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3 Blue Jays pitching prospects impress with strong weekend showings
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Photo credit: © Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Aug 18, 2026, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 17, 2026, 23:31 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays’ pitching talent across their minor-league system is starting to generate attention across baseball. 
While Brandon Barriera, who is currently in Single-A with Dunedin, has stolen the show through the month of August with three shutout appearances covering 9.2 innings, three other pitching prospects including Johnny King, Daniel Guerra, and Dasan Hill continued to impress this weekend. 
Johnny King
King, the Blue Jays’ third-round pick from the 2024 draft, made his first start on Saturday in Double-A with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats after being promoted from High-A Vancouver on August 11. 
The 20-year-old turned in a pitching line of 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 5 K, and threw 74 pitches (43 strikes) during the Fisher Cats’ 5-1 loss against the Somerset Patriots. The Blue Jays’ No. 3-ranked prospect allowed runs in both the first and third innings, aided by the five free passes, but in his final inning of work, King retired the Patriots in order with two strikeouts for his first 1-2-3 inning at the Double-A level. 
Through 21 starts with the Canadians this season, King went 5-2 with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. The lefty struck out 112 batters and held opponents to a .212 average over his 84 innings, but his 50 walks during that span are something that he will have to clean up as he progresses closer to the game’s highest level. 
Daniel Guerra
Working out of the bullpen for the second straight game since being promoted to New Hampshire on August 11, Guerra impressed on Saturday. Entering to begin the bottom of the seventh inning, the Blue Jays’ No. 20-ranked prospect turned in a pitching line of 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K. 
Guerra mowed down the Patriots with ease, touching 99.3 MPH of his four-seam fastball and using a wipeout sweeper to keep the four batters he faced off-balance. Through his first two outings with the Fisher Cats, Guerra has thrown three innings, allowed one hit by way of a solo home run, walked one, and struck out seven. 
Before his promotion, Guerra made 14 starts with the Canadians and went 3-3 with a 3.20 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. The 22-year-old struck out 78 batters over his 59 innings pitched and held opponents to a .226 average during that span. 
Dasan Hill 
Hill joined the Blue Jays’ organization on August 3 from the Minnesota Twins as part of the return for reliever Jeff Hoffman. At the time of the trade, Hill was pitching in High-A with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, so the left-hander joined the Vancouver Canadians. 
On Saturday, Hill made his second start with the Canadians and the results were impressive. The 20-year-old turned in a pitching line of 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, and threw 56 pitches (40 strikes) during the Canadians’ 5-3 win over the Tri-City Dust Devils. In his two starts since joining the Canadians, Hill has thrown six innings allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits, two walks, while striking out six. 
For the season, Hill is 1-8 with a 5.47 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. The lefty has struck out 83 batters over his 51 innings and held opponents to a .237 average. While walks can be a concern, highlighted by 39 in his 51 frames, the Blue Jays’ No. 8-ranked prospect brings excitement due to his fastball that can reach triple digits. 
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