Arizona State LHP Cole Carlon picked 39th overall by Blue Jays in MLB Draft

Arizona State star left-handed pitcher and local product Cole Carlon was picked by the Toronto Blue Jays with the 39th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday.

The Corona Del Sol High School product had a 3.87 ERA over 16 starts (5-2) in 2026, his first collegiate season as a full-time starter. He allowed three or fewer runs in 14 of his 16 starts and one or fewer runs in seven appearances.

The junior pitched six innings without allowing a run on two occasions, once at rival Arizona (12 strikeouts and six hits) and once two weeks later at BYU (11 strikeouts and three hits).

The two-time First Team All-Big 12 pitcher finished the season fifth nationally in strikeouts per nine innings with 14.31 and helped lead the Sun Devils to their second straight NCAA Regional. He had at least 10 strikeouts in six of his 16 starts.

As a sophomore, Carlon had a strong season as a reliever with a 3.33 ERA across 29 appearances (54 innings). He allowed just three home runs and notched four saves.

He was the first Sun Devil drafted, and several others have a chance to hear their names called — infielders P.J. Moutzouridis and Nu’u Contrades, outfielders Dean Toigo and Dominic Longo and right-hander Alex Overbay among them.

Carlon was not the first Valley native off the board, as Hamilton High School standout Roch Cholowsky came off the board first overall to the Chicago White Sox. Cholowsky was a Golden Spikes Award finalist at UCLA along with returning ASU outfielder Landon Hairston.

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