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.
The tides are turning for some of the Blue Jays’ top prospects.
Slowly, but surely, early season slumps are being shaken off and we’re seeing some talent rise up for the Blue Jays. This isn’t a powerhouse farm system by any means, but the Blue Jays need their top young names healthy and performing, especially with the Trade Deadline just six weeks away.
Here are your questions this week:
Can you see [Addison] Barger being called up sometime in the 2nd half? -- @bluejaysrecap
Yes… if there’s regular playing time available. Barger is currently rehabbing with Single-A Dunedin and should be back with the Buffalo Bisons soon. The No. 6 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, hit just .237 with a .662 OPS over his first 20 games there, but consider this the start to a new season for him.
Think of Nathan Lukes, Jordan Luplow, Ernie Clement and now Spencer Horwitz. That last spot on the roster spends a lot of time on the bench, and that’s not where the Blue Jays want one of their top prospects who has just 28 games of experience in Triple-A. That’s why I like Barger as an option if an injury strikes, but not as a bench option until late in the season. He needs to play, because the Blue Jays need to know how big a need third base will be entering the offseason. It’s extremely important that they can evaluate him over a longer stint this year.
Is Davis Schneider “a guy”? -- @_bkuh_
Yes. The 14 homers and .913 OPS look good on paper, and I’ve heard “coach’s favorite” to describe Schneider a few times. I’ve also had him described as having a Dan Uggla build physically, which tracks. He might not dunk on you, but he’ll hit the baseball farther than you.
Schneider is one of the best development stories in the system and is now in that crowded group with Barger, Otto Lopez, Rafael Lantigua, Horwitz and others who can offer the Blue Jays something as a 25th or 26th man in the immediate future. Schneider brings the pop, though, and while defense is a factor here, the organization likes his game.
Rafael Lantigua has pretty good numbers in AAA yet is not a name that gets talked about. What’s his story? -- @jriswick
Lantigua will be at the front of the conversation to jump onto our Top 30 Prospects list when we update it next. The 2021 season was a quiet breakout for him and now, at 25, he’s putting himself in a position to be an MLB-level utility man at the end of the bench. Lantigua walks (51) more than he strikes out (43), giving him an incredible .441 on-base percentage in Triple-A, but he’s not just a slap hitter. He can drive the baseball. Add in his ability to play just about every position and he’s turned himself into a legitimate prospect. Credit to him.
Is Orelvis [Martinez] back to being a great prospect again? Top 100 soon? -- @OMPropaganda1
I don’t see Martinez in the Top 100 again, but that’s fine. He’s completely turned his season around after it looked through April like he was going to absolutely plummet. Since the start of May, Martinez has a .993 OPS with 13 home runs. Strikeouts need to be watched here as the adjustment game continues, but he’s got life again.
What is the most optimistic thing you can say about the Jays Minor League system? Let’s look at the positive! -- @Mcnorty
There’s still time? I don’t say that to be flippant, either. Look at Martinez, who went from the biggest disappointment in the organization through April to a star again. There’s time for the same to happen with players such as Lopez, Dasan Brown, Yosver Zulueta, Adam Macko, Hayden Juenger, Adrian Hernandez and others. It’s about how they finish the season.
Tucker Toman: how high is his ceiling? -- @KyleRavensburg
If you want to get a member of the Blue Jays’ player development staff excited, mention Toman’s name. Single-A Dunedin has been a learning experience for him, striking out 74 times in 55 games, but at just 19, he’s got plenty of time. His ceiling is fairly high, but to me, it’s more about Toman’s floor. The Blue Jays really believe in this prospect.
How is the last year’s draft class doing? -- @Khromets
First-rounder Brandon Barriera is just getting his feet wet with a 5.40 ERA in Single-A. The early rounds have been encouraging so far, but looking a bit further down, sixth-rounder T.J. Brock brings immediate bullpen upside and is dominating at High-A Vancouver. I should also highlight Michael Turconi, from the 15th round, who is batting .305 with a .902 OPS in Vancouver.