As one of the youngest players eligible to be drafted in 2023, Blue Jays first-rounder Arjun Nimmala is used to competing against players older than him.  

The high school shortstop turns 18 on Oct. 16. He has always viewed being behind others in size and strength due to age as an opportunity, one he believes has helped speed his improvements.

“It impacted a lot,” Nimmala said. “When I was younger, I couldn’t always catch up to those bigger guys. But as I developed going through high school, being with older guys in the class and the older competition made me a lot better as a player. It was super essential in my development.” 

That trend will continue for Nimmala in pro ball after he signed for $3 million as the 20th overall pick. It represented an upside play for Toronto in a draft in which it sacrificed its second-round pick by signing free agent Chris Bassitt. 

Blue Jays scouting director Shane Farrell said success by players on the younger end of a draft cohort “can be a bit of a signal.” 

“The challenging part is the sample size is so small, so we’re having to weigh the outcomes of maybe 10 or 12 games that we’re seeing on the summer showcase circuit, as opposed to seeing him for 50 games or things like that,” Farrell added.

Among the desirable traits the Blue Jays saw from Nimmala in a small sample were competitiveness, defensive actions and raw power, according to Farrell.

Also helping limit the guesswork is that Nimmala, who hails from the Tampa area, visited the organization’s Player Development Complex in Dunedin, Fla., a couple times before the draft. That created “a level of familiarity for a high school player which is a bit different and a little unique,” Farrell said.

The comfort exists on Nimmala’s end, too. He admitted to being “intrigued” by his visit to the Blue Jays’ complex and trusted the organization to develop him as a professional.