CJ Van Eyk

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CJ Van Eyk
Toronto Blue Jays
Pitcher
Born: (1998-09-15) September 15, 1998 (age 25)
Tampa, Florida
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Cornelius Johannes Van Eyk (born September 15, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He is ranked 17th on Major League Baseball's 2024 Top 30 Blue Jays prospects list.[1]

Amateur career[edit]

Van Eyk attended and graduated from Steinbrenner High School in Lutz, Florida. In 2017, his senior year, he went 5–1 with a 0.73 ERA.[2][3] He was drafted by the New York Mets in the 19th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, but elected to fulfill his commitment to play college baseball at Florida State University.[4]

In 2018, Van Eyk's freshman year at Florida State, he appeared in 19 games (making five starts) in which he went 7–0 with a 2.86 ERA, striking out 71 batters over 56+23 innings, earning ACC All-Freshman honors.[5][6] As a sophomore in 2019, he started 17 games, going 10–3 with a 3.80 ERA, compiling 120 strikeouts over 94+23 innings,[7] earning All-ACC Third Team honors.[8] For the 2020 season, he was named the Seminoles' opening day starter.[9] He appeared in four games before the college baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

Professional career[edit]

Van Eyk was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the second round with the 42nd overall pick of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[11] He signed with the Blue Jays on June 18 and received a $1.8 million bonus.[12]

Van Eyk made his professional debut and spent all of the 2021 season with the Vancouver Canadians of the High-A West, starting 19 games and pitching to a 4–6 record, a 5.83 ERA, and 100 strikeouts over 80+13 innings.[13] He underwent Tommy John surgery after the season, forcing him to miss all of 2022.[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "MLB 2024 Prospect Watch". MLB.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  2. ^ Weiler, Curt. "Florida State baseball enters 2018 full of talent, potential". Tallahassee Democrat.
  3. ^ III, Wayne E. McGahee; III, Wayne McGahee. "Florida State baseball preview: Pitching". Tallahassee Democrat.
  4. ^ Weiss, Kevin (June 22, 2017). "Locals fare well in 2017 MLB Draft". The Laker/Lutz News.
  5. ^ "Van Eyk named to All-Freshman team". www.wctv.tv. July 5, 2018.
  6. ^ Weiler, Curt. "CJ Van Eyk embracing changes around FSU baseball entering his money year". Tallahassee Democrat.
  7. ^ "Locals lead Florida State's charge to College World Series". Tampa Bay Times.
  8. ^ "ACC Baseball Honors: FSU lands six on All-Conference teams". Noles247.
  9. ^ Keel, Fletcher (February 13, 2020). "Seminoles rotation set ahead of season opener". www.wctv.tv.
  10. ^ "Inbox: Looking ahead to Draft, future aces". MLB.com.
  11. ^ Tolentino, Josh. "'He's always working': Blue Jays take college arm CJ Van Eyk..." The Athletic.
  12. ^ Matheson, Keegan (June 18, 2020). "Blue Jays sign RHP draftees Van Eyk, Palmer". MLB.com. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  13. ^ "On eve of Blue Jays' minor-league season, intrigue lies in New Hampshire".
  14. ^ "Blue Jays ICYMI: CJ van Eyk out for 2022 after Tommy John surgery". February 22, 2022.

External links[edit]