Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Relievers of the Month - July 2025

[Simon Li]

The Toronto Blue Jays' minor league system had a lot of strong pitching performances in the month of July. Starting pitching has been at the forefront of the Jays' farm system, including what they gave up for their most recent trade deadline acquisitions. However, the Jays have also had strong performances from many relievers within their system. These were the best of July.

Stats up to date through the end of July.

Honourable Mentions
Bo Bonds, RHP - High-A Vancouver - 5 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2.62 FIP, 11.1 K%, 0.0 BB%, 0.60 WHIP
Yondrei Rojas, RHP - High-A Vancouver - 6 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.25 ERA, 47.8% K%, 0.83 WHIP
This pair of Vancouver relievers did not allow a single run in July, but both took a trip to the injured list, which limited their innings pitched and ultimately took them off the list for me. But both have been excellent for the Canadians' bullpen and deserved a shoutout for their dominance in limited time. 

Brett Garcia, RHP - Florida Complex League - 10 ⅔ IP, 1.69 ERA, 3.01 FIP, 1.13 WHIP, 26.7 K%, 13.3 BB%
25-year-old Garcia was signed out of the Frontier League this season and sent to the Florida Complex League, where he pitched well. It was hard to put a reliever who was four years older than the average complex leaguer on the actual list, but it’s nice to see the Jays finding gems in indie ball. 

Nate LaRue, RHP - Low-A Dunedin - 9 ⅔ IP, 2.79 ERA, 3.28 ERA, 25 K%, 0.0 BB%, 0.83 WHIP
The converted catcher has really begun to find his footing in the 'pen after starting off slowly. He was the best single-inning reliever for Dunedin in July, and perhaps the Jays are finding success with another converted position player. 

Daniel Guerra, RHP - Low-A Dunedin - 14 ⅔ IP, 2.45 ERA, 4.10 FIP, 27.6 K%, 8.6 BB%, 1.02 WHIP
Guerra started off the season for the D-Jays as a starter, but with the emergence of the contingent of breakout arms and college arms, he was pushed to the bullpen. That move proved to be excellent for Guerra’s performance, as his fastball velocity has ticked up to 95 mph, and he's throwing the pitch over 65% of the time. Guerra still has to develop better secondaries for him to return to starting pitching, but he’s been very good in a multi-inning relief role. 

Conor Larkin, RHP - Double-A New Hampshire - 11 ⅔ IP, 2.31 ERA, 3.07 FIP, 27.1 K%, 14.6 BB%, 1.11 WHIP
Larkin was part of a very dominant New Hampshire bullpen in July. The 26-year-old righty out of Penn State has been one of the most consistent relievers for New Hampshire all season. His walk rate being slightly higher than those of his peers, and his K rate being slightly lower, just prevented him from joining his teammates in the top five, but he’s been practically as good. 

5. Nate Garkow, RHP - Double-A New Hampshire - 9 ⅔ IP, 1.86 ERA, 3.24 FIP, 30.8 K%, 17.9 BB%, 1.14 WHIP
Nate Garkow had a 7.56 ERA with the Vancouver Canadians but was still promoted to Double A after 16 ⅔ innings pitched. Looking at just the raw ERA makes it a confusing call-up, but he was striking out 39.0% of the batters he faced with a FIP of 3.84 and a .455 BABIP. Once he arrived in New Hampshire, his results matched his peripherals, as he has a 1.21 ERA and a 1.76 FIP since getting promoted. This month technically was a step back for him, as he struck out fewer batters and walked more than he did with New Hampshire all season, but he’s been so good that he still earned a spot on this list. 

4. Alex Amalfi, RHP - Double-A New Hampshire - 20 IP, 2.25 ERA, 2.84 FIP, 30.4 K%, 10.1 BB%, 0.90 WHIP
Alex Amalfi has quietly been one of the best relief prospects in the Jays' farm system over the past few years. He’s been mostly used as a multi-inning reliever in his first go at Double A, and he’s risen to the occasion. This month was one of his best yet, as he slightly dropped his walk rate without affecting his strikeout rate. Amalfi will be Rule 5 eligible after this season, and although there are a few relievers higher than him on the depth chart that aren’t protected, he has the stuff to warrant a claim if left unprotected. 

3. Pat Gallagher, RHP - Double-A New Hampshire - 10 ⅓ IP, 1.74 ERA, 2.37 FIP, 27.3 K%, 9.1 BB%, 1.26 WHIP
Pat Gallagher just earned a call-up to New Hampshire after dominating the Northwest League to the tune of a 1.13 ERA and a 2.38 FIP with a 29.3 K% and a 10.8 BB% in 39.2 IP. He hasn’t missed a beat since coming to New Hampshire, perhaps even pitching better than he did in Vancouver. The splitter specialist dropped his walk rate facing Eastern League hitters and has not given up a homer all season. He, too, is eligible for the Rule 5 after the season, so the Jays will have hard choices with him as well. 

2. Kai Peterson, LHP - High-A Vancouver - 10 ⅔ IP, 0.00 ERA, 2.29 FIP, 32.6 K%, 13.0 BB%, 1.31 WHIP
Kai Peterson continues to shove in Vancouver, and his July was dominant, as he didn’t allow a single run. His lefty-side arm slot has been terrible to deal with for Northwest League hitters, as the funky arm angle and all the movement on his sinker make it extremely difficult for opponents to square him up. Peterson can be his worst enemy sometimes with poor walk rates, but he’s been able to navigate runners on base well, given his strikeout stuff. In most months, this would be the best performance of any Jays reliever, but a fellow lefty reliever (and a fellow Vancouver Canadian) managed to snag the top spot from Peterson. 

1. Javen Coleman, LHP - High-A Vancouver - 14 IP, 1.93 ERA, 1.13 FIP, 40 K%, 7.3 BB%, 0.86 WHIP
Javen Coleman is straight up nasty. The lefty reliever was drafted in 2023 by the Dodgers, but did not sign, instead returning to LSU for his senior season. That proved to be a great thing for the Blue Jays, as they snatched him up as an undrafted free agent in 2024, and he immediately became one of the most dominant pitchers in their minor league system. He earned Pitcher of the Week honours in May and pushed his way up to Vancouver after dominating the Florida State League. Coleman has been even better in Vancouver, as the lefty has reined in some wildness while still striking out batters over 40% of the time. He just earned his second Pitcher of the Week honours, this time in the Northwest League. 

View full article