Notes: Manoah's improvements; Hatch's role
Even with the star power the Blue Jays added this offseason, and the clear postseason expectations in front of them, the club’s top prospects are still demanding plenty of attention early in camp. Alek Manoah, Toronto's No. 5 prospect, embodies both the challenge and intrigue involved with evaluating top prospects
Notes: Groshans 'ready'; Mayza near return
Blue Jays prospect Jordan Groshans is good, and he knows it. Now 21, the club’s No. 3 prospect and first-round pick from the 2018 MLB Draft is at Spring Training as a non-roster invitee and ready to convince the Blue Jays that his timeline needs to be accelerated. Groshans is
Blue Jays name 28 spring non-roster invitees
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays released their list of 28 non-roster invitees to Major League Spring Training on Friday, which is stacked with top-prospect talent and veterans vying for jobs. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Dunedin, Fla., for Spring Training beginning Thursday. Here is the positional breakdown
Blue Jays have 4 prospects rated in Top 100
TORONTO -- After a wave of top prospects graduated to form the Blue Jays’ young core, followed by one of baseball’s most aggressive offseasons this winter, you’d expect Toronto’s farm system to finally be running thin. Think again. Four Blue Jays rank among MLB Pipeline’s new Top 100 Prospects, led
How high can Pearson reach in 2021?
TORONTO -- In his rookie season, the Blue Jays saw the true Nate Pearson twice. The first came in his Major League debut, when Toronto’s No. 1 prospect threw five scoreless innings with five strikeouts against the Nationals on July 26 in Washington. Then, fast forward to Pearson's final outing
4 prospects reflect on past at DREAM Series
Simeon Woods Richardson was on the other side of this seminar not too long ago. He was getting tips from young Major Leaguers and Minor Leaguers whose ranks he aspired to soon join. (Marcus Stroman, a fellow fast-working right-hander, was who he looked up to most.) He was in high
Blue Jays to sign 16-year-old SS from DR
The Blue Jays are adding one of the most advanced hitters in the 2020-21 international class to the mix. According to industry sources, the club has agreed to a multimillion dollar deal with shortstop Manuel Beltre of the Dominican Republic, No. 24 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 International Prospects List,
Toronto’s Top 5 international signings of all time
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays’ success through the 1980s and their World Series runs in the early ’90s saw the club emerge as a major player on the international market, particularly in Latin America. That remains true today, with the club's Top 30 Prospects featuring talent from Canada, the United
Blue Jays extend invites to Minors affiliates
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays announced Wednesday that they’ve issued an invitation to four Minor League clubs to become the organization’s affiliates under MLB’s new player development structure, which includes some reorganizing of longtime affiliates. The Triple-A Buffalo Bisons and Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats have been invited to remain
Toronto claims right-handers Castro, Lockett
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays have claimed hard-throwing right-handed pitching prospect Anthony Castro off waivers from the Tigers and right-hander Walker Lockett off waivers from the Mariners, the club announced. The 25-year-old Castro was ranked by MLB Pipeline as Toronto's No. 19 prospect, while Lockett, 26, has pitched in the
Here's the state of Toronto's farm system
After three straight losing seasons and fourth-place finishes in the American League East, the Blue Jays showed improvement during the shortened 2020 season, securing the No. 8 spot in the expanded postseason with a 32-28 regular-season record. And while they were unable to advance beyond the Wild Card Series, falling
Blue Jays protect five from Rule 5 Draft
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays added five prospects to their 40-man roster ahead of Friday’s deadline, protecting them from this December’s Rule 5 Draft. Catchers Gabriel Moreno and Riley Adams will be joined by versatile infielder Otto Lopez, outfielder Josh Palacios and right-hander Ty Tice. This moves the club’s 40-man
Blue Jays prospect report from alternate site
With alternate camps coming to an end, MLB Pipeline is recapping the development highlights for the prospects involved for each organization. Top position prospect: Austin Martin, SS/OF (No. 2 on Blue Jays Top 30/MLB No. 16) The Blue Jays landed the best pure hitter in this year’s Draft when they
Notes: Pearson a WCS relief weapon
Like any team entering the postseason, the Blue Jays are looking for their X-factor, that one player who can tip the scales at just the right time to change the course of a series. With the rise of bullpens overflowing with power arms, teams are always looking for their own
Welcome back! Pearson hits 101.5 in return
Taijuan Walker opened Friday’s 10-5 Blue Jays win over the Orioles with three perfect innings in his final tune-up of the season, and somehow, the news got even better from there. Blue Jays No. 1 prospect Nate Pearson, back after missing over a month with a flexor strain, trotted in
Blue Jays getting Pearson back at right time
Nate Pearson is back, and the timing couldn’t be better for the Blue Jays. After missing over a month of action with a flexor strain in his right elbow, the Blue Jays’ No. 1 prospect was activated from the injured list prior to Thursday’s series finale against the Yankees in
He's 5-foot-8, 265 lbs. And yes, he mashes
Welcome to the legend of Alejandro Kirk. He’s here, he’s real and he just had his coming out party against the New York Yankees. Kirk is one of the most unique players in Major League Baseball, regardless of whether you’re looking at your TV screen or the box score. In
Blue Jays scout reflects on 30-year career
The process used to start with a letter. When Tom Burns began scouting 30 years ago, his seasons would begin with handwritten notes mailed to local coaches asking them to recommend players he might want to take a look at. Then, Burns would write letters asking players to attend his
Who's faster? Speedy prospects race, train
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- It’s no secret that competition can be a driver of excellence, innovation, improvements and so much more. But without any Minor League baseball on the slate this season, many young players have sought out ways to continue their development without the added benefit of games. For two
Pearson's possible role, roster moves, more
The Blue Jays are still evaluating the right elbow of No. 1 prospect Nate Pearson, and his upcoming diagnosis is one of the most important factors in a possible postseason run. Pearson hit the 10-day injured list with elbow tightness on Wednesday after a string of appearances where he looked
Tight elbow sends Blue Jays' Pearson to IL
The Blue Jays on Wednesday placed Nate Pearson on the injured list with a sore right elbow, a major blow that comes just after Pearson struggled with his control on Tuesday night against the Orioles. Pearson, Toronto's No. 1 prospect, hadn’t experienced this tightness before, manager Charlie Montoyo said early
'History Book' scout recalls Chipper, Sheffield
Russ Bove didn’t think he needed scouting. He was an assistant coach at St. John’s University in the early 1980s when baseball legend Ralph DiLullo began trying to coax him over to the evaluation side of the game. Bove remembers telling him, “scouting’s an old man’s job,” and believing that
Kay puts potential on display vs. Braves
There wasn’t much to like about the Blue Jays’ 10-1 loss to Atlanta in the series opener on Tuesday, but left-hander Anthony Kay pitched as well as he has in the Major Leagues over two innings of relief. Kay entered with the bases loaded, nobody out and Freddie Freeman at
Pearson after dazzling debut: 'I belong here'
Believe the hype. Nate Pearson’s MLB debut in Wednesday's 4-0 loss to the Nationals matched the sky-high expectations for the Blue Jays’ No. 1 prospect, as he held the defending champions scoreless over five innings of two-hit ball at Nationals Park. Pearson struck out five and walked two. “My stuff
What to expect from Nate Pearson in the bigs
For the second straight year, a Blue Jays rookie will make one of the most highly anticipated debuts of the MLB season. In April 2019, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled in four at-bats against the Athletics. Tonight, Toronto's top prospect Nate Pearson will show what he can do against the defending