Former Longhorns 1B/3B Peyton Powell has found a new home. The talented infielder signed a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday after an impressive five-year stint with Texas. Since making his college debut in 2020, he has been a force at the plate.
In five seasons with the Longhorns, Powell posted a .327 batting average in 588 plate appearances. While he was an on-base machine, the Waco, Texas native also showed some power with 21 home runs and 30 doubles. Regardless of where he was in the order, Powell found a way to get on base and provide the offense with a spark.
.@peytonpowell01 is a Blue Jay🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/a1nhgsvtl6
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) July 17, 2024
Although Powell went undrafted, the Blue Jays made signing him a priority. That was partly due to his bat and versatility in the field. During his time in Austin, he split time between first and third base. He also made four appearances behind the plate.
In Powell, the Blue Jays are getting a player who has proven they get on base at a high rate. He only struck out 83 times in college and was able to draw 77 walks, including 34 during the 2024 campaign. Maintaining good plate discipline will be critical in the minor as the competition improves.
After an impressive run with Texas, the 23-year-old will be looking to build on his success in the minors. If Powell can do that, he could move quickly through the system. For Blue Jays fans, he will be a prospect to watch.