Grossmont’s Joe Musgrove is MLB’s First Draft Pick in County

Grossmont High School’s 6-foot-5 Joe Musgrove, whose pitches have been clocked at 94 mph, hopes to take his firepower to the Blue Jays farm system soon.

In Major League Baseball’s first-year player draft Monday, Musgrove was chosen by Toronto as the 46th overall pick—and the only San Diego County player tapped on Day 1 of the three-day, 50-round draft.

Jeff Wahl, columnist for BleacherReport.com, graded the pick at A-minus and wrote: “He throws a heavy fastball that settles in around 92-94 with a hammer curve. Committed to San Diego State, he may be pricey to sign.  This is starting to sound familiar.”

He compared Musgrove to former Blue Jay Duane Ward.

Musgrove, 18, has accepted a scholarship offer to play for San Diego State, but told writer Bill Dickens in a Union-Tribune report that “Toronto had somebody charting me at almost every game I pitched this season. So when they picked me I was excited more than surprised.”

He didn’t expect to be picked in the first round, he told Dickens.

“I was thinking there was a slight chance I’d go the first day,” Musgrove was quoted as saying. “But honestly I’m shocked that I did. I thought it would be tomorrow (Tuesday).”

Musgrove’s final prep game was a 6-0 loss Saturday to Rancho Bernardo in the CIF Division I title game at Tony Gwynn Stadium. His record this year was 7-5, with a 2.40 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings.

In the U-T report, Musgrove was quoted as saying: “I want to finish up my senior year and get out there in time for the start of rookie  ball. This is what I’ve been working toward, so I want to sign and get going on my career.”

According to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com: “In addition to his fastball, Musgrove throws a slider and curveball. Both pitches reportedly need some more work, as neither has quite the expected amount of movement.

“But there's no debating that Musgrove has the frame to withstand a heavy workload if he is able to continue his development and improve his secondary pitches.”

Toronto has until Aug. 15 to sign him to a contract, said the MLB report, adding: “If the club is unable to do so, it will receive the No. 46 pick in next year’s draft.”

The Blue Jays are said to have a history of targeting tall and athletic starting pitchers. The club used its first selection (21st overall) to take 6-foot-4 high school right-hander Tyler Beede.

“The Blue Jays received the No. 46 pick after catcher John Buck signed a multiyear contract with the Marlins during the offseason,” MLB said. “It was the second of four selections the Blue Jays had between the first and second rounds of the draft.”

Musgrove follows a long line of Grossmont baseball draft picks—at least 31, according to the baseballcube.com.

At least five Grossmont graduates have played for major league teams—Kevin Correia, Lance Dickson, Geoff Geary, Mike McCoy and Grant Roberts. Barry Zito also played for Grossmont before transferring to University of San Diego High School.

On baseballbeginnings.com, Joe Klima wrote: “Joe Musgrove is going to get to San Diego State if I am a betting man, where I think he’s got a chance to develop into a  [Aaron] Harang type [of the Padres].”

Said one commenter on the Toronto Blue Jays website: “I like this signing. Musgrove reminds me of buffalo. My nickname for him will be Majestic Joe Musgrove.”