Blue Jays Minor League Recap: Starting Pitching Struggles and Some New Debuts

[Simon Li]

 CURRENT W-L Records

• Buffalo Bisons: 41-65
• New Hampshire Fisher Cats: 45-58
• Vancouver Canadians: 56-48
• Dunedin Blue Jays: 48-52
• FCL Blue Jays: Season Complete 
• DSL Blue Jays Blue: 19-27
• DSL Blue Jays Red: 23-23

Transactions

• 08/06/25: RHP Lluveres Severino assigned to Dunedin Blue Jays from FCL Blue Jays.
• 08/05/25: Buffalo Bisons sent SS Josh Kasevich on a rehab assignment to Dunedin Blue Jays.
• 08/05/25: Toronto Blue Jays sent 2B Andrés Giménez on a rehab assignment to Buffalo Bisons.
• 08/05/25: Toronto Blue Jays selected the contract of 1B Buddy Kennedy from Buffalo Bisons.
• 08/05/25: Buffalo Bisons sent SS Josh Kasevich on a rehab assignment to Dunedin Blue Jays.
• 08/05/25: LF David Beckles and OF Yorman Licourt assigned to Dunedin Blue Jays from FCL Blue Jays.

Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo (6), Worcester (10) - 8/5
Box Score

Buffalo kicked off a week-long series with Worcester on Tuesday. A rehabbing Andrés Giménez was in the lineup for Buffalo and took an 0-for-3 night before subbing out for Orelvis Martinez late in the game. Worcester took a two-run lead in the first inning, when Jhostynxon Garcia singled to center field, bringing in Nick Sogard. Garcia would score later in the inning on an RBI groundout.

Buffalo tied the game up at three in the third; Michael Stefanic had an RBI single, and Giménez added a run with an RBI groundout. Trayce Thompson gave Worcester the lead back in the fourth on his twelfth home run of the season. Buffalo grabbed the lead right back in the top of the fourth inning, when Leo Jiménez hit an RBI double to center and Brandon Valenzuela hit an RBI single to right field. Kristian Campbell's RBI single in the fifth set off seven unanswered runs for Worcester over the next two innings, with Nate Eaton's three-run home run and Garcia's two-run triple being the big hits. Stefanic would add a two-run single in the ninth, but it wasn't enough, with Buffalo losing this one 10-6. 

Leo Jiménez - 2-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 2B

Lazaro Estrada - 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

Buffalo (7), Worcester (3) - 8/6
Box Score
Devonte Brown got things started in the Wednesday game between Buffalo and Worcester, hitting his first home run at Triple A. It was a two-run shot in the top of the second to give Buffalo the early lead. Worcester answered quickly in the bottom half of the inning, with Sogard driving in a run on a double to left field. In the fourth, Christian Bethancourt's RBI groundout put Buffalo up two runs. RBI singles from Garcia and Campbell tied things up in the fifth. Stefanic was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the seventh, and a dropped fly ball in the ninth saw Buffalo cash in three runs, clearing the bases. The Bisons won this one 7-3. 

Devonte Brown- 2-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR

Paxton Schultz - 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

New Hampshire Fisher Cats
New Hampshire (7), Reading (6) - 8/5
Box Score

New Hampshire started a new series on Tuesday against Reading and sent Grant Rogers and his quality-start generating arm to the mound. The Fisher Cats broke through early with two runs in the bottom of the second inning from Gabriel Martinez's second home run at Double A. In the top of the third, Rogers got into trouble with three straight hits to lead off the inning, resulting in a run for Reading. However, Ryan McCarty was able to throw out a runner at home and give the momentum back to Rogers. He was then able to get a fly out and groundout to escape the jam, only surrendering the one run.

Victor Arias expanded the New Hampshire lead in the bottom of the fifth with a sacrifice fly. Later in the inning, Je'Von Ward hit a three-run home run for the Fisher Cats, giving them a comfortable five-run lead. Rogers came out for the top of the sixth inning and was in a great position for another quality start. Unfortunately, the inning unraveled on him, as he coughed up two runs, aided by an error on himself. Arias knocked in another run on a single in the bottom of the sixth, giving New Hampshire a much-needed insurance run. Reading scored two in the next half inning, highlighted by Aidan Miller's solo home run. With the game tight, New Hampshire's bullpen shut the door on any potential comeback and secured the 7-6 win.

Je'Von Ward: 1-4, 1 R, 3 RBI, 2 K, 1 HR

Grant Rogers: 6 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

New Hampshire (1), Reading (8) - 8/6
Box Score

After a trade deadline that saw a number of the better starting pitchers for New Hampshire get moved to help the big league club, the Fisher Cats were back to using pitchers that had moved to the bullpen, and it showed Wednesday. Rafael Sanchez was back in a starting role, and he was touched early in this game. He gave up a two-run double in the top of the first and an RBI single in the top of the third. After he was pulled in the middle of the inning, reliever Pat Gallagher gave up an RBI single as well, with the run charged to Sanchez. Michael Dominguez did not fare any better, coughing up a two-run home run in the sixth to Leandro Pineda. Reading would cap off their scoring in the top of the ninth with a solo home run by Nick Dunn. As for the New Hampshire bats, their lone bright spot was a double by Charles McAdoo in the bottom of the first, and then Ward's double that scored him. New Hampshire fell in an ugly game, 8-1. 

Je'Von Ward: 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 2B

Pat Gallagher: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Vancouver Canadians
Vancouver (7), Hillsboro (10) - 8/5
Box Score

The Canadians are once again playing the Hops, this time at Nat Bailey Stadium, and the series started very roughly for them. Chris McElvain struggled, giving up four runs in three innings of work, and the bullpen was not much better. JJ Sanchez gave up three runs himself, leaving the Canadians down seven to nothing heading into the bottom of the fifth. Cutter Coffey hit a solo shot for the Canadians to finally get something, but Austin Marozas gave up the run back in the top of the sixth inning. The Canadians got a couple of runs back in the seventh, with the Hops' pitching becoming wild, as they started walking a lot of batters and throwing some wild pitches. Eddie Micheletti Jr. scored on a wild pitch, and then Carter Cunningham hit a double to dig away at the lead. Again, Marozas gave up the same number of runs the Canadians just scored, erasing a lot of the progress they just made. Another wild pitch scored Jay Harry in the bottom of the eighth, and in the bottom of the ninth, the Canadians got a few sac flies and a bases-loaded walk but couldn’t quite make the comeback, only bringing the deficit to within three. 

Cutter Coffey - 1-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR
The July Northwest League Hitter of the Month did it again with his ninth homer of the year. He’s been one of the hottest hitters in the Jays organization and could see a move up to Double-A New Hampshire sooner than later. 

Jonathan Todd - 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Vancouver (3), Hillsboro (6) - 8/6

Box Score

The Canadians tried to bounce back after the tough pitching night, as Jackson Wentworth pitched a decent game, going four innings and allowing two runs, five hits, three walks, and striking out three. Kevin Kiermaier was also in the building, as he donned a uniform and served as the first base coach at times, while also helping out the outfield before the game. The Canadians got off to an early lead, as Sean Keys’ groundout led to JR Freethy scoring on a missed catch error from the pitcher. Wentworth was cruising until the top of the third, when he hit a wall and allowed a few too many free bases and hits that resulted in two runs scored. Johan Simon replaced Wentworth and had a scoreless inning before allowing two runs to score in the sixth. Bo Bonds uncharacteristically lost the zone, walking four batters in the seventh inning. Keys came up again and knocked in a run the easy way with a single that scored Freethy again. Arjun Nimmala brought the game to within two runs, but a Jansel Luis double brought it back to three. The Canadians had one more chance to stay alive, as Keys took a walk that brought Nimmala up, but he grounded into a pseudo-double play; he might have been robbed, as he looked like he stepped on first before the ump called him out. 

JR Freethy - 2-4, 2 R, 1 BB
Freethy had a successful debut in Vancouver, recording a two-hit night and scoring two of the three Canadians' runs. 

Javen Coleman - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K
Coleman just missed out on his second immaculate inning of the season, as he threw eight straight strikes before Modeifi Marte fouled off the ninth pitch. He then popped out on Coleman’s tenth pitch. 

Dunedin Blue Jays
Dunedin (1), Palm Beach (3) - 8/5 - Completion of Jul 13 game
Box Score

The game was a continuation of a July 13 matchup that was rained out, and the Jays got off to an early lead after Tucker Toman doubled to score Yorman Licourt’s first run as a D-Jay. Mason Olson was the “starter” for today, replacing Silvano Hechavarria in the fifth inning. Olson went through the first three innings without much of a peep, but in the eighth inning, things went awry, as he walked two batters after striking out the first. Rainiel Rodriguez came up as Olson was replaced by Jack Eshleman, who blew his second save of the season with a homer given up to put the D-Jays down two. The D-Jays had their last chance in the top of the ninth, but only Manuel Beltre could reach on a fielding error, as the rest of the Jays hit into three outs to end the first game of the day. 

Tucker Toman - 1-3, 1 RBI, 2B

Silvano Hechavarria - 4 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
This was Hechavarria's performance on July 13, but we're just appreciating how good he was again. 

Dunedin (2), Palm Beach (8) - 8/5 - Game 2
Box Score
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Jays tried to bounce back from a close loss in the first one. It started off well, with Kasevich getting a hit in the first at-bat of the game. Nothing came of it, however, as he was left on first, and in the top of the second, the Cardinals scored first with a Toman error on a pick-off attempt allowing Jose Suarez to score before Sammy Hernandez hit a double to score two more runs. The D-Jays were able to load the bases in the second inning, but could not capitalize again, as Kasevich couldn’t get a fly out to find grass. Kasevich later had another opportunity with a runner on third and delivered this time, with an RBI single for the Jays’ first run. Eminen Flores replaced Holden Wilkerson and struggled mightily, giving up a two-run homer in the top of the fifth after getting two quick outs, then giving up three more in the sixth on a two-run double. Jay Schueler replaced Flores and allowed one inherited runner to score before not allowing any more runs after that. The D-Jays got a run in the bottom of the seventh on an Eric Snow single, but that was all for them as they lost the second game of the doubleheader as well. 

Josh Kasevich - 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB
Kasevich returned to Dunedin on another rehab assignment. He’s struggled with injuries throughout the season, but it was nice to see him get back to working his way to Triple A with a strong rehab appearance. 

Jay Schueler - 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Dunedin (1), Palm Beach (7) - 8/6
Box Score
The command issues continued for Landen Maroudis, as he was only able to pitch one inning before he was taken out of the game. He gave up a pair of doubles in the first to give up a run, and in the second inning, he loaded the bases with three straight walks without getting an out before allowing a run to score on a single. Lluveres Severino made his Dunedin debut and allowed another run on a wild pitch, but he was able to pitch well after that. In the third inning, Jean Joseph came up to the dish and hit a single that resulted in a play at the plate. Kendry Chirinos was called out at home, much to the dismay of the D-Jays, and manager Gil Kim came out of the dugout and had some words with the home plate umpire that ultimately led to him getting ejected. The Jays finally got something going in the fifth inning with a Toman double and a Joseph single that cut the lead to two. Unfortunately, that was the only run they scored all game. Gilberto Batista has struggled in the second half of the season, as the righty now has an ERA approaching five after giving up four runs on four hits in three innings of work. The D-Jays once again lost by six runs; they are now in a slight funk.

At least David Beckles got his first hit after being promoted. 

Jean Joseph - 3-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB

Lluveres Severino - 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

DSL Blue Jays Blue
D-BJB (0), D-WSX (1) F/7 - 8/5
Box Score

Tuesday was another forgettable game for BJB; this time against the White Sox DSL team (WSX). They only managed to get three singles in the game (Yeicer Crespo, Fabian Gonzalez, and Darwin Núñez ), in addition to one walk and two hit batters. BJB just could not get anything going with the bats and ended up with a goose egg on the scoreboard at the end of the game. It was not all bad though, as both Jose Andrades and Rodrigo Ramirez threw three innings and almost blanketed WSX as well. Unfortunately for BJB, Eduardo Herrera scored on a balk by Andrades, proving to be the winning run of the game, as BJB lost 1-0.

Fabian Gonzalez: 1-3

Rodrigo Ramirez: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

DSL Blue Jays Red
D-BJR (5), D-NAT (4) - 8/5
Box Score

Down on the island Tuesday, the DSL Blue Jays Red team took on the DSL Nationals team. Juan Sanchez started things for BJR with a lead-off line drive single to left field, but he was erased from the bases on a steal attempt. In the bottom of the third, Sanchez hit a ground ball to center that ended up as a triple. He would score two batters later on a sacrifice fly from Kennew Blanco. In the fifth, NAT took the lead on three runs from an RBI double, a throwing error on the pitcher, and a wild pitch. In the sixth and seventh, BJR tied the game up at three, after they got an RBI single from Nicolas Vergara and an RBI double by Pascual Archila. In the top of the ninth, NAT took the lead on an RBI single, but it wouldn't last. A wild pitch in the bottom of the inning tied the game, when J.T. Bain scored. Archila then hit a single to right field, scoring Sanchez and ending the game in a walk-off win for BJR. They won 5-4. 

Pascual Archila - 3-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 0 K, 2 2B

Roberto Castellanos - 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Players of the Period

• Pitcher of the Period: RHP Silvano Hechavarria (Dunedin): 4 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Hitter of the Period: OF Je'Von Ward (New Hampshire): 3-8, 1 R, 4 RBI, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1 2B

Prospect Summary (Last 2 Days)

Toronto Blue Jays Top 20 Hitters
Rank	Player	Team	PA	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS
1	Arjun Nimmala	Vancouver	10	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	3	0	0
2	JoJo Parker	N/A
9	Alan Roden	TRADED
10	Orelvis Martinez	Buffalo	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
11	Yohendrick Pinango	Buffalo	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	0
13	Josh Kasevich	Dunedin	8	0	4	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	0
16	RJ Schreck	Buffalo	10	2	3	0	0	0	0	2	3	0	0
17	Victor Arias	New Hampshire	8	0	2	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
19	Jonatan Clase	Buffalo	5	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0

Toronto Blue Jays Top 20 Pitchers
Rank	Player	Team	BF	G	GS	IP	H	HR	ER	BB	K
3	Trey Yesavage	New Hampshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Ricky Tiedemann	Buffalo	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Khal Stephen	TRADED
6	Johnny King	Dunedin	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	Kendry Rojas	TRADED
8	Gage Stanifer	Vancouver	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
12	Landen Maroudis	Dunedin	9	1	1	1	3	0	3	3	1
14	Juaron Watts-Brown	TRADED
15	Jake Bloss	Buffalo	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
18	Brandon Barriera	FCL Jays	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
20	Adam Macko	Buffalo	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

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