Spring training GDT

[Spanky__99]

7 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Eloy is going to the WBC?  Seems odd for a guy trying to secure a job.

Oops at a quick glance I thought that was Leo, my bad. Derp!

 

[Brownie19]

16 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

Oops at a quick glance I thought that was Leo, my bad. Derp!

 

Leo is going to the WBC?  Seems odd for a guy trying to secure a job 🤣

[Spanky__99]

3 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Leo is going to the WBC?  Seems odd for a guy trying to secure a job 🤣

Yup, lol. WBC's a good test. Plus they'll all be back with plenty of time for the Regular Season.

[Spanky__99]

18 hours ago, Olerud363.354 said:

Jake Casey hit a homer today.   Great swing.  Looks like his Dad or John Olerud. 

Just going by the stats he doesn't have that kind of talent college stats, college k/bb, and last year k/bb not that elite. 

Like those guys hit .440 in their best college year with a 40-10 bb/k or something.   Olerud never even went to the minors Sean Casey hit like .350 in the minors and was in the majors already at Jake's age. 

 Cool guy to follow and you never know... but probably more on a Cavan Biggio path, get some playing time in the majors and hit .250 .340 .400 in a good season. 

He's one of 3 guys Geoff Pontes wrote about for breakout spects this year to watch...

 

ArticleMinors

Toronto Blue Jays Breakout MLB Prospects For 2026

January 26, 2026January 24, 2026Geoff Pontes0 Comments

 

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Every year, a handful of players ranked outside the top 10 in their respective farm systems take meaningful steps forward to improve their stock and vault up prospect rankings. Part of the fun is trying to identify those breakouts before it happens. So today, we’re identifying Blue Jays prospects who have the potential to make a jump in 2026.

To qualify, a player must rank outside the organization’s preseason Top 10 prospects. All scouting reports are from Baseball America’s 2026 Prospect handbook, which you can purchase here.

You can find Top 30 prospect rankings for all teams here and all breakout candidates here.

Blue Jays Top 30 Prospects

We rank the top players in Toronto’s system entering the season, complete with new scouting reports, tools, grades & more.

READ MORE

Breakout Prospects

Silvano Hechavarria, RHP

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35

Track Record: Hechavarria signed out of Cuba in 2024 for $240,000. Just four days after signing his contract, he pitched in his first affiliated game in the Dominican Summer League. He moved stateside to begin 2025 and made four appearances in the Florida Complex League before he was promoted to Low-A Dunedin. Hechavarria pitched in 11 games for Dunedin and posted a 1.90 ERA over 47.1 innings with 53 strikeouts to 11 walks.

Scouting Report: Hechavarria is a tall righthander with a strong lower half and an easy and free moving operation on the mound with a three-quarters slot. His pedestrian three-pitch mix plays up because of his strike-throwing. Hechavarria throws a four-seam fastball, slider and changeup. His fastball sits 93-95 mph and touches 98 with average ride and late, heavy armside run. It’s not a huge bat-missing pitch but Hechavarria does a good job getting chases when he elevates it above the zone.He throws an upper-80s cut-slider with ride and heavy cut. His ability to tunnel it off of his four-seam fastball made it a highly successful whiff inducing pitch in 2025. His changeup is a mid-80s splitter-like offering with average vertical separation off the fastball. Hechavarria throws all his pitches for strikes at a well above-average rate and shows plus control.

The Future: Hechavarria looks like a potential No. 5 starter but will need to prove his average stuff will play at the upper levels.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 60

Tim Piasentin, 3B

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35

Track Record: Piasentin was the top Canadian prospect in the 2025 class, and the Blue Jays dialed up some home cooking when they selected him in the fifth round. He signed for $747,500, enough to buy him out of a Miami commitment. Piasentin is one of the more notable prep sluggers from the western provinces, joining Orioles outfielder Tyler O’Neill and Rays catcher Nathan Flewelling.

Scouting Report: While Piasentin is no standout athlete, he does have a strong and projectable build with fluid movements throughout his game. Piasentin is already physically mature but looks like he could add 10-15 pounds of good weight. Piasentin sets up slightly open at the plate, utilizing a toe-tap mechanism. When he gets into two-strike counts, he shortens up his swing, ditches the toe tap and his stride for a wider base and a quick pivot. Due to the strength of his hands he’s still able to drive the ball from his two-strike approach. Piasentin pairs fringy bat-to-ball skills with a fairly passive approach. The power in Piasentin’s game is not up for debate. He naturally generates plus-plus bat speed and power, posting impressive exit velocities and hitting majestic fly balls on his best struck drives. Piasentin is a below-average runner who’s likely to have little impact in the running game. He’s a corner infield profile and there’s some question about his ability to stick at third base. Corner outfield could be an alternative where his plus arm strength would play.

The Future: Piasentin is a high-upside corner infielder who could develop into an everyday regular with above-average power.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60

Jake Casey, OF

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35

Track Record: The son of former three-time all-star Sean Casey, Jake underperformed over his first three seasons at Kent State, and had Tommy John surgery in 2024. He broke out in 2025, hitting .356/.500/.736 with 17 home runs and 20 stolen bases. The Blue Jays selected Casey in the 15th round and signed him for $150,000. He debuted following the draft with Low-A Dunedin and impressed, hitting .281/.439/.531 over 23 games.

Scouting Report: After three underwhelming seasons with Kent State, Casey broke out in 2025 finding a level of power he had not previously shown. Casey shows average bat-to-ball skills with somewhat passive swing decisions. He is a great fastball hitter but does show some struggles against spin. Casey shows fringe-average power but good launch angles on contact. His ability to hit the ball in the air consistently allows his power to play up to average. Casey is an above-average runner, capable of running plus run times on jailbreaks to first. Casey can play all three outfield positions. He’s average in center field but is above-average in a corner. He shows good hands, routes and reactions in the outfield and his plus arm will allow him to make any needed throws while keeping baserunners honest.

The Future: An underrated senior sign, Casey looks like he could develop into a second-division regular if his hit tool translates.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60

[Spanky__99]

Just toggle the day/night screen at the top right of this site, to read it.

[Brownie19]

Piasentin just hitting nuke after nuke in that video.  Beautiful stuff.

[Spanky__99]

Ponce with a couple swinging whiffs, and a clean inning, they made him work though, 22 pitches.

[Spanky__99]

 

 

[Laika]

 

Not exactly the stuff ratings we were hoping for from Ponce, but as we know these models can be all over the place. And they always have a tough time with changeups. Still, nice to see the fastball grade out as above average. 

[Laika]

"Ernie Clement triples (1) on a line drive to second baseman Hao-Yu Lee."

Interesting event! 

[Spanky__99]

5 minutes ago, Laika said:

"Ernie Clement triples (1) on a line drive to second baseman Hao-Yu Lee."

Interesting event! 

5 Bases today with the leadoff double.

[Spanky__99]

Okamoto doubles, Eloy knocks him to 3rd with a basehit. Lukes cashes Okamoto in with another basehit.

[Spanky__99]

Clement a dinger away from the cycle... 🤪

[Spanky__99]

Eloy wants to play in the Bigs! 

[Wake n bake]

Eloy is looking good so far, clement may be a nice one to slide into that 2 hole if he keeps it up 

[Brownie19]

Outside of an injury - is there any avenue for Eloy making this team out of Spring Training?  Is he even able to provide below average defense in LF at this point, or is his strictly a DH?

Oddly enough - he hits RHP better than LHP over his career, so he's not even really a platoon fit.  

I guess he either takes the last bench spot from Leo or Lukes (meaning we lose Leo) - or he take Schneider's spot as the platoon partner for Sanchez - perhaps with Springer playing LF and Eloy DH'ing in that scenerio?

Seems unlikely to me...

[Spanky__99]

Highly unlikely. We can't lose Leo, who the hell backs up the MIF?

[Spanky__99]

29 minutes ago, Wake n bake said:

Eloy is looking good so far, clement may be a nice one to slide into that 2 hole if he keeps it up 

Clement doesn't walk enough to hit in the 2 hole, it'll most likely be Okamoto.

[Brownie19]

32 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

Highly unlikely. We can't lose Leo, who the hell backs up the MIF?

Clement, Gimenez, Okamoto, Barger, Schneider would be guys who can cover 2nd, SS and 3rd.

Cowles and Kasevich in AAA.

That would be my guess.

[Laika]

51 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Outside of an injury - is there any avenue for Eloy making this team out of Spring Training?  Is he even able to provide below average defense in LF at this point, or is his strictly a DH?

Oddly enough - he hits RHP better than LHP over his career, so he's not even really a platoon fit.  

I guess he either takes the last bench spot from Leo or Lukes (meaning we lose Leo) - or he take Schneider's spot as the platoon partner for Sanchez - perhaps with Springer playing LF and Eloy DH'ing in that scenerio?

Seems unlikely to me...

Can't imagine this front office putting him in the outfield unless it's an emergency. Like, multiple injuries to starters and Springer needs a day off out there. 

Buffalo Bound. If he somehow makes the team I would guess George is in the OF more than him.

[G-Snarls]

s*** 

Our 9th inning guy hit Stevenson in the head 

Ug 

[Spanky__99]

23 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Clement, Gimenez, Okamoto, Barger, Schneider would be guys who can cover 2nd, SS and 3rd.

Cowles and Kasevich in AAA.

That would be my guess.

Welp... that defense.

[sliderguy35]

im more in on ponce after today than i was when they initially signed him. i still think the fastball isn't going to play very well but the 2 curveballs he threw today had phenomenal shape for how hard they were thrown and coming from his release. (my new comp for him: cade cavalli)

having a legit 3rd pitch that will play platoon neutral is huge. they should probably give him some kind of sinker to help out a bit against righties and then just have him play mediocre fastball roulette w/ 2 banger secondaries.

[Terminator]

1 hour ago, Brownie19 said:

Outside of an injury - is there any avenue for Eloy making this team out of Spring Training?  Is he even able to provide below average defense in LF at this point, or is his strictly a DH?

Oddly enough - he hits RHP better than LHP over his career, so he's not even really a platoon fit.  

I guess he either takes the last bench spot from Leo or Lukes (meaning we lose Leo) - or he take Schneider's spot as the platoon partner for Sanchez - perhaps with Springer playing LF and Eloy DH'ing in that scenerio?

Seems unlikely to me...

The thing with Eloy is that even when he was "good" he wasn't anything special. His two best years were just half seasons where he hit around 140 wRC+. When he managed to actually play 120 games or so, he was a 105-115 hitter.

So even in the best case scenario you are talking about a 115 wRC+ hitter with negative defense and baserunning. That's still useful bench player material, but for a team with a DH already entrenched it makes it a tough fit. 

Ideally he accepts an assignment to Buffalo and comes up if Springer gets hurt. 

I guess if he mashes they could option Lukes and keep Eloy? Platoon Eloy against lefties (regress the splits and it probably works out okay) and then put Springer in the field?

[Jays24]

If Ponce is already in the rotation no matter what then are we moving Berrios to the pen after Beiber is ready? 

Guess we'll cross that bridge when we need to but also sucks for Lauer knowing he has no shot at the rotation due to contractual obligations.  Feels like he might be pushing for a trade soon.  

[Spanky__99]

😅 Lauer is this season's Yarbrough... 👆

[max silver]

16 minutes ago, Terminator said:

The thing with Eloy is that even when he was "good" he wasn't anything special. His two best years were just half seasons where he hit around 140 wRC+. When he managed to actually play 120 games or so, he was a 105-115 hitter.

So even in the best case scenario you are talking about a 115 wRC+ hitter with negative defense and baserunning. That's still useful bench player material, but for a team with a DH already entrenched it makes it a tough fit. 

Ideally he accepts an assignment to Buffalo and comes up if Springer gets hurt. 

I guess if he mashes they could option Lukes and keep Eloy? Platoon Eloy against lefties (regress the splits and it probably works out okay) and then put Springer in the field?

I would think the hope would be that Jiminez could come closer to replicating the 140 wRC+ half season type of results over a full season with better health. I imagine a big part of the mediocre seasons was the player being hampered by the rash of injuries that he seemed to suffer year in and year out. At any rate I agree the only realistic avenue I see to a starting gig would be in the case of a Springer injury.

[Brownie19]

1 hour ago, Spanky__99 said:

Welp... that defense.

It doesn't worry me much.  I'm good with Okamoto and Barger at 3rd, Gimenez and Clement at SS and Clement at 2nd.  I'm not sure I want to see Schneider get extended time at 2nd, but I'm sure he can fill in there once a week.  

Cowles and Kasevich in AAA seems fine to me also. 

I'm not saying they'll go this route - I think it's a long shot.  Eloy would have to force their hand with a massive spring for it to happen IMO.

[Brownie19]

44 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

If Ponce is already in the rotation no matter what then are we moving Berrios to the pen after Beiber is ready? 

Guess we'll cross that bridge when we need to but also sucks for Lauer knowing he has no shot at the rotation due to contractual obligations.  Feels like he might be pushing for a trade soon.  

Jays are going to bring Trey along slowly as well.  I think there will be lots of opportunity early in the year for Berrios to start (which is why he hasn't been moved).  2nd half?  That will all depend on his results.

[DonJays]

7 hours ago, Spanky__99 said:

😅 Lauer is this season's Yarbrough, 

Absolutely. Who cares about Lauer. We signed better players so suck it up and take whatever role you can earn. I doubt he could repeat last years performance anyways