3 Blue Jays prospects who had strong Friday night showings

Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Aug 15, 2026, 08:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 14, 2026, 23:21 EDT
As the 2026 season marches on, organizations continue to get a look at prospects within their system who have the potential to make an impact with the club at the big-league level someday.
In the Toronto Blue Jays’ case, Friday night provided a glimpse of a few players who management hopes could become regulars at the game’s highest level in the years to come.
Sean Keys
Sean Keys continued his strong month of August on Friday night. During the Bisons’ 6-2 win against the Worcester Red Sox, Keys went 2-for-4 with a home run. The homer was Keys’ third in August and 10th of the season since joining the Bisons in early June.
In 38 games at the Triple-A level this season, Keys is batting .273 with 30 RBIs and has reached base at a .409 clip. Keys has walked 25 times compared to only 33 strikeouts, showing an ability to make contact at the minor league’s top level.
Sean Keys already made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays this season, but the 23-year-old struggled in his first taste in the bigs. In 12 games, Keys batted .167 with one home run and five RBIs. With 13 strikeouts and only one walk in his 36 at-bats, Keys will need to change that if he wants to stick with the Blue Jays.
John Klein
Acquired from the Minnesota Twins as part of the return for Jeff Hoffman, John Klein made his second start in Triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons. After allowing two runs across 2.2 innings pitched in his first outing on August 8, Klein turned in a pitching line of 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K.
For the season between both organizations at the Triple-A level, Klein has made 26 appearances (16 starts) and is 2-4 with a 5.86 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Over 70.2 innings, Klein has struck out 79 batters and allowed opponents to hit at a .254 clip.
The 24-year-old made his big-league debut this season with the Twins against the Blue Jays on May 2 and in three outings with the Twins, the right-hander went 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. Klein held opponents to a .214 average and struck out two batters across 4.1 innings pitched.
Danny Thompson Jr.
Pitching in the New Hampshire Fisher Cats’ 5-4 loss to the Somerset Patriots, Danny Thompson Jr. once again dazzled. Thompson turned in a pitching line of 6.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K in what was his third straight quality start to begin the month of August.
Thompson is slowly becoming one of the best stories in the Blue Jays’ farm system during the 2026 season. After starting the year in High-A Vancouver with the Canadians in which he posted a 3.80 ERA across 12 outings, the right-hander was moved to Double-A where he’s only gotten better.
In 10 games (nine starts) with the Fisher Cats this season, Thompson is 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. Over his 48.2 innings pitched, Thompson has struck out 49 batters and held opponents to a .197 average.
Now listed as the Blue Jays’ No. 16-ranked prospect, the 24-year-old is making his mark as one of the players to keep a close eye on from the 2025 draft class.
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