney was named to the all-Big Ten first team for his efforts.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2026.