Vols signee Lane Thomas drafted by Toronto Blue Jays (original) (raw)

Highly touted Tennessee baseball signee Lane Thomas from Knoxville's Bearden High School was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Thomas, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound outfielder and right-handed pitcher, hoped to be selected in the first two rounds of this year's draft and is thought to be college-bound unless offered a signing bonus at or near the seven-figure mark — which would be well above the slotted value for a fifth-round pick.

According to Baseball America, the slot value for this season's No. 144 overall pick is $343,000.

Thomas — and every other pick in this year's draft — will have until July 18 to make a decision.