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Seth Stohs

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  1. Seth Stohs
    More information about "Arjun Nimmala"
    Out of Strawberry Crest High School in Dover, Florida, Nimmala was selected 20th overall in the first round of the 2023 MLB draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. He signed for just $3 million, which was slightly under slot value, but it was more than enough for him to jump into professional baseball and forego playing in college. He managed to get into a few Rookie ball games that same year, collecting five hits across nine games, including a double, triple, and a stolen base. What was extremely impressive during the small sample was his 14 walks, good enough for a walk rate of 35%. It was a sign of his potential talent and gave Blue Jays fans plenty of optimism heading into his first full season the following year. In 2024, the Blue Jays sent Nimmala straight to Single-A Dunedin, where he promptly looked like a stud. In his first three games, he hit a home run, knocked in three, and racked up four hits. For the season, he played in 83 games at the level, slashed .232/.313/.476, and hit 16 home runs. His power was on full display, as he added 17 doubles and six triples to his home run total. In all, he had 39 extra-base hits on the year and was starting to get a ton of national attention in the prospect world. He did, however, show some worrying signs through all of the good; he had a strikeout rate of 31.3% and walked at only an 8.3% clip. His contact rate was also a little low at 69.9%. Then came his 2025 season. Last year was one in which Nimmala saw improvements in some aspects of his game, but regression in others. He played the entire year at High-A Vancouver, where he had 543 plate appearances across 120 games. Health was a bright spot for him, and so was his strikeout rate, which dropped from 31.3% the prior season to 21.4%. Despite the big change in his swing and miss profile, his slash line dipped to .224/.313/.381, and he only had 13 home runs on the season. Nimmala did make up for some of the lack of power with 29 doubles and three triples, but they just don't affect the game as much as the flashy home runs do. He did pick up his impact on the basepaths last year, swiping 17 bags in 20 attempts. His newfound speed adds an extra layer to the multitude of ways he can help his team win games. What To Like Nimmala has loads of power in his bat, and he's shown a tremendous ability to get to it, whether it is in the form of home runs, doubles, or triples. He impacts the game and can do it at an elite level. Last season, his home run total took a step back while at High-A Vancouver, but the 13 home runs he did have were good enough for the 87th percentile in all of the minor leagues. He made up for the drop in home runs by hitting a crazy amount of doubles, 29 (97th percentile). With Vancouver's ballpark being a notoriously pitcher-friendly environment, expect to see some of his home run power return when he moves up a level. However, his home ballpark may not be able to account for all of his dramatic drop in home runs per flyball last year. It could be just a matter of adjusting his swing path to tap back into the juice in his bat, but it is something worth monitoring as he moves through the minor leagues. What To Improve On Despite his budding power, Nimmala has had some issues with his bat-to-ball skills. His contact rate at Single-A Dunedin was 69.9%, and at High-A Vancouver it was 73.6%. He has made some improvements over the years in that arena, but his batting averages are really subpar at best. He's never hit over .232 in a minor league season and needs to make large strides towards improvement in that area in 2026. If he can become a much better contact hitter, his ceiling will drastically jump up into stardom status. Unfortunately, through two seasons so far, he has not shown any signs of becoming better at making more contact, let alone more quality contact. His next stage in development will really hinge on whether or not he can make the improvements needed to become a .250 or .275 hitter, or if his destiny is a profile similar to Lenyn Sosa. What's Next Nimmala is not quite ready for the Double-A level and is back at High-A Vancouver to start the 2026 season. He knows the areas he needs to improve in and what he needs to continue to do well. If he can become a better contact hitter and keep his power going, he has an elite ceiling he can reach. If not, he will be looking more like a platoon bat with power than a star. This season is extremely important to his outlook as a prospect and should give the Blue Jays organization and fans more insight as to what his future trajectory will be.
  2. Seth Stohs
    More information about "Charles McAdoo"
    McAdoo has put in a lot of miles to make it to Toronto, and that's just to get to his team's home ballpark. Being from Walnut Creek, California, he opted to play college baseball just down the road at San Jose State University (SJSU). His journey then took him across the country when the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him in the 13th round of the 2023 MLB draft. There wasn't a lot of fanfare surrounding him coming out of college; he had a solid bat but barely anything else to his profile at the time. After a season and a half with the Pirates and playing in Bradenton, Greensboro, and Altoona, he popped up on the Toronto Blue Jays radar as the trade deadline for the 2024 season approached. He ultimately landed in the Toronto organization as the return piece for Isiah Kiner-Falefa. His next location would be his first stop within his new organization, New Hampshire. Before the trade to the Blue Jays, he was having a breakout year, hitting .320/.399/.556 across High-A and Double-A. He also added 15 home runs, 23 doubles, and stole 17 bases across 88 games. To that point of his 2024 season, he had a robust 167 wRC+, but his bubble burst following the trade. He would get into 37 games for New Hampshire and hit .185/.287/.323 for a 79 wRC+. He only added three more home runs and four stolen bases to cap off his whirlwind of a year. What To Like McAdoo has a profile that has evolved over the years and is now one to dream about making his way to the Rogers Centre. He has developed above-average power and speed to add to his aforementioned solid bat. In his junior year at SJSU, he hit 10 home runs in 58 games and five home runs in 28 games at Low-A. Then, last season, he would crush nine home runs at High-A (60 games) before adding another eight at Double-A (64 games). While at High-A, he was among the top percentile ranks in almost every statistical category while being above average in chase rate, whiff rate, walk rate, and strikeout rate. The only real hole in his swing was up and in. He showed excellent plate coverage and stood out among his peers. After a promotion to Double-A, he was challenged much more and had problems with the pitches down in the zone. This could have resulted from him adjusting to being traded and trying to do more damage than was possible on the low pitches. The power remained consistent behind his quick hands and solid base. This gives him above-average power to the opposite field, and the results on the field followed suit, with six of his 17 home runs going to right field. When locked in, McAdoo controls the zone with his bat, and quick hands allow him to cover most of the plate at an elite level. In 2024, 54.2% of his batted balls went up the middle or to right field. This approach, coupled with his fast hands, drives his opposite-field power. He can stay back longer and let the ball travel more, giving him the time to make better decisions. He then can launch the barrel through the zone to make great contact. Here is another one of his opposite-field home runs that looks so effortless for him. What To Work On McAdoo had an excellent 2024 season, but as with any player in the minor leagues, there are always things to improve upon on the quest to play at the top level of the sport. After jumping from High-A to Double-A, he saw more struggles than ever before. Those struggles compounded on themselves after his trade to Toronto. He started missing the ball a lot more; his contact rates fell from 78.2% at High-A to 71.8% at Double-A with Pittsburgh and then dropped even further to 66.8% with Toronto. These heat maps from Donald Stricklin Analytics show how McAdoo struggled with the pitches down in the zone. This coincided with an increase of about 5% in his pull rates from High-A to Double-A. It could be as simple as him opening up more to try and impress his new team with some power or concerning things like struggling with breaking pitches at the more advanced levels. Regardless of the underlying reason for his drop across the board at Double-A in 2025, he needs to settle back into a middle-away approach and drive the ball where it's pitched. In the field, he needs to stay the course at third base. In 2024, he only recorded seven errors at third, which is by far his best position. Toronto did have him play right field and first base, to try and give him more opportunities at playing time in the future. He struggled a little at first base and recorded an error in the three games he was in. If Toronto does indeed have thoughts of him playing more positions in 2025, he will need to shore up his skill at first base and in right field. What's Next 2025 could be the pivotal year for McAdoo, and I know that is said a lot. With his abysmal debut at Double-A for Toronto, he needs to bounce back and show the team the player they traded for. A trip back to Double-A New Hampshire will do him wonders. If he can adjust similarly to how he did at High-A last year, he should get a mid-season promotion to Triple-A Buffalo. Then, who knows, a cup of coffee with the big league club is not out of the cards for him. Expect his arrival to be more along the lines of in the summer of 2026, barring anything unexpected.
  3. Seth Stohs
    More information about "Josh Kasevich"
    Josh Kasevich was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022 during the second round of the MLB draft. He is now a 6-foot-1, 200-pound, 25-year-old shortstop who is one call from the major leagues. Since being drafted, he has shown an ability to thrive as a defense-first prospect, but one who can produce the necessary numbers as a hitter as well. In his first three seasons following being drafted, he would routinely hit near .300 and not strike out a lot. His strikeout rates ranged from 7.4% at Single A to 14.5% at Triple A. In 2024, his slash line at Triple-A was .325/.382/.433, with a 120 wRC+. 2025 was a lost year for Kasevich, as he only managed to play in 42 minor league games, 13 of them on rehab assignments between Rookie ball and Single A. In his 29 Triple-A games, he would slash .173/.272/.184, for a 34 wRC+. It was a year to forget for him, but the good in all of this is that he appears to be healthy and having a good spring training. Gearing up for a potential rebound year in 2026, he is hitting .333 over 13 spring training games (as of March 12). 2026 should see Kasevich start back out at Triple-A Buffalo, where he will need to show he is healthy and back to having a plus hit tool. When everything is going well for him, he is an Ernie Clement clone, who will provide plus defense and do enough with the bat to stick in the lineup if needed. He won't show much power, but a bat that will limit the strikeouts is right in the Blue Jays’ wheelhouse nowadays.
  4. Seth Stohs
    I feel like it's too early for Vlad to be ranked where you've got them. #6 just feels so high for a kid that just turned 27, but as I look at the guys behind him on the list, I wouldn't put any of them ahead of Vladdy. And, having read the final parts of this article, I think he could jump up to #5 quickly, and maybe even #4 by the end of the year. So yes, great job of ranking him... and with 13 more years of service time remaining, it'd be pretty well shocking if he isn't #1. I'd still say maybe 2-3 years to reach #1. #3 was so good. I'd maybe move him up to #2, but not without much debate.
  5. Seth Stohs
    Tony Fernandez was so underrated during his playing days. I think teams understand how good and how important his defense was, but he was unique for an '80s shortstop in that he could hit a bit too.
  6. Seth Stohs
    The Blue Jays clearly have put a focus on their bullpen this offseason, and that continued on Friday. Hours after they announced the acquisition of Chase Lee from the Tigers, reports began circulating that the Jays have signed free-agent submariner Tyler Rogers. The right-hander will receive a three-year contract worth $37 million with a vesting option for a fourth season that would pay him $11 million. Tyler and his twin brother Taylor Rogers will turn 35 next week. Taylor Rogers has played for six big-league teams over the past 10 seasons. Tyler Rogers was the 10th round pick of the Giants in 2023 out of Austin Peay State. He made his MLB debut as a 28-year-old in 2019. Since then, he has been one of the most active relievers in baseball. He has led the National League in appearances in 2020, 2021, 2024, and again in 2025. He pitched in 68 games in both 2022 and 2023. Tyler Rogers spent his entire career with the Giants until the 2025 trade deadline when he was dealt to the New York Mets. Rogers's release point is basically the ground. Because of that, he has the slowest fastball in the game. Read this Royals Keep article discussing what Rogers can do for a team to illustrate how he can help the Blue Jays bullpen. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== Rogers will be a completely different look out of the Jays bullpen, much different than the big velocity arms like Jeff Hoffman, Louis Varland, and Braydon Fisher. Rogers won't get a ton of strikeouts, but he also walks very few batters. What do you think of this signing for the Blue Jays? Maybe they should bring in Taylor too. View full article
  7. Seth Stohs
    More information about "Blue Jays Sign Submariner Tyler Rogers to Bolster Bullpen"
    The Blue Jays clearly have put a focus on their bullpen this offseason, and that continued on Friday. Hours after they announced the acquisition of Chase Lee from the Tigers, reports began circulating that the Jays have signed free-agent submariner Tyler Rogers. The right-hander will receive a three-year contract worth $37 million with a vesting option for a fourth season that would pay him $11 million. Tyler and his twin brother Taylor Rogers will turn 35 next week. Taylor Rogers has played for six big-league teams over the past 10 seasons. Tyler Rogers was the 10th round pick of the Giants in 2023 out of Austin Peay State. He made his MLB debut as a 28-year-old in 2019. Since then, he has been one of the most active relievers in baseball. He has led the National League in appearances in 2020, 2021, 2024, and again in 2025. He pitched in 68 games in both 2022 and 2023. Tyler Rogers spent his entire career with the Giants until the 2025 trade deadline when he was dealt to the New York Mets. Rogers's release point is basically the ground. Because of that, he has the slowest fastball in the game. Read this Royals Keep article discussing what Rogers can do for a team to illustrate how he can help the Blue Jays bullpen. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== Rogers will be a completely different look out of the Jays bullpen, much different than the big velocity arms like Jeff Hoffman, Louis Varland, and Braydon Fisher. Rogers won't get a ton of strikeouts, but he also walks very few batters. What do you think of this signing for the Blue Jays? Maybe they should bring in Taylor too.
  8. Seth Stohs
    This is very cool. It's fun seeing the community come together and it is awesome to see the Jays in the World Series again!!
  9. Seth Stohs
    More information about "Trey Yesavage"
    Yesavage was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2024 as a 1st round pick, 20th overall. He signed for roughly the pick's slot value, just over $4 million. He spent his college career at East Carolina University (ECU), alternating between being a relief pitcher and starting pitcher. Ultimately, he settled into a starting pitching role his sophomore year and continued with it the rest of the way at ECU. As a freshman, he displayed a knack for striking out batters, with a strikeout rate of 37.5%. In his sophomore season, he continued the strikeout barrage as a starting pitcher with a 33.9% strikeout rate. This also came with a very good 7.4% walk rate as he started commanding the strike zone, posting a sparkling 2.84 ERA in 76 innings pitched. Yesavage would take things up a notch as a junior, finishing with a 2.03 ERA in 93.1 innings pitched. The strikeouts jumped to a mind-boggling 40.4% rate, as he became one of the best strikeout pitchers in college baseball. A collapsed lung slowed him down at the end of his junior year, but not before capping off his college career by throwing one game following the injury, where he pitched 7.1 innings and struck out six batters on his way to beating future number two overall pick Chase Burns. Given the collapsed lung, the Blue Jays took it easy after drafting Yesavage and did not have him appear in any official games. What to Like Yesavage, a big-bodied pitcher at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, has the whole toolbox to work with in terms of pitch mix. That is his biggest takeaway: he can beat hitters with many pitches, speeds, and locations. He pitches from a very over-the-top arm slot, which helps his mid-90s fastball play well up in the zone. He pairs that with a sharp breaking splitter and a good moving slider. These three pitches all grade out as plus already, and he has a developing curveball he can also mix in. He can already command his pitches and control the strike zone very well, so there shouldn't be an issue with walks compared to some newly drafted pitchers. The second thing to like about Yesavage's pitch mix is he can miss bats at the top of the zone with his fastball, bottom of the zone with the splitter, and both sides of the plate with the splitter and slider. This will help him as he progresses through the minor leagues, especially versus left-handed hitters, who can be a challenge to some right-handed pitchers. What Needs Work Yesavage will need to work on continuing to develop a fourth pitch. Having three plus pitches is enough to become a capable MLB starter, but to jump up another level he could use a fourth pitch to keep hitters even more off balance. If he can develop the curveball enough to use for a first pitch strike every now and then, he could progress quickly through the minors. As a new Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect, Yesavage should also work on staying healthy. It has been a plague over the last few years with Blue Jays pitching prospects ending up injured and missing significant time. If he can stay healthy, he will be a quick riser heading towards Toronto. This potential to move through the farm system quickly has much needed extra value for him and could help the Blue Jays tremendously, adding a depth starting pitcher that can help out in case of injury. What is Next Yesavage is set to make his debut on March 15th in the Spring Breakout game for the Toronto Blue Jays. Following that, he should move quickly up minor league levels and be pushed aggressively in his assignment. He could start at High-A Vancouver or possibly Double-A New Hampshire. If all goes well for him, he could see the major leagues at the end of the 2025 season or sometime in 2026. He is definitely looking like the next big thing for Blue Jays pitching prospects.
  10. Seth Stohs
    Absolutely. I'd put him into any situation, knowing he's going to be a bulldog, give everything he's got (and his stuff is as good as anyone's). In addition, he's got the perfect mentality for a late-inning reliever.
  11. Seth Stohs
    More information about "Gage Stanifer"
    Another breakout prospect for the Jays in 2025, Gage Stanifer went from an unknown 19th-rounder to a borderline top-100 prospect. Prior to the 2025 season, Stanifer struggled in the Florida Complex League and Single A, pitching to an ERA over 6.00 across his first two professional seasons. Despite decent stuff, he walked a lot of batters. In 2025, Stanifer set a career high in innings pitched, with 110, and went from Single-A Dunedin up to Double-A New Hampshire, mainly piggybacking off of Trey Yesavage. He’s expected to start the 2026 season back at Double A. One of the big things that stood out for Stanifer from his previous seasons, compared to 2025, was that he was able to make significant gains in velocity after a very productive offseason. Stanifer went from sitting 92 mph on his four-seam fastball to 95 mph. The shape of his fastball was also still very solid, with 17.8 inches of vertical break and 12.6 inches of run, and because it was such an effective offering for him, and because he could consistently throw it for strikes, Stanifer threw it over two-thirds of the time in Dunedin. His main secondary, thrown more against righties than lefties, is a slider that gets more depth than normal, which gives it a sort of “deathball” shape (-5.1 inches of vertical break). It was extremely effective as a whiff generator, but Stanifer could sometimes lose the zone with it, too often leading to middling chase rates. His third pitch is a split-changeup that’s still a work in progress. The shape is intriguing, with 15 inches of vertical separation from his fastball and nearly 14 inches of fade, but he’s still developing a feel for it. He only throws it to lefties, making him nearly a two-pitch pitcher against each handedness of hitter. Stanifer’s arsenal and stuff propelled him to the top of the minor league leaderboards, as out of all qualified minor league pitchers, he led the pack with an absurd 35.5% K-rate, above the Cardinals’ Braden Davis and the Yankees’ Carlos Lagrange. The stuff did tick down in spring training a bit — Stanifer’s velo was not where it was in the 2025 season — leading to some poor results, but he assuaged the velo drop off with an electric Spring Breakout performance against the Phillies, striking out four batters in three scoreless innings while only giving up a single walk. The Phillies’ announcers sang his praises throughout, and his velo ticked back up; he sat 95.6 mph and touched 97.4 mph with his four-seamer. Stanifer does have some concerns going forward, however. Although he has reined in the walks, he still walks over 10% of the batters he faces, which is fringy for a starting pitcher. Scouts also have concerns about the repeatability of the delivery. Those concerns could take his outlook from a solid fourth starter to more of a back-end bullpen piece. Stanifer may also want to add a pitch or more to his arsenal to better fit the role of a starter. Although his three-pitch mix has shown effectiveness already, he may need more weapons going forward. A bridge pitch like a cutter could provide that for him. Stanifer will start the season in Double-A New Hampshire and will be challenged against upper-level hitters again. The Jays currently have a crowded rotation, but there’s the slightest chance that Stanifer could make his MLB debut this season as a reliever if he progresses well and the Jays need some extra firepower in the ‘pen.
  12. Seth Stohs
    Trey YesavageJoJo ParkerArjun NimmalaJohnny KingJake BlossGage StaniferYohendrick PinangoLanden MaroudisRicky TiedemannVictor AriasJosh KasevichCharles McAdooRJ SchreckOrelvis MartinezYeuni MunozEddinson PaulinoSean KeysSam ShawAdam MackoJake Cook
  13. Seth Stohs
    More information about "Johnny King"
    At just 19 years old, Johnny King is the epitome of a starting pitcher in stature, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 210 pounds. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays during the 2024 MLB draft in the third round, 95th overall. He kicked off his minor league career with a stellar performance in the Florida Complex League last season. He completely dominated hitters across seven games and 24 innings. His ERA was 1.13, with his FIP and xFIP equally standing out at 1.53 and 1.83, respectively. What should be highlighted above all was his propensity to strike batters out. He was one of the best strikeout pitchers in Rookie ball, ending his time there with a 41.8% strikeout rate. He was able to pair that with solid command as well, only walking 7.1% of the batters he faced. King was quickly promoted to Single-A Dunedin and continued to show a top-notch ability to generate whiffs. Over 11 games and 37.2 innings to finish the season, he struck out 38.1% of hitters as an 18-year-old facing mostly more advanced batters. He didn't give up many hits either, only seeing his batting average against rise from .195 at Rookie ball up to .201 at Single A. His ERA and FIP took a jump up, to 3.35 and 4.24, respectively. The main issue with the promotion was that his command routinely slipped at Single A. He had a somewhat concerning 17.1% walk rate, though he was able to finish the season strong, with a 4.2-inning performance, giving up just one hit and zero earned runs, while striking out seven and walking three. What To Like As an 18-year-old last season, King showed a rare ability to have exceptional stuff at such a young age and to be able to command it enough to strike out hitters at Single A. He has a great frame and still projects to get stronger and add velocity on his fastball. He already possesses two plus pitches in his four-seam fastball and curveball. Both were virtually unhittable in 2025, with the fastball having a batting average against of .213 and a whiff rate of 36.3%. The pitch has very good ride up in the zone, and he generates close to 18 inches of induced vertical break on it. The curveball had one of the best whiff rates in the minor leagues at 49.4%, and hitters could only hit .193 off of the pitch. King also gets above-average extension on the pitches, in the range of 6.5 feet. That will give him an exceptional base to pitch from to continue improving his repertoire as he gets older. His third pitch was his changeup, and while decent, it needs some work. It was a good pitch, which he used to limit the success of batters, but he didn't get as many swings and misses on it, with only a 22.2% whiff rate at Single A. It is a great pitching foundation to have two plus pitches to go with a third serviceable one, something not often seen from an 18-year-old. What To Work On As the season wore on, King's command took a hit, and his walk rate was simply worrisome at times. Jumping from 7.1% at Rookie ball up to 17.1% at Single A shows he needs to work on getting batters out in the zone to go with his elite ability to generate swings and misses. His 60% strike rate at Single A was in the 39th percentile in the minor leagues and will need to take a step up if he is to continue to get older hitters out while moving up levels. Another area King will need to focus on in 2026 will be getting hitters back on the ground. When he jumped from Rookie ball to Single A, his groundball rate dropped from 59.1% to 33.8%. He will want to get batters to hit the ball on the ground more like he did at the start of his 2025 season, to help limit damage overall. What Is Next King will begin the 2026 season at High-A Vancouver. It could be a rocky/challenging start given the wild Northwest weather this time of year, but he has the potential to vault up prospect rankings due to his young age and plus stuff on the mound. If everything goes right for him, expect him to spend a couple of months at High A before getting a late-season crack at Double-A New Hampshire. Everything is pointing towards a huge season for him, and he could be the next great pitching prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
  14. Seth Stohs
    More information about "Kendry Rojas"
    The Toronto Blue Jays signed Rojas as an international free agent out of Cuba in 2020 for $215,000. He started his Blue Jays career in good fashion at the Complex League as an 18-year-old in 2021. It was only eight games and 23.2 innings pitched, but it came with a pristine ERA of 2.28 and some sparkling strikeout numbers. He struck out 44.8% of the batters he faced and only had a walk rate of 5.7%. In 2022, he received a well-earned promotion up to Low-A Dunedin. There, he showed similar promise for getting hitters out and limiting runs for someone younger than almost every batter he faced. What slowed his progress the most in 2022 was an injury that took out the majority of his summer. However, following a few months of rehab, he finished the year strong, only giving up three runs in his last four outings for Low-A Dunedin. In 2023, he would repeat the level and put together a complete season. Showing an extreme improvement in swing-and-miss stuff, he would get a promotion one more time to High-A Vancouver for the 2024 season. Like many Blue Jays pitchers, an injury once again limited him to just 13 games and 62.2 IP. To finish 2024, he was healthy again and made some noise, going deep into games and striking hitters out, setting himself up for the upcoming 2025 season to be a big one. What's To Like The first thing that stands out when you see Rojas is his size and improving body. Currently, he is listed at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds. He has grown noticeably stronger and now really fills out his frame compared to a more slender nature the previous few years. This has naturally helped him increase his fastball velocity from an average of 90.8 MPH in 2022 to 92.9 MPH in 2023. The increase in max velocity from those years was even more noticeable; he went from a max fastball of 94.3 MPH to 97.3 MPH. This past season, he was routinely sitting 94-96 MPH on his fastballs, which, as a left-handed pitcher, will play up even more than from the right side. This increase and sustainability of his velocity greatly improve the possible outcomes he could have as a starting pitcher in the major leagues. Rojas’ repertoire is a key to his success on the mound. He now features a plus 4-seam fastball sitting between 94 and 97 MPH. The pitch has a natural cutting action and works well up in the zone, where he used it often, with excellent command. In 2023, his four-seam fastball had very good iVB, routinely in the range of 18 inches. This also came with good extension on the pitch. The combination of iVB and extension will cause the fastball to work much better up in the zone, and when paired with his command, it results in a plus pitch. From 2023, you can see exactly how well he uses his four-seam fastball up in the strike zone. Rojas has a sinker, slider, and changeup to complete his pitch mix. He also pitches from an abbreviated stretch position and can use a hesitation delivery and a quick pitch. The slider comes in at 83 MPH but has had a wider range of velocities than most. The shape can vary a lot, but still misses bats frequently. The changeup averages around 85 MPH and can range from the low to upper 80s. The pitch has improved a lot over the years and flashed plus more frequently this past season. Rojas also has a sinker, which he can use to mix in a different look from time to time. Rojas can get a lot of swing and miss from the four-seam fastball, slider, and changeup, usually in different areas of the strike zone. This improves the deception of the pitch mix when all of the pitches are working simultaneously. The fastballs are used up in the zone, the slider down to the glove side of the plate, and the changeup mostly down and to his arm side. Here are his strikeout pitches from 2023 (catcher's view, the middle box is the strike zone). Following his return from injury in 2024, Rojas racked up swinging strikes with an improved changeup, which was added to his already good fastball/slider combo. He finished the year averaging 14 swings and misses per game over his last ten games. This helped him to a strikeout rate of 27.9%. What To Work On The main areas that Rojas needs to work on are his consistency overall and pitch quality for his slider and changeup. He has made big strides with his changeup, but now is the time to improve the consistency. Being able to throw a changeup for strikes and off the plate to get a swing and miss will go a long way, helping to move him up levels and towards the major leagues. Also, he needs to have more consistent pitch shapes with the slider and changeup. This will help with the control and command and lower his already great walk rate even more. He needs to work on his health and pitching deeper into games for an entire season. We saw Rojas pitch more innings per start at the end of the 2024 season, and that is the next step in his evolution as a starting pitcher. What's Next Rojas should begin 2025 at Double-A New Hampshire. If he can routinely stay healthy and pitch five innings or more, he could reach Triple-A Buffalo by the end of the season. Improvements in his command of the slider and changeup can propel him up levels even faster. If everything comes together, he has the makings of a mid-rotation major league starting pitcher who should debut at the end of 2025 or early 2026. There are some promising times ahead for him if he can remain healthy and continue progressing.
  15. Seth Stohs
    More information about "Juaron Watts-Brown"
    Pre-2025 Scouting Report Juaron Watts-Brown was drafted out of Oklahoma State by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023. He is listed at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds. When drafted, he was billed as a strikeout pitcher and didn't disappoint this past season on his way up to High-A. He began the year in Low-A and was pretty successful overall, as he managed a 3.43 ERA and a 3.60x FIP. His numbers were backed by a strikeout rate of 30.3% and a batting average against of .209. After 12 starts, he had shown enough to move up to High-A. High-A was where some issues crept in and caused his numbers to balloon over his final nine starts of the season. His strikeout rate remained solid at 27.3%, but unfortunately, his walk rate jumped to 14.8%. His ERA rose to 6.35, which didn't tell the whole story. His xFIP was much lower at 4.56, meaning he pitched better than the results. Ultimately, he finished the 2024 season as one of the best Blue Jays minor league pitchers in swinging strike rate, at 16.8%. This past season, the four pitches Watts-Brown relied on the most were a four-seam fastball, cutter, changeup, and slider. The four-seam fastball doesn't have the best velocity but comes with an iVB of 18 inches and an above-average release extension of 6.8 feet. Both numbers let the fastball play up much more than the lower velocity. He did have a max fastball velocity of 96.1 MPH at Low-A, so there may still be room for improving the pitch with added strength. His cutter and slider are the strikeout pitches right now, and the changeup is developing into a usable pitch versus left-handed hitters. The cutter had a whiff rate at Low-A of 46%, the slider at 55.6%, and the changeup at 50.9%. The deep pitch mix, including a curveball, allows him to stay less predictable on the mound. The Blue Jays will look for Watts-Brown to continue developing his control and command while improving his pitch mix and getting stronger. Added velocity to his fastball could be a game changer given his iVB and release extension; however, it doesn't mean much if he continues to throw just 61% of his pitches for strikes. He should get another crack at High-A to start 2025, and where he goes from there will probably depend on his ability to throw strikes consistently, as he should continue striking batters out at a good rate. - Daniel Labude
  16. Seth Stohs
    More information about "Adam Macko"
    Pre-2025 Scouting Report The Slovakian-Canadian came over in the controversial Teoscar Hernandez trade, but his performance in the minors since joining the Blue Jays is not one of the reasons for that controversy. The undersized lefty who attended Vauxhall Academy in Alberta has struggled with his health and his command ever since being drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the seventh round of the 2019 draft. However, since joining the Blue Jays organization, Macko has steadily lowered his walk rate from about 12.0% with the Mariners, to 10.8% in 2023, and then in 2024 lowered it again to 9.0%. He also threw career highs in innings pitched with 86.0 in 2023 and then 93.1 in 2024. That being said, his command is still fringe-average at best, and he was shelved for six weeks for a forearm strain, showing that his injury issues weren’t fully behind him. Macko has been quite successful in his professional career at striking hitters out, with a greater than 25% strikeout rate at every level he’s pitched at (other than the three innings he pitched in his debut with the Buffalo Bisons). Macko is able to rack up those strikeouts with his solid secondary pitches, the best one being his big loopy curveball, which he throws in the mid-70s, which comes equipped with 14.8 inches of induced vertical break as well as 7.6 inches of arm side horizontal break that makes hitters look foolish swinging at it. However, hitters rarely did so because the pitch is easy to identify out of the hand with its shape and velocity. The slider is the secondary pitch he throws the most, which he tosses in the low-80s. It's more of a pitch he can locate in the zone more often and helps bridge the gap between his fastball and slow curveball. Macko’s fastball velocity is pretty mediocre, actually regressing a bit since last year where he used to sit 93-95 mph (now in the 91-93 mph range), but he has a deceptive delivery and his fastball had a 15.3 iVB in his short appearance in Triple-A Buffalo. It also has 7.9 inches of run as well, which helps it play up. He still can touch up to 95 mph, but that comes fewer and farther between than years past. Lastly, his changeup has a nice shape as well, with 15.9 inches of fading action, but he isn’t as consistent with it compared to his other offerings. This will be Macko’s second year on the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster, and now that he’s pitched decently in Double-A New Hampshire, he’s looking to continue his success in Triple-A Buffalo. His fringy velocity and average command probably limits his ceiling to a back-end rotation starter, but he’ll be a part of the limited starting pitching depth for the Jays in 2025, behind Jake Bloss and maybe even Easton Lucas and Adam Kloffenstein.
  17. Seth Stohs
    Arjun NimmalaTrey YesavageKhal StephenJoJo ParkerKendry RojasRicky TiedemannJohnny KingAlan RodenGage StaniferJake BlossVictor AriasOrelvis MartinezJuaron Watts-BrownSean KeysSam ShawLanden MaroudisDasan BrownJosh KasevichAdam MackoYohendrick Pinango
  18. Seth Stohs
    Arjun NimmalaTrey YesavageKhal StephenJoJo ParkerKendry RojasRicky TiedemannJohnny KingAlan RodenGage StaniferJake BlossVictor AriasOrelvis MartinezJuaron Watts-BrownSean KeysSam ShawLanden MaroudisDasan BrownJosh KasevichAdam MackoYohendrick Pinango
  19. Seth Stohs
    More information about "Landen Maroudis"
    Landen Maroudis was a name to watch at the beginning of the 2024 season. He had a promising showing in an appearance in the MLB Spring Breakout game and pitched in just three games in Single-A Dunedin before heading to the injured list with an elbow injury. After more than a year of rehab and recovery, Maroudis was back pitching, but things had changed significantly. His velocity on his fastball, once sitting at 94 mph, only sat at 90 mph. The pitch dropped from 13 inches of vertical break down to 11, but did gain four inches of run. His control disappeared, as he walked more batters than he struck out and had a strike rate of just 51.8%. Maroudis will only be 21 years old in the 2026 season, and despite the setback to his health, pitch quality, velocity, and command, there’s practically nowhere for him to go but up. With a full offseason not spent rehabbing, there’s reason to believe that he’ll rediscover the velocity that he had prior to the elbow surgery, and that he’ll find some semblance of command as well. His pitches looked mediocre due to the lack of velocity, but when he was able to find the zone, Single-A hitters didn’t make great contact, and his curveball had a whiff rate of over 40%. Maroudis’ future looks much shakier than ever before, but the athleticism and potential from when the Jays gave him a $1.5 million signing bonus in 2023 can still prevail if he returns to form. Maroudis will get another chance to pitch in Dunedin this season, and reportedly, his velocity is back up to the 93-95 mph range.
  20. Seth Stohs
    More information about "Khal Stephen"
    Khal Stephen was the 2nd round draft pick for the Jays in the most recent 2024 MLB draft, receiving an underslot signing bonus of $1,116,750 out of Mississippi State. As a college junior, receiving an underslot bonus is more representative of his leverage than his talent, as he had a very successful 2024, pitching 96 innings with a 3.28 ERA with 107 strikeouts to just 21 walks. Stephen was with Purdue from 2022-2023, first as a reliever, then as a starter; he improved his numbers across the board after transferring to face stronger competition in the Southeastern Conference. What to Like Standing at 6' 4", Khal is an imposing figure on the mound. Stephen throws with an over-the-top delivery and has a shorter arm action. His main pitch, which he threw over 65% of the time, was his superlative fastball. A pitch modeling darling, Stephen’s fastball didn’t blow anyone away with its velocity, only sitting around 92-94 miles per hour, but could reach 96 mph. Due to his height, he gets solid extension on the pitch of 6.5 inches, and he regularly gets a ton of induced vertical break, averaging over 20 inches on the fastball. Adding in his very solid command of his fastball, there’s a reason why he threw the pitch so many times. If Stephen can keep his fastball up in the zone, he’ll continue to get ugly swings. Stephen also throws various secondary pitches, but with his high usage of his fastball, he doesn’t really throw the rest all that much. His main secondary is a slider that averaged around 83-84 mph and had a greater than 40% whiff rate on the season. Stephen also had another breaking ball in his curveball, which he threw more to get me over pitch. It had an Induced Vertical Break of -5.2 inches and -17.0 inches of horizontal break that he threw in the higher 70s. Stephen’s most interesting secondary is his changeup, which he didn’t throw too much of the time, but it had good results when he did throw it. The changeup has decent velocity separation from the fastball, sitting around 85 mph on it, and it has good fade, with 11.9 inches of horizontal break and 14.6 inches of iVB. It generated solid whiff rates at 41.9% and held a solid ground ball rate when hitters did make contact. Lastly, Stephen threw a cutter sporadically, which sat around 88 mph. Having a deeper arsenal allows for more hope that Stephen can last as a starting pitcher as he develops. What to Work On Although Stephen had a ton of success with the pitch in college, he would benefit a lot from adding more velocity to his fastball; if he could sit more in the 95 mph range, it would add a lot of effectiveness to his already good fastball. MLB hitters are more used to seeing guys with average fastball velocity like Stephen has, and even though he has an excellent ride on it, hitters have been getting better at hitting fastballs with a ride. He’d also need to improve his secondary pitches; MLB hitters are too good at hitting fastballs to throw one over 65% of the time for the most part. His breaking balls were solid but unspectacular in college, and the Jays could work on a bit of pitch design to help sharpen up his slider and create more separation from his curveball. Increasing the velocity on his secondary pitches would also be a boon for Stephen, as pitches generally get more effective with higher velocities, as long as there is still reasonable separation from each pitch to throw off hitters’ timings. Getting more comfortable throwing the changeup would also be helpful for him; he would need to be able to repeat his delivery well enough to fool hitters, and he would also need to be able to locate it well, which is still a work in progress. The Jays could also tinker with adding other pitches to his arsenal, and a splitter that tunnels well off the fastball could add a devastating swing-and-miss pitch, and the Jays have found a lot of success with splitter pitchers in the major leagues. What’s Next Khal Stephen has a lot of interesting traits that we could look forward to, and if development goes right, he could be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter. There’s also always reliever risk for any pitching prospect, and if his velocity falls off, he could be seen as more of a reliever. Still, the upside is genuinely there if the Jays do a solid job at development and if he stays healthy. Stephen hadn’t thrown a single professional inning as of yet. Still, as he was drafted out of college and is pretty advanced, he should start in Single-A Dunedin, or if the Jays are very confident that his fastball is too much for Single-A, he could head right to High-A Vancouver instead to face more of a challenge to debut. Stephen has already spent time in Florida at the Jays developmental complex, and the Jays should have already started evaluating what could work for him and, if he is successful in that, could get promoted pretty quickly through the system, barring any setbacks.
  21. Seth Stohs
    Arjun NimmalaTrey YesavageKhal StephenRicky TiedemannAlan RodenOrelvis MartinezKendry RojasJake BlossJohnny KingLanden MaroudisJosh KasevichYohendrick PinangoGage StaniferAdam MackoDasan BrownSean KeysJonatan ClaseYeuni MunozCharles McAdooSam Shaw
  22. Seth Stohs
    Arjun NimmalaTrey YesavageKhal StephenRicky TiedemannAlan RodenOrelvis MartinezKendry RojasJake BlossJohnny KingLanden MaroudisJosh KasevichYohendrick PinangoGage StaniferAdam MackoDasan BrownSean KeysJonatan ClaseYeuni MunozCharles McAdooSam Shaw
  23. Seth Stohs
    More information about "Orelvis Martinez"
    #4: Orelvis Martinez, 2B/3B, 23, Toronto Blue Jays/Buffalo Bisons The Toronto Blue Jays signed Martinez in July of 2018 out of the Dominican Republic. Billed as one of the top international free agents that cycle, he signed for $3.5M, with the intrigue and hype starting shortly after he entered the organization. He would begin his pro career in rookie ball in the Gulf Coast league. He hit .275 with seven home runs to help build the hype. A year break in the minor leagues for COVID-19 fueled the excitement for Martinez as a prospect. In 2021, he would smash Low-A ball with a slash line of .279/.369/.572. As a 19-year-old, he also launched 19 home runs, showing the mammoth power potential he has always displayed. He finished 2021 adding nine home runs at High-A Vancouver, but it would come with a low batting average, prolonging a backward trend in the star potential path he was on. 2022 and 2023 were a long road to fixing a swing-happy nature that led to some struggles at Double-A New Hampshire. Despite the surface struggles, he would still put up a huge power display, crushing 47 home runs across Double-A over the season and a half. Ultimately, he would get promoted to Triple-A Buffalo, where his newfound swing decisions propelled him to a 114 wRC+ to close 2023 and a 120 wRC+ in 2024. What To Like There are many things to like on the surface of Martinez’s profile. The standout production on the field, which has star potential, is his power. He has hit 110 home runs in his minor league career, coming across 455 games. This includes three seasons of 28 or more home runs, and last year would have been his 4th straight if it was not for the failed PED test in the major leagues. Do not be fooled by the failed drug test either. Power has always been a part of his profile and will remain. In Triple-A last season, he was in the 98th percentile in max exit velocity (115.2 MPH) and 96th percentile in 90th percentile exit velocity (107.2 MPH). His hard-hit rate (87th percentile), xwOBA (93rd percentile), xwOBAcon (94th percentile), and xSLG (97th percentile) were all at the top of Triple-A as well. In the graphic from Donald Stricklin above, we can also see that Martinez does a magnificent job of hitting the ball in the air and at optimal launch angles. From inside the strike zone on the inner third, to the top of the zone, to the outer third of the zone, and even out of the zone everywhere, he hits the ball in the air. Combine the high rate of hitting the ball hard at top-end exit velocities with optimal launch angles, and you have a bat that will launch home runs with the best major league hitters. What is also to like about Martinez is his excellent bat speed. During his major league debut, he generated a bat speed of 76.2 MPH in a very small sample size. This bat speed would have ranked in the top 10 in the major leagues, right behind some of the game’s best hitters like Julio Rodriguez, Shohei Ohtani, and Gunnar Henderson. It would have ranked just ahead of players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Juan Soto. When you combine Martinez’s ability to hit the ball hard, often, and at great launch angles, you get a profile that should excel in the major leagues, especially at the Toronto Blue Jays home stadium of the Rogers Centre. As seen in the image below, Martinez does an excellent job doing damage on all types of pitches and in all parts of the strike zone. When combining this type of damage with a pull-happy approach (47.1%) and frequent balls in the air (66.2%), Martinez should see a high increase in home run numbers at the Rogers Centre. Below, you can see where approximately 29 of his batted balls from 2024 in Triple-A would have been home runs at the Rogers Centre. That could be a big boost for a Blue Jays offense that has routinely lacked power in recent years. What Needs Work Martinez needs to work on his contact ability. Specifically, his whiff rate was 33.7% in Triple-A last season. This swing and miss has been prevalent most seasons in the upper minor leagues for him. He has run contact rates of 66.3% (Triple-A), 65.2% (Triple-A), 69.4% (Double-A), and 67.2% (Double-A). He must continue making better swing decisions to reduce the swing and miss, as seen in his 29.5% chase rate at Triple-A in 2024. He needs to bring that number down, resulting in more damage done with the bat. He still had a solid in-zone contact rate of 80.2% last season and 82.9% in 2023, both at Triple-A. Looking at specific pitches, it is also clear Martinez needs to work on hitting and breaking balls. It is by far his worst pitch against them, and he doesn't do well overall versus them. He hit just .219/.272/.439 against all types of breaking balls at Triple-A in 2024. He had six home runs and nine barrels, but the whiff rate was 45%. It is not all bad, and these numbers can be overcome, but if he wants to be a great hitter, he has to make more contact and better contact versus breaking balls. Players like Juan Soto, Michael Toglia, Mark Vientos, and Corbin Carroll also struggled against breaking balls in 2024. Many other big names also had whiff rates above 40%, so it isn't the end of the world. The good thing is Martinez smashes fastballs, hitting .344/.430/.656 against 4-seam fastballs, sinkers, and cutters. The most glaring part of Martinez's game that needs work might be his defense. He has roamed from shortstop to third base, to second base, and back to third base over the years. The issue usually is a unique throwing motion that isn't very conducive to making consistently good throws to first base. He has a very strong arm, but he needs to iron out the consistency to get everyday looks in the field. What is Next Martinez is working hard this spring training to make the big league team start the 2025 baseball season. He is making a good showing by hitting 3-10, including a home run. He continues to work on lowering his chase rate and making better swing decisions. If he doesn't make it to the big league club to start the season, he will begin the year at Triple-A Buffalo again. He must continue to show good power and improved plate discipline to go with better swing decisions. He could hit his way into a major league role by May, given the state of the Blue Jays’ lack of offensive power over much of their projected big league lineup. Whether with the major league club or starting in Buffalo, expect phenomenal power numbers to go with an improving all-around game.
  24. Seth Stohs
    More information about "Alan Roden"
    Homegrown talent isn't seen much anymore, but when it does happen, there is something a little more special in the air during their major league debut. It's a wave of emotions for the player, their friends, and family, as well as the organization. 2025 will see the Rogers Centre explode with excitement and pure joy for Roden, a welcome fitting for the “homegrown” moniker. Let's look at how he got to this point and what he provides to his team on the baseball field. The Toronto Blue Jays scooped up Roden in the 3rd round of the 2022 MLB draft out of Creighton University. He only played two seasons there, as he got into just three games his freshman year. He was a career .383 hitter in college, his calling card at the time of the draft. He hit 14 home runs until his pro debut, showing more gap-to-gap power via his 32 doubles. Much development would be in store for the minor league coaches and Roden. During his two years in the Blue Jays organization, he only missed out on playing in the Complex League. He has amassed a career .298 batting average, 27 home runs, and an OPS of .860. At each level, his wRC+ has never dipped below 133 (outside of his 25-game pro debut season). His walk and strikeout rates have followed suit in the consistency department, with his K/BB ratio never dropping below 0.85. That kind of ratio is rarely seen, especially at the higher levels. With Roden being a name to watch at spring training, let's look at what he does well and struggles with and where he can go from here. What's To Like? Roden is far from the typical hitter you see in today's game. He hits from the left side of the plate and does it extremely well. The tool is a plus, with room for even more improvement (more on this later). He can control the bat through the zone and make not just a lot of contact but a ton of optimal contact. His contact rate at Triple-A Buffalo was 81.9% (88th percentile), and his in-zone contact rate came in at an eye-popping 92.3% (95th percentile). When he decides to take a swing at a pitch, he's going to make contact. To add to his hit tool, he displayed great plate discipline, only chasing pitches at a 24.1% clip (67th percentile) and having a strikeout rate of 14.3% (89th percentile). Even the secondary offerings from opposing pitchers didn't give him much trouble; he had a whiff rate of 25.8% compared to theirs (81st percentile). Looking at the rest of Roden's profile, you can see he doubles down on the high contact rates by making a ton of good-quality contact. His hard-hit rate was 36.6% at Triple-A Buffalo last year, slightly above average for the level (55th percentile). Having such high contact rates dilutes some of his exit velocity (EV) numbers, but they show he can hit the ball hard with the best of his peers. His max EV was very exciting at 112.2 mph (91st percentile), while the 90th-percentile exit velocity was above average at 103.2 mph (62nd percentile). He uses a robust rate of pulled fly balls (42.1%) and high exit velocities to produce his power, 16 home runs in 2024. What To Work On? As good as Roden is with making contact, he has some aspects of his game that he needs to work on. If he can improve on some of these, he can take a giant leap forward in his profile and increase his potential major-league impact. The first is tackling his struggles with his swing and decision-making at the plate. Despite being a top-tier contact hitter, he can become an elite one if he can find a way to decrease his struggles with pitches down and out of the zone. Looking at his whiff rates by zone at Triple-A Buffalo, you can see the majority of his swings and misses come in those areas. Following this trail leads to his strikeout rates by zone and similar results. Down-and-in and down-and-away are the locations that resulted in his most strikeouts. Once he reaches the major league level, pitchers will relentlessly exploit these weaknesses until he can show he can handle those pitches better (whether it's laying off them more or making better contact). If Roden can adjust his approach or swing, it should also result in more favorable launch angles. In 2024, at Triple-A Buffalo, his average launch angle was eight degrees due to the larger rate of ground balls he put into play (48.5%). To take the next step towards being a legitimate major league contributor, he must decrease his ground ball rate to around 40%. This should increase his overall numbers and maybe even add extra power to his profile. What's Next? Roden is one of the players to watch at spring training. He brings a dual threat of power and speed, something the Blue Jays are sorely lacking this year. Several positions are open for him to win a spot on the opening-day roster. Lucky for him and the Blue Jays, he can play any outfield position. If he can't parlay his hot stretch at the end of last season into a roster spot (.377/.457/.623, seven home runs, 13 doubles, and five stolen bases in his final 45 games), he will start back at Triple-A Buffalo. He is biding his time until a roster spot opens up, or he forces the front office's hand.
  25. Seth Stohs
    Last July, when the Blue Jays drafted Trey Yesavage with the 20th overall pick and Khal Stephen with the 59th overall pick, they knew they were not going to pitch in games in 2024. Yesavage had already pitched 15 games and 93 1/3 innings at East Carolina. He went 11-1 with a 2.03 ERA and had 145 strikeouts to go with just 32 walks. Stephen had made 16 starts for Mississippi State in 2024. In his 96 innings, he had 107 strikeouts to go with just 21 walks. The Jays sent both of their top two picks to Low-A Dunedin in 2025, in part just to let them get their feet wet in professional baseball. If they're honest, it was also probably an attempt to force themselves to not push the college stars too quickly. As you would expect from college pitchers selected in the early rounds, these two right-handers put up impressive numbers in Dunedin. Stephen went 3-0 with a 2.06 ERA over 39 1/3 innings. He made seven starts and one relief appearance (in which he recorded a save). He notched 48 strikeouts with just seven walks. Yesavage was also 3-0. He had a 2.43 ERA in seven starts and 33 1/3 innings. He had 55 strikeouts to go with just eight walks. On Monday, both players learned that they were making the long trek from the Orlando airport to Vancouver. The Canadians are currently 17-22 and will be helped by the addition of two high-ceiling starters. Moving to the High-A Northwest League should provide a little more of a challenge for both pitchers. However, both are ready for that challenge. And, don't be surprised if one or both of them make another move forward (to Double-A New Hampshire) before the season comes to an end. Yesavage ranks #3 on the Jays Centre Top 20 prospect list, while Stephen currently ranks #5. They will be joined on the long plane ride by #13-ranked prospect RHP Gage Stanifer. The 21-year-old was the Jays' 19th-round draft pick in 2022 out of high school in Indiana. He worked as a starter in his first two pro seasons. He has moved to the bullpen in 2025 but has pitched four innings in six of his seven outings. Stanifer went 4-0 with two saves in his seven relief appearances for Dunedin. He pitched to a 0.69 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP. In 26 innings, he had 38 strikeouts and 12 walks. Of course, to add three pitchers from Low-A, something had to give in Vancouver. Juaron Watts-Brown, Jays Centre's #19 prospect, was promoted from Vancouver to New Hampshire. The 23-year-old was 0-3 in eight starts but had a solid ERA of 3.62. Also, in 37 1/3 innings, he had a remarkable 62 strikeouts and just 12 walks. The Jays' third-round pick in 2022 from Oklahoma State, he also made nine starts for the Canadians in 2024. Three more pitchers will be joining Watts-Brown on the flight to New Hampshire. One is RHP Grant Rogers. He has made eight starts this season and is 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA. Rogers was the Jays' 11th 11th-round pick in 2023 from McNeese State. In 39 2/3 innings this season, he has 39 strikeouts. His 18 walks are something to work on, but something he has never had an issue with in the past. Rogers turns 24 on Thursday. Kevin Miranda signed with the Jays after going undrafted despite going 13-1 with a 2.44 ERA in his final season at NAIA LSU-Shreveport. Now 26, he has spent parts of the past two seasons with the Canadians. In fact, last season he also made five appearances for New Hampshire. With this promotion, he will get some more. In nine games (six starts) for Vancouver this year, he is 3-4 with a 7.57 ERA. The 27-year-old Nate Garkow is also moving up to New Hampshire. He spent four years at Point Loma Nazarene and then played independent ball in 2022, 2023, and 2024 before the Blue Jays signed him from the Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League. With the Canadians this season, he was 1-0 with two saves and a 7.56 ERA over 10 appearances. In 16 2/3 innings, he had 32 strikeouts but also 14 walks. He's had five good games and five bad games, and as you can imagine, his success usually depends on his control. In addition, the Canadians activated 21-year-old outfielder Victor Arias and 22-year-old reliever Irv Carter from the injured list. A couple of 26-year-olds are moving up to Buffalo from New Hampshire. Ryan McCarty mostly played second base for the Fisher Cats this season. In 25 games, he has hit .286/.405/.414 (.819) with three doubles and two homers. RHP CJ Van Eyk, the Jays' second-round pick in 2020 out of Florida State, is also moving up to the Bisons. He is 2-4 with a 4.42 ERA in seven starts this season. In 36 2/3 innings, he has 36 strikeouts and 11 walks. In addition, 25-year-old RHP Anders Tolhurst has been placed on the injured list for Buffalo. Jays #15 prospect, Charles McAdoo, has been placed on the Fisher Cats' development list. It's been a rough start to his season. In 33 games, he is hitting just .193/.273/.261 (.533). The 23-year-old played in 37 games for New Hampshire last year after joining the organization from the Pirates in the Isiah Kiner-Falefa trade. He hit just .185/.287/.323 (.609) in those games after hitting .269/.347/.490 (.838) in 27 games for Altoona, the Pirates' Double-A affiliate. He had posted OPSs well over .900 at both the Low-A and High-A levels, as well as in his final two seasons at San Jose State. So, hopefully a little break, and maybe some rest, will be exactly what he needs to regain that prospect status. Finally, we'll end on more positive news on this high-transaction day. Shortstop Josh Kasevich began his rehab assignment with the FCL Blue Jays on Tuesday. In his first game, he batted second and played shortstop. He went 1-for-2 before being replaced by Drew Jemison for the rest of the game. In five innings on defense, Kasevich caught two pop-ups and tagged a runner out trying to steal second. He didn't get any ground balls hit at him. Kasevich, the Jays' #11 prospect, learned in early May that he had a stress reaction in his back. He's been rehabbing for the past two-and-a-half months. Transactions happen often throughout a minor-league season as player development directors try to make sure all of the affiliates have enough players to compete. What is rare is seeing this many top prospects moving on up. Which are you most excited about? Obviously, Yesavage and Stephen are the big prospects, exciting pitchers drafted 10 months ago out of college. But Watts-Brown is similar, as a third-round pick out of college just a year earlier. Stanifer was a high school pick, so no surprise it took him a bit of time to find something that clicked for him, but whatever he found earned him this promotion. And, how much has Kasevich been missed in the early season? Can Van Eyk regain some of his pre-surgery prospect status as he is now just one level from the big leagues? View full article
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