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After drafting Marcus Stroman, Matt Smoral, Tyler Gonzales and Chase DeJong in the first two rounds this year to go with what they already had on hand, the Blue Jays seem to have one of the deepest crops of young pitching in baseball. How would you rank their top pitching prospects? Where in that list does the talent drop off from future No. 1, 2 or 3 starters to back-of-the-rotation guys? And which of their prospects are more likely to end up in the bullpen down the road?

Ian Stewart

Toronto

The Blue Jays may have more quality pitching in their farm system than any team, though most of it is at least a couple of years away from making a big league impact. Here's how I'd stack up their 10 best mound prospects:

1. Aaron Sanchez, rhp

Misses bats with mid-90s fastball and curve, just needs command.

2. Noah Syndergaard, rhp

A little less dynamic but more polished than Sanchez.

3. Daniel Norris, lhp

$2 million second-rounder from 2011 can touch 96 mph with his fastball.

4. Marcus Stroman, rhp

Jays stole most electric arm in 2012 draft with 22nd overall pick.

5. Justin Nicolino, lhp

Classic finesse southpaw has quality changeup, best command in system.

6. Matt Smoral, lhp

Slid from mid-first round to 50th pick in 2012 after breaking bone in his foot.

7. Adonys Cardona, rhp

Can hit 94 mph, set record for Venezuelan pitchers with $2.8 million bonus.

8. Roberto Osuna, rhp

Lacks projection but reaches mid-90s and commands three pitches.

9. Tyler Gonzales, rhp

2012 sandwich pick repeatedly touched 97, showed big league slider in spring.

10. Kevin Comer, rhp

Projectable athlete has good life on fastball, feel for secondary pitches.

It's possible to dream on all of these guys and envision them becoming at least No. 3 starters, though Nicolino and Comer will have to add more velocity to profile that well. Sanchez and Syndergaard definitely look like frontline starters, and Norris has flashed that ability in his 15 innings in pro ball.

The main reason Stroman slid in the June draft is that he's 5-foot-9, leading a lot of teams to pigeonhole him as a reliever and making them reluctant to select him early in the first round. He's very athletic and may have the durability to make it as a starter, so I wouldn't peg him as a closer just yet. Gonzales is wiry and has a lot of effort in his delivery, making him the most likely member of this group to wind up in the bullpen.