These rookies have been huge for Toronto in an unpredictable season

This story was excerpted from Keegan Matheson’s Blue Jays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

TORONTO -- Nothing has gone how it was supposed to this season, even the good things.

Look back to Spring Training and dig up some of those predictions from February and March. I’ve asked for mine to be scrubbed from the internet, but with little success.

Addison Barger was the popular pick to be the Blue Jays’ breakout star, but he appeared in just nine games, recorded one base hit and eventually underwent season-ending elbow surgery in late July. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was supposed to carry over his spectacular World Series performance into 2026, but it’s been a complete flop. The Blue Jays were supposed to have “too much starting pitching depth," but this rotation is being held together with bubble gum and tape.

That’s the bad news. If it weren’t for some surprise stories along the way, the Blue Jays would have cratered long ago, but it’s been the kids who have kept them afloat. First, it was Brandon Valenzuela, who stepped in admirably when Alejandro Kirk went down, and it’s only grown from there, a credit to the Blue Jays’ player development staff which has a knack for turning these prospects on the cusp into useful big leaguers.

These have been the rookie stars:

The new leadoff man: Brett Bateman

When the Blue Jays landed Bateman from the Cubs as part of the Kevin Gausman package, it didn’t move the needle much. He was the Cubs’ No. 20 prospect at the time. A generous take at the time was that, perhaps in 2027, he could fill the Myles Straw role.

Well, since Bateman made his big league debut on Aug. 7, he is tied for 8th in fWAR across all hitters. The only players with a higher WAR since then are: Alex Bregman, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Fernando Tatis Jr., Rafael Devers, Tristan Peters, Pete Alonso and Jackson Chourio. Have you heard of them?

Bateman still needs to win the adjustments game down the stretch and well into 2027 -- and this good fortune on balls in play won’t last forever -- but this has been incredible to watch. Bateman isn’t just putting up numbers in the leadoff spot, he’s completely changed the feel of this lineup with his speed and aggression on the bases.

The story of the season: Spencer Miles

When the Blue Jays selected Miles in the Rule 5 Draft last December, reactions ranged from “Who?” to “Why?” Manager John Schneider’s first reaction was that, if the Blue Jays are selecting a Rule 5 pitcher coming off a World Series run, he’d better be pretty [bleeping] good. He is.

Miles is the best story of 2026, plucked from obscurity to become one of the most important pitchers on this roster. He flirts with triple digits with his brilliant sinker, and by next spring, we’re likely talking about a starting pitcher. What a find by this front office.

With a 2.71 ERA over 89 2/3 innings, Miles could flirt with 100 by the end of the season. That’s a fine foundation to build from, giving him a shot at 130-plus next season in a longer role.

The X-factor: Sean Keys

This team is tied for 26th in baseball with just 147 home runs this season. Sean Keys has hit 30 homers this season between Double-A, Triple-A and the big leagues. You can do the math here.

If there’s one player who could break a game open down the stretch and have a "moment," it’s Keys.

Keys has shot up to the club’s No. 6 prospect with a dominant season in the Minor Leagues. He possesses the trait this organization needs most, which is the ability to drive the baseball, and he’s earned rave reviews from coaches at every level.

Now, Keys just needs to do it in the big leagues. When he returned to Toronto for the second time this season, Schneider’s assignment for him was clear, to hit breaking balls.

“It’s definitely about timing,” Keys said. “Most of the time, I would say that with my swing, I’m trying to be on time for the heater and adjust from there. Sometimes, guys have too much velo or too much break where you can think, ‘Well, he’s not going to throw a fastball here, so I might as well be on time for this speed.’ A lot of times, a changeup or a slider are the same velo, so I can be on time for both of those.”

It will only take a big swing or two against a righty, and Keys will get his shots down the stretch to be the next rookie contributor.