Blue Jays Minor League Recap: All About the Pitching at Triple A, but the Bats Heat Up in New Hampshire

[Daniel Labude]

CURRENT W-L Records

• Buffalo Bisons: 14-23
• New Hampshire Fisher Cats: 14-18
• Vancouver Canadians: 15-18
• Dunedin Blue Jays: 20-13
• FCL Blue Jays: 3-3 

DSL Blue Jays: 0-0 (Season not started) 

TRANSACTIONS

• 05/11/25: Buffalo Bisons sent RHP Adam Kloffenstein on a rehab assignment to Dunedin Blue Jays.
• 05/10/25: RHP Bobby Milacki assigned to Buffalo Bisons from New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
• 05/10/25: New Hampshire Fisher Cats activated SS Eddinson Paulino from the 7-day injured list.
• 05/10/25: RHP Bobby Milacki assigned to Buffalo Bisons from New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
• 05/10/25: Vancouver Canadians placed CF Victor Arias on the 7-day injured list retroactive to May 8, 2025.

Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo (1), St. Paul (2) - 5/10
Box Score

Lazaro Estrada got the start for the Buffalo Bisons in this one, and he went toe-to-toe with the star pitcher for the St. Paul Saints, Zebby Matthews. Over the first four innings of the game, Estrada held the Saints to just one hit, though he surrendered three walks. He was masterful, allowing no earned runs over those four innings and striking out five hitters. Unfortunately for the Bisons, Matthews was just as good, going 5.1 innings and not allowing a run while striking out four hitters. Buffalo got on the board once Matthews left the game, scoring on an error by the Saints’ shortstop. In the next inning, Emmanuel Rodriguez would homer for the Saints, putting them up 2-1. From there, both teams put up zeros, and Tyler Beede would come on to close the game out for the Buffalo defeat. 

Alan Roden: 3-4, 3B

Lazaro Estrada: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K

Buffalo (1), St. Paul (2) - 5/11
Box Score

In the Mother's Day game to close out the series with the St. Paul Saints, the Buffalo Bisons did not fare any better. It was another pitcher's duel, but this time dominated by each team's bullpen. St. Paul got things started in the bottom of the first inning with two home runs from Mickey Gasper and Carson McCusker. The Bisons would punch back in the top of the fourth inning, as Damiano Palmegiani would single in both of the Bisons’ runs on the day. The tie game was short-lived, as Jair Camargo singled in a run for the Saints in the bottom of the fourth inning. From there, both bullpens shut down the hitters. The Saints would finish this game off, as Buffalo fell 3-2. 

Damiano Palmegiani: 2-3, 2 RBI

Eric Pardinho: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Pardinho has been a bright spot at times in the Buffalo bullpen; 10 out of his 12 appearances have been scoreless. He could be the next in line to get a call-up to Toronto if he keeps putting up zeros and continues striking out batters at a solid rate. 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats
New Hampshire (1), Hartford (7) F/7 - 5/10 - Game 1
Box Score

Due to bad weather yet again for New Hampshire, they played a doubleheader against Hartford on Saturday. Hartford got the scoring started against Ryan Watson in the top of the second inning with a triple, an error, and a home run. The home run came off the bat of Cole Carrigg, as he continued his hot hitting for the week. Hartford would score more runs in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. The scoring was highlighted by home runs off the bats of Zach Kokoska and Bryant Betancourt. New Hampshire got their late-inning rally going with a home run by RJ Schreck in the bottom of the sixth inning. It was followed up by a Jace Bohrofen double and stolen base, but a Dasan Brown fly out ended the hopes of a comeback, as the Fisher Cats fell 7-1. 

RJ Schreck: 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 HR
Schreck launched his third home run of the season and brought his batting average up to .226 on the year. He hasn't done much to write home about, but his OPS has been a bright spot, now sitting at .819 in 2025. 

Alex Amalfi: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

New Hampshire (5), Hartford (1) F/7 - 5/10 Game 2
Box Score

In game two of the doubleheader, the bats came alive for New Hampshire, and more than half of their hitters enjoyed multi-hit games. It started in the bottom of the first inning with the second Schreck home run of the day, scoring Yohendrick Pinango from first. Pinango would add another run in the second inning on an RBI single, scoring Jay Harry. New Hampshire would add another two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning from a two-run double by the player of the game, Pinango. Michael Dominguez, Hunter Gregory, and Johnathan Lavallee would combine to only give up one unearned run in the game and strike out seven, giving New Hampshire the win 5-1. 

Yohendrick Pinango: 3-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B
Pinango raised his batting average for the season up to .333 and his OPS to .946. If Buffalo needs an influx of offense, Pinango might be the first hitter from Double A to get the call-up to Triple A. 

Michael Dominguez: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Dominguez continues to pitch in short spurts, but he keeps performing well. This game dropped his ERA down to 0.56 on the season.

New Hampshire (7), Hartford (2) - 5/11
Box Score

In a season in which New Hampshire has struggled mightily to score runs and win games, they put together their second straight great performance on the field. After falling behind from the start, Devereaux Harrison gave up another home run to Carrigg. The Fisher Cats erupted for a crooked number in the bottom of the second inning on a Gabriel Martinez two-run double, scoring Peyton Williams and Eddinson Paulino. After another run scored on an error by Hartford, Pinango belted his fourth home run of the season, which scored Jacob Sharp as well. Brown added to the lead with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the fifth inning. That was soon answered by Hartford, when Carrigg hit his second home run of the game in the sixth. Williams would cap off the scoring in the game by way of his seventh-inning double that scored Charles McAdoo. Harrison's quality start and the bullpen really kept things in check throughout the game, with the exception of Carrigg's home runs. New Hampshire rolled to a 7-2 win. 

Yohendrick Pinango: 2-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HR, 1 SB
Pinango just keeps on raking for New Hampshire. His average on the season is now a hot .340 and his OPS is nearing 1.000, at .982. 

Devereaux Harrison: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
There haven't been too many good games for Harrison in the early going this year, but this quality start was one of them. Outside of his two mistakes to Carrigg, he steamrolled Hartford's lineup.

Vancouver Canadians
Vancouver (4), Spokane (5) - 5/10
Box Score

After some solid offensive performances from Vancouver hitters early in the game, they didn’t quite hit as well. Spokane struck first against Jackson Wentworth, who let in two runs in the first, before the Canadians came back. Carter Cunningham continued to hit, knocking an RBI single, and Jackson Hornung followed suit with another. Wentworth continued to get hit around but was able to stave off runs until the bottom of the fourth, when Jean Perez hit a sac fly to get the lead for Spokane. In the bottom of the sixth, Skyler Messinger hit a bomb off of Wentworth to make it 2-4 Spokane. Arjun Nimmala came back with a solo shot of his own in the seventh to bring it within one, but Cole Messina had an RBI single in the bottom of that inning to give Spokane the lead for good, even with the Canadians threatening in the eighth and scoring a run. 

Jackson Wentworth: 5.2 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
It wasn’t Wentworth’s sharpest start as he struggled to strike batters out and generate whiffs, but he still went 5.2 IP, allowing four earned runs. Ultimately, he was able to power through it, almost earning a quality start. 

Arjun Nimmala: 1-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K, 1 HR
Nimmala hit his seventh homer of the year in the seventh inning, tying Adrian Pinto for the team homer lead. 

Vancouver (3), Spokane (4) - 5/11
Box Score

After losing a close game against Spokane, Vancouver's offense sputtered. This time, it was against Konner Eaton, the Rockies’ 2024 sixth-round pick, who pitched six scoreless innings against the Canadians. Not to be outdone, Juaron Watts-Brown had an even better outing, also going six scoreless while striking out 10, which he accomplished for the third time this season. The Canadians did strike first in the seventh, with a pair of sac flies from Hayden Gilliland and Nimmala, but immediately after, JJ Sanchez gave up a two-run bomb to Andy Perez to even it up. The Jays scored their third run on another sac fly from Alex Stone, which was again answered in the same inning by Aidan Longwell. The game eventually went to extras, and Spokane walked off Kai Peterson to beat the Canadians.

Arjun Nimmala: 2-4, 1 RBI, 0 K

Juaron Watts-Brown: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K
Watts-Brown has been ridiculous for the Canadians. He raised his strikeout rate to 39.4%, and he's only walked 7.3% of the batters he has faced on the season. His K%-BB% is higher than the second highest K% in the Northwest League, and he’s been a victim of poor BABIP, which means that he’s been much better than his ERA suggests. He relies heavily on his breaking ball, which he dominates batters with, but he will need to develop some more pitches to improve his stock as a starting prospect. Still, he’s been excellent for the Canadians, and he’s a name to watch going forward. 

Dunedin Blue Jays
Dunedin (3), Fort Myers (0) - 5/10
Box Score

After losing the first game to the Mighty Mussels in a nail-biter, Dunedin has continued to stay on top, coming into this game looking to win a fourth in a row. Leading the charge for the Jays was Devonte Brown, who knocked in all three runs for the Jays, while the pitching blanked the Mighty Mussels off the backs of Gilberto Batista, Nate LaRue, Johan Simon and Javen Coleman, the last of whom pitched another three-strikeout inning to earn his second save. Manuel Beltre got on a few times, notching two steals and two runs scored.

Gilberto Batista: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
Batista had his best start in the Jays org and has looked like the main prize from the Danny Jansen trade. His velocity was up, which may explain his elevated strikeout count. 

Devonte Brown: 2-3, 3 RBI, 0 K

Dunedin (7), Fort Myers (4) - 5/11
Box Score

The Jays aimed to win five in a row, and they did so with help from Adam Kloffenstein, a former top prospect for the Jays, who has finally been put on a rehab assignment in Dunedin. Kloff went four innings, allowing three unearned runs after Beltre committed his fifth error of the season, but still struck out five. Justin Kelly and Austin Cates were excellent in relief, only allowing one run and striking out five between them. Despite Dunedin going down 3-0 after the unearned runs on Kloffenstein, Jean Joseph kicked off the comeback with his fourth homer on the season and third in his last four games. In the sixth, the Jays had a big inning, with Bryce Arnold, Peyton Powell, and Kendry Chirinos contributing to a four-run frame. Cates did allow a run on a wild pitch in the seventh, but Beltre and Brown both knocked in runs in the bottom of the ninth to give them a 7-4 win and to take the season series 5-1.

Jean Joseph: 2-4, 2 R, 1 RBI
Joseph has raised his OPS near .800 after starting the year off slowly. 

Austin Cates: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 SV
Cates was moved to the 'pen to accommodate Kloff, but he had struggled in his past few starts. Glad to see a strong bounceback outing. 

FCL Blue Jays
F-Blu (5), F-Yan (6) - 5/10
Box Score

The New York Yankees' team got on the scoreboard first in this one. They scored two runs in the first inning off of Silvano Hechavarria. Yet, Hechavarria would go four innings and only give up those two runs. On the offensive side, the Blue Jays would tie it up on an Edrick Felix single and an Andres Arias ground out. In the fifth inning, David Beckles added an RBI single to take the lead for the Blue Jays. Johnny King made his professional debut for the Jays in the fifth inning and pitched almost two clean frames. His line ended up as: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K. The Yankees' team would score on an RBI single to tie the game in the seventh inning and then end the game on a walk-off steal of home by Isael Arias. 

David Beckles: 3-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 2B

Johnny King: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

5/12 Game
Postponed

DSL Blue Jays
No games

Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Players of the Period

• Pitcher of the Period: RHP Juaron Watts-Brown (Vancouver) - 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K
• Hitter of the Period: OF Yohendrick Pinango (New Hampshire) - 6-12, 2 R, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1 2B

Prospect Summary (Last 3 Days)

1. Arjun Nimmala (Vancouver) - 3-9, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2 K, 1 HR, 1 2B
2. Ricky Tiedemann (Buffalo) - DNP
3. Trey Yesavage (Dunedin) - DNP
4. Orelvis Martinez (Buffalo) - 1-6, 1 R, 2 BB, 0 K
5. Khal Stephen (Dunedin) - DNP
6. Jake Bloss (Buffalo) - DNP
7. Alan Roden (Buffalo) - 5-9, 2 K, 1 3B
8. Landen Maroudis (FCL Jays) - DNP
9. Jonatan Clase (Toronto) - 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 K, 1 2B
10. Kendry Rojas (Vancouver) - DNP
11. Josh Kasevich (Buffalo) - DNP
12. Johnny King (FCL Blue Jays) - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
13. Gage Stanifer (Dunedin) - DNP
14. Adam Macko (FCL Jays) - DNP
15. Charles McAdoo (New Hampshire) - 1-7, 1 R, 4 K
16. Fernando Perez (Vancouver) - DNP
17. Brandon Barriera (Dunedin) - DNP
18. Emmanuel Bonilla (FCL Blue Jays) - 0-4, 2 K
19. Juaron Watts-Brown (Vancouver) - 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K
20. Jace Bohrofen (New Hampshire) - 1-7, 1 K, 1 2B

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[Orgfiller]

Good to see Roden taking his demotion in stride. Already hitting for some power which is a great sign.