Blue Jays Nation’s 2023 Preseason Top 50: Ultimate edition
1 year ago
Just because the 30 prospect articles have been released, doesn’t mean Blue Jays Nation’s Prospect Season is over.
In this article, we’ll be looking at each of the Top 50 prospects’ scouting reports. If you want to see a more in-detail look at their 2022 season (as well as past seasons) or where they may start in 2023, click on the player names!
Furthermore, since Chavez Young (who ranked 48th overall) was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this month, I’ve added an additional prospect at the end of the article to fill to #50 spot. So check that out.
Without further ado, here is each of Blue Jays Nation’s Top 50 prospects’ scouting reports!
#1 LHP Ricky Tiedemann:
Tall, with long legs and torso, with broad shoulders and room for projection. Tiedemann pitches a low 3/4 arm slot which makes his already difficult-to-hit stuff harder to hit. His fastball has plenty of run, which makes batting left-handed against him an utter nightmare. His changeup is used against both right-handed and left-handed batters and has late downward movement. His slider has high spin rates with sweep, and is a plus pitch. His control and command are good, especially for his experience level. Tiedemann also has the dawg in him, much like fellow Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 65
Changeup: 65
Slider: 60
Control: 50
Overall: 60
#2 SS/3B Addison Barger:
Muscular frame with built legs and broad shoulders, there is some remaining room for projection. He has a quick, fluid swing with no length, which allows him to hit for both average and power. There is a little bit of swing and miss in his game, but he took great strides in reducing that in 2022. He has a strong arm that will allow him to stick to the left side of the infield. Like many young shortstops, he tends to rush plays, leading to errors. However, this is something that could be ironed out with experience. He is an average runner.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 55
Power: 60
Run: 50
Arm: 55
Field: 50
Overall: 55
#3 LHP Brandon Barriera:
Compact frame, with muscular legs and broad shoulders, Barriera hasn’t completely filled out his frame as of yet. He has a three-pitch mix, with a sweeping slider that sits in the mid-80s, as well as a sinking fastball and a changeup with armside fade. Barriera is also aggressive when facing batters, not afraid to throw his pitches for strikes. Barriera has shown excellent control and command, despite his young age. Some scouts say he had the nastiest stuff in the class, and his bulldog attitude on the mound will serve him well. He’s been described as a “more athletic Ricky Tiedemann”.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 55
Changeup: 50
Slider: 55
Control: 50
Overall: 55
#4 3B/SS Orelvis Martinez:
With muscular frame, long legs, and broad shoulders, Martinez could add even more muscle as he ages. His calling card is his power, as he has some of the best raw power in the game. His hit tool is significantly less developed, as he struggles to lay off breaking stuff and will never hit for a high average. There’s also some swing and miss in his game, which will need to be cleaned up as he continues in the upper minors. Martinez is likely destined to play third base, where he has a strong arm and is an average fielder. He is a below-average runner.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 40
Power: 65
Run: 40
Arm: 55
Field: 50
Overall: 55
#5 RHP Yosver Zulueta:
Zulueta has a muscular frame, with solid legs, and broad shoulders. His fastball is his best pitch, not only due to the velocity but because it can be thrown around the zone for strikes. His best secondary pitch is his slider, with plenty of sweep and a great shape that sits in the mid-80s. His changeup has armside fade, while his curveball has a nice vertical break. Zulueta’s biggest concern is lack of control, and prior injuries.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 70
Changeup: 55
Slider: 60
Curveball: 50
Control: 40
Overall: 55
Tall, muscular frame with little room for projection. Horwitz’s calling card is that he’s a contact hitter and has one of the best hit tools in the entire organization. He avoids striking out while maintaining a high BB%, and can hit the ball anywhere in the zone. A first baseman by trade, Horwitz can also hit the ball out of the park but tends to hit the ball in the gaps more often than not, but the raw power is there. Below average runner, solid routes in the outfield and has a strong arm.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 70
Power: 55
Run: 35
Arm: 55
Field: 50
Overall: 50
Slender frame, broad shoulders, long legs, and a slim upper half, Toman has plenty of room for projection. The switch-hitter already has fantastic bat speed from both sides of the plate and has above-average raw power for his age. He has a fluid swing and more power from the left side. Toman uses all fields when he sprays the ball and has an above-average hit tool. He is a below-average runner, and could end up at third base or the corner outfield in the future.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 55
Power: 55
Run: 40
Arm: 50
Field: 50
Overall: 50
Muscular build, with big legs, built-out upper half, and broad shoulders. Martinez is a great hitter, with the ability to take a walk, hit for average, and hit difficult pitches. In 2022, his power emerged as well, making him one of the Blue Jays top prospects. Defensively, he is above average, with good range in the corner outfield and a strong arm. He is an average runner who doesn’t use his speed on bases that often. He has a tendency to pop the ball up on the infield, but that could change as he continues to fill out his frame.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 60
Power: 50
Run: 50
Arm: 55
Field: 55
Overall: 50
#9 RHP Sem Robberse:
A tall, lean frame with plenty of projection, Robberse has a five-pitcher mix. He has two variations of his fastball, a two-seamer, and a four-seamer, the former has arm side run, which pairs well with his changeup which also has arm side run. His curveball is his best pitch, as it’s relatively hard with good spin. He has a gyro slider which can be thrown for strikes. At points, he can be hit hard when he loses his command, but overall he’s pretty pinpoint with his pitches. Robberse has a mid-starter rotation ceiling, but also a rather high floor.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 50
Slider: 55
Curveball: 55
Changeup: 45
Control: 45
Overall: 50
Tall frame, muscular legs, broad shoulders, and a long torso, Palmegiani’s calling card is the raw power he possesses. He has plenty of strength, elite bat speed, and a fluid swing, meaning when he barrels the ball, there’s a good chance it’s gone. He also has a solid hit tool, able to hit tough pitches and take a walk, although there is a little bit of swing and miss in his game. Defense at third base is still a work in progress but has gotten better with practice. Good instincts and a strong arm should keep him at third. Fringe-average runner.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 50
Power: 60
Run: 45
Arm: 55
Field: 45
Overall: 50
#11 RHP Dahian Santos:
Long, slender frame, moderately built-out legs, and a slim upper half with broad shoulders. Santos has some remaining projection and features a very low 3/4 arm slot. When paired with a high whippy, high release point, it is a difficult look for batters. His best pitch is his slider, which has a ton of movement, with plenty of sweep. His changeup has downward and arm-side fade, used primarily against left-handed batters. Santos’ fastball also has a ton of movement and plays best at the top of the zone. He struggled with control and command, and his wind-up isn’t fluid, which could cause problems down the road.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 55
Slider: 65
Changeup: 55
Control: 40
Overall: 50
#12 2B/OF Otto López:
López has a short, muscular build with thick legs, a slim upper half, and broad shoulders. López is an excellent hitter who can hit the ball around the zone and uses all fields. He doesn’t strike out a lot, and he has a solid eye at the plate. However, López lacks significant power, and he doesn’t have much projection remaining in his frame. Despite that, López is a quick runner and uses his speed on the base paths. He has a fringe-average arm and has the range to play both centre field and second base.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 65
Power: 40
Run: 60
Arm: 45
Field: 55
Overall: 45
#13 3B/2B Cade Doughty:
Doughty is tall, with filled-in legs and gigantic shoulders, Doughty still has room for projection. What immediately stands out about Doughty is his raw power and quick bat speed, which could increase even more as he fills out his frame. He could also end up hitting for average as well, as he has solid bat-to-ball skills, but has some swing-and-miss in his game. He has a strong arm that’s suited for third base but can play both there and second base due to good instincts. An average runner.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 50
Power: 55
Run: 50
Arm: 55
Field: 50
Overall: 45
#14 LHP Adam Macko:
Compact build, with muscular legs, slim upper half, and broad shoulders, he has projection remaining. Macko pitches with a low 3/4 arm slot, giving him a funky release point. He gets plenty of ride on his four-seam fastball, and plenty of sinking action on his two-seam fastball. He has a plus-plus loopy curveball, and when paired with his high-velocity fastball, it gives batters a hard time. Changeup can be used all over the zone, it has arm side fade and breaks downwards, missing bats. His sweeping slider has tons of depth. Macko hasn’t been able to show a high-quality of command and control in his young career and has spent significant time on the injured list the past few seasons.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Lanky build, with long legs and a long torso with broad shoulders, Kasevich has projection remaining. As it stands, he’s a contact-over-power guy who has a great eye at the plate and can hit difficult pitches and spray the pitches to all fields with gap power. As his body continues to develop, he may be able to hit 15 homers in a season with his fluid swing. Quick twitch defender with good instincts, a strong arm, and good footwork. Has the potential to stick at shortstop and be a great defender.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Long bodied, muscular legs and a powerful upper half, Núñez has plenty of raw power, both from strength and excellent bat speed. On top of being able to potentially hit 20-30 home runs a season, he can also the ability to hit for average as he’s a line drive hitter. He’ll end up playing first base or designated hitter in his career, as he’s an average fielder at the position with a solid arm. However, he’s a below-average runner with some swing-and-miss in his game.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Compact frame with muscular legs, a slim upper half, and broad shoulders, Juenger has a large circle arm action and a 3/4 slot, giving him an odd release point for batters. His fastball is his best pitch, as he can use it anywhere in the zone with additional movement. His slider has some sweep to it and is a useful weapon against right-handed batters. His changeup has arm-side fade, which makes it run away from left-handed batters. He loses control at points, and when he misses his spot, he is susceptible to the long ball.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 60
Slider: 55
Changeup: 55
Control: 40
Overall: 45
#18 2B/OF Adrian Pinto:
He has a short frame, a compact and muscular build, with room to grow, especially in his upper half. Despite only standing around 5’7, Pinto has a surprising amount of raw power and could add a few more home runs year to year. He has excellent bat-to-ball skills, a great eye, and the ability to hit tough pitches, but he tends to hit pop-ups and ground balls quite often. He’s a plus runner, using his speed well on the base paths. His speed also gives him good range at centre field, second base, and shortstop. He has a strong arm.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 55
Power: 40
Run: 65
Arm: 50
Field: 55
Overall: 45
#19 3B/SS Alex De Jesus:
Stocky build, with muscular legs, beefy torso, and broad shoulders, De Jesus is a prospect that could hit for both power and average. He has great bat-to-ball skills and can shoot the ball to all fields. He has significant raw power and was really able to get a hold of pitches in 2022, paired with a great eye at the plate. His game has some strikeouts, but he is excellent at not swinging at borderline pitches. In the future, he’ll likely come off shortstop and move to the hot corner, where he has a strong arm and decent range. Below average runner.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 50
Power: 50
Run: 35
Arm: 55
Field: 45
Overall: 45
#20 OF Enmanuel Bonilla:
What the scouts say (MLB Pipeline, Baseball America): Excellent bat speed and plenty of raw power for his age. Hit tool is still a work in progress, but can hit fastballs. Good approach and nice swing path
MLB Pipeline Grades:
Hit: 50
Power: 55
Run: 50
Arm: 50
Field: 55
Overall: 55
#21 SS Leo Jimenez:
Short but muscular build, with powerful legs and a filled out upper half. Jimenez is a plus hitter who’s able to take a significant amount of walks with elite bat-to-ball skills. Jimenez tapped into his raw power in 2022, but it’s still below average. He’s an athletic shortstop with quick hands and feet and great instincts. Strong arm and is an average runner.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 55
Power: 40
Run: 50
Arm: 50
Field: 55
Overall: 45
#22 2B/OF Davis Schneider:
Slender, muscular build with powerful legs and broad shoulders. Schneider has quick bat speed and a tendency to hit line drives, which allows him to hit for a high average. Despite his smaller stature, Schneider can get a hold of balls with raw power and quick bat speed. He’s an above-average runner with a tenacious work ethic. Average arm and is a solid fielder in both left field and second base. There’s a little bit of swing and miss in his game, and he doesn’t have much projection left.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 50
Power: 50
Run: 55
Arm: 45
Field: 50
Overall: 45
#23 C/OF Zach Britton:
Slim build with long legs and a compact upper half. Fluid swing with a small leg kick and quick bat speed blended with moderate raw power. Britton is a good hitter as he’s able to hit the ball everywhere in the strike zone. He has excellent pitch detection and can take a walk, but his game has some swing-and-miss. As a catcher, he has an average pop time with a slightly below-average arm. Has good routes in the outfield and may end up there due to the big league team’s needs. Average runner, and has a sparkplug personality.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 50
Power: 50
Run: 45
Arm: 45
Field: 50
Overall: 45
#24 INF Tanner Morris:
Wiry build, with long legs and a slim upper half. Morris has a great eye at the plate and will lay off many tough pitches. With quick bat speed, Morris can be defined as a plus hitter, as he consistently makes contact and has a lower-than-average strikeout rate. There’s some pop in his game, but he likely won’t hit more than 15 homers in a season. His defensive home is that of a utility player or a second baseman, as he has an average arm. Morris is an average runner.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 60
Power: 40
Run: 45
Arm: 50
Field: 50
Overall: 40
#25 LHP Jimmy Robbins:
Slim build, with long legs and broad shoulders, Robbins has a 3/4 release point and a short circle arm action. His delivery is fluid and he has a four-pitch mix, featuring a slider, changeup, fastball, and cutter. His fastball is his best pitch, sitting at 91-93 mph and touching 95, but plays up. It has a natural run and can be utilized all over the zone. The slider has a sweeping motion with depth, generating whiffs. His changeup and cutter are slightly below-average, but they flashed average as he continued to build up from Tommy John Surgery. Had some control issues, but improved as the season continued.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 55
Slider: 55
Changeup: 45
Cutter: 45
Control: 40
Overall: 40
#26 OF Dasan Brown:
Slim build with long legs and a short frame, Brown has some projection remaining. A very toolsy player, Brown tapped into his power and hit tool in 2022. Fantastic range in centre field due to his 80-grade speed, and he has a strong arm. There’s some swing and miss in his game that he’ll have to iron out to progress to the next level.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 45
Power: 45
Run: 80
Field: 55
Arm: 50
Overall: 40
#27 RHP Adrián Hernández:
Short, slim build, medium arm circle arm action, with a high 3/4 release point. Hernández features the best changeup in the Blue Jays organization and could develop into one of the best in the majors as it has a ton of unusual movement, generating whiffs. The fastball sits low 90s, toughing 94 mph with run. Curveball is sneakily good, generating the occasional whiff due to its heavy horizontal drop. Control and command lose him from time to time, and is hit hard if he can’t locate pitches. Missed time in 2022 due to a shoulder injury.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 45
Changeup: 75
Curveball: 45
Control: 40
Overall: 40
#28 RHP Irv Carter:
What the scouts say (per MLB Pipeline): Carter is athletic with a ton of arm strength with projectability. He is also compared to Marcus Stroman and Johnny Cueto due to hesitations in his delivery, which messes with the timing of batters. He has a bulldog mentality pitcher on the mound.
MLB Pipeline Grades:
Fastball: 55
Slider: 55
Changeup: 45
Control: 50
Overall: 40
#29 RHP Trent Palmer:
Stocky build with powerful legs and a wide frame. Easygoing delivery with a unique sidearm delivery, bulldog personality. Palmer’s changeup is his best pitch, as it has great shape and can be used on both sides of the plate, plus pitch. The fastball has sinking action and sits in the low 90s. The slider has a nice sweeping motion and is an above average pitch. He showed improvement with command and control in 2022, will miss all of 2023 with Tommy John surgery.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 50
Changeup: 65
Slider: 55
Control: 40
Overall: 40
#30 OF/1B Alan Roden:
Compact body with thick legs and a muscular upper half. Roden has a fluid swing with good mechanics, rotating his hips and turning on the ball. He has a great eye at the plate and can lay off tough pitches, while also making consistent contact. Roden has some pop, but may need to rely on his hit tool to progress through the minors. In the outfield, he is an average defender with a strong arm. Average runner.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 55
Power: 40
Run: 45
Field: 50
Arm: 50
Overall: 40
#31 RHP Hagen Danner:
Muscular build, long body, nice hair, and mustache with some room for projection. Danner has an overhand release point and a large circle arm action, unusual for a former catcher. His fastball is his pitch as he can rear up and blow it by batters with some high velocity and extra movement. Danner’s hard slider is his best secondary as it generates a ton of whiffs with its heavy downward movement. His get curve is a good pitch that throws batters off the harder pitches in his arsenal. Good control of pitches, especially since he’s a converted catcher.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 65
Slider: 55
Curveball: 45
Control: 50
Overall: 40
#32 LHP Kendry Rojas:
Compact build with a muscular lower half and slim torso, Rojas has room for projection, He pitches from a 3/4 release point. His slider is his best pitch, with great shape and sweeping action. His fastball sinks and locates it well at the bottom of the zone. The changeup has a late glove side fade, with very little velocity separation between it and his fastball. Control and command have taken a hit, but there’s still projection left in his frame.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 50
Slider: 55
Changeup: 50
Control: 40
Overall: 40
#33 SS Manuel Beltre:
What the scouts say about him (MLB Pipeline): Contact hitter, with room for projection. He’s a leader and has a great work ethic, and is a sound defender at shortstop.
MLB Pipeline grades:
Hit: 50
Power: 45
Run: 55
Arm: 55
Field: 50
Overall: 45
#34 LHP Trenton Wallace:
Wiry frame with long limbs, there is projectability remaining. Wallace has a funky delivery as he’s a left-handed sidearmer with a large arm circle, which gives him incredible deception. Paired with his unusual delivery, Wallace’s wipeout slider has plenty of sweep with downward action. His changeup has two variations, with one having a glove side fade and the other with a significant drop. His fastball has a sinking action, while his curveball is tight. Control can be lost from time to time.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 55
Slider: 60
Changeup: 45
Curveball: 45
Control: 40
Overall: 40
#35 OF Robert Robertis:
Compact build with built legs and a slim upper half, Robertis has just barely tapped into his raw power, as he still has some projection left in his frame. Could hit for both average and power in the future. Batting from the left side, he features a high leg kick, a fluid swing, and excellent bat speed. Some swing and miss in his game. He is an average runner and plays the outfield well with his athleticism.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 50
Power: 45
Run: 40
Field: 50
Arm: 45
Overall: 40
#36 RHP CJ Van Eyk:
Long body, with long limbs that he can fill out with muscle, Van Eyk has a 3/4 release point. His best pitch is a plus curveball, which misses a ton of bats with a late break. The fastball can be used all over the strike zone and sits 91-94 mph, touching 96 mph. Although it’s developing, the slider could potentially become a plus pitch in the future with its gyro shape. The changeup is average. Aggressive, but struggled with walks and loud contact in his first professional season before missing 2022 due to Tommy John.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 50
Curveball: 60
Slider: 50
Changeup: 50
Control: 40
Overall: 40
#37 RHP Chad Dallas:
Small frame, but a ton of muscle, Dallas has a 3/4 release point and a medium circle arm action. His best pitch is a cutter/slider that has a sharp horizontal and vertical break, it’s a plus pitch. The second-best pitch in his arsenal is a big, looping curveball that has a sharp 12-6 drop. His fastball sits 90-94 and is used best at the top of the zone. The changeup has glove side fade and is pitch under development. Dallas’ big issue was a loss of control, which increased his walk rate and loud contact.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 45
Slider: 60
Curveball: 55
Changeup: 45
Control: 40
Overall: 35
#38 RHP Eric Pardinho:
Short, compact build with large legs and broad shoulders, Pardinho has a medium circle arm action and pitches from a 3/4 release point. The knuckle curve is his best pitch, as he induces a lot of vertical break which results in plenty of whiffs. Fastball sits in the low 90s with good shape, but a velocity tick-up could help him tremendously. His slider has a sharp sweeping motion that registered a 56 whiff % in Dunedin, while his changeup misses bats with downward movement. He struggled in High-A with walks, and has missed significant time with injuries.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 45
Curveball: 55
Changeup: 50
Slider 50
Control: 40
Overall: 35
#39 1B Peyton Williams:
Tall, stocky build with thick legs and a long upper half, Williams has a great eye at the plate matched with the ability to spray the ball for an average. He has plenty of raw power, but hasn’t done a great job tapping into it during games. Fringe defensively at first base figures to be a first baseman/designated hitter while rising up the minors. Below average runner.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 50
Power: 45
Run: 30
Field: 40
Arm: 40
Overall: 35
#40 LHP Cooper Benson:
Small, strong build with muscular legs and a slim upper half, Benson has a 3/4 release point and a medium arm circle. The fastball sits 88-92 but plays because of the deception in his delivery. He features a sweeping slider that generates whiffs, as well as a changeup with late vertical breaks. Filling out the rest of his frame could help him see a tick-up in velocity.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 40
Slider: 50
Changeup: 50
Control: 50
Overall: 35
#41 RHP Alejandro Melean:
Stocky build, with a powerful lower half and broad shoulders, there is little room for projection. His changeup has a ton of late break and downward movement, missing plenty of bats. Changeup plays well with his fastball when the latter is working. Slider is developing, but he took strides with it in 2022. While young for Double-A, he’ll have to look to improve his control in 2023.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 55
Changeup: 60
Slider: 45
Control: 40
Overall: 35
#42 RHP Adam Kloffenstein:
Tall, muscular frame with long legs and projectability remaining, Kloffenstein features a five-pitch mix which when on, is fantastic. His fastball has a ton of downward movement which will help him generate ground balls, while his changeup and slider can generate whiffs. His curveball is a good additional “get me over” pitch to mess with batters’ timing. For the past two seasons, Kloffenstein has struggled with walks and big innings. This has led to big innings which drastically increases his pitch count and ERA. It’s something he’ll need to straighten out to progress to the next level.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 55
Slider: 55
Curveball: 45
Changeup: 50
Control: 40
Overall: 35
#43 RHP Luis Quiñones:
Stocky build with muscular legs and broad shoulders, Quiñones releases the ball from a high 3/4 point. The fastball is a plus pitch not only for solid velocity but also for underlying stats. His splitter is his best pitch, as the late break misses plenty of bats. All four of his pitches can and have been used as “out” pitches. To take it to the next level, Quiñones will need to throw strikes and locate his spots, but he certainly has the stuff to be a back end of the rotation starter.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 55
Splitter: 55
Curveball: 50
Slider: 50
Control: 35
Overall: 35
#44 LHP Brandon Eisert:
Compact body, broad shoulders, and muscular legs, Eisert’s 3/4 release point deceives batters, especially those on the left side. Low velocity, but it plays up with release point and extension, and works best at the top of the zone. His sweeping slider runs far off the plate for left-handed batters, and his changeup is a weapon against righties with its late vertical break. Where Eisert excels is locating his pitches, which can take him to the next level. In the rare times he misses his spots, he is hit hard.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 55
Slider: 55
Changeup: 50
Control: 50
Overall: 35
#45 LHP Jimmy Burnette:
Muscular build, with built-up legs and a compact upper half, Burnette’s low 3/4 release point wrecks havoc on batters, especially left-handed batters. His fastball is his main weapon, as it sits in the mid-90s, touching 97 mph. His sweeping slider is an above-average secondary pitch, while his changeup has a late break and is slightly below average. The biggest issue in 2022 was his control and command, as he tends to miss his spot occasionally.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 55
Slider: 50
Changeup: 45
Control: 35
Overall: 35
#46 RHP Michael Dominguez:
Stocky build, but with power lower half, Dominguez sits 5’10, 175 lb with not a lot of room for projection remaining. He has a short circle arm action, and releases the ball from a 3/4 release point. Dominguez sits in the low 90s with his fastball, but his slider has an average spin rate of 2621 and is a plus offering and had a 45 whiff % in Dunedin. His changeup also generates a ton of whiff with late vertical break and misses plenty of bats.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 45
Changeup: 55
Slider: 60
Control: 40
Overall: 35
#47 C Luis Meza:
What the scouts say (MLB Pipeline) “Meza is a strong defender with high baseball IQ. His frame will allow him to add more muscle and to hit for more power.
MLB Pipeline grades:
Hit:50
Power: 50
Run: 45
Arm: 50
Field: 50
Overall: 40
#48 INF Rafael Lantigua:
Lantigua has a small, muscular frame with little projection. He has quick bat speed which allows him to hit the ball anywhere in the zone and allows him to hit the occasional home run. Lantigua hits his fair share of ground balls, but is a quick runner which allows him to beat them out. His base running decisions are questionable, and he has the ceiling of a utility player at the major league level.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Hit: 50
Power: 40
Run: 45
Arm: 50
Field: 50
Overall: 35
#49 RHP Yondrei Rojas:
Muscular build with broad shoulders, Rojas still has projectability which could increase his velocity. His sweeping slider is an average pitch which could become a plus pitch. His changeup is a plus pitch with nasty glove-side fade, while his fastball is also a plus pitch. As he gets older, he’ll have more experience with pitch sequencing which could help generate more whiffs.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 50
Changeup: 45
Slider: 45
Control: 40
Overall: 35
#50 RHP T.J Brock:
Brock has long, muscular legs, with broad shoulders. He pitches from the stretch and has an overhand release slot. He’s a fastball/slider guy, with a fastball (two-seamer and four-seamer) that reaches triple digits and a gyro slider that misses plenty of bats. It’s likely he starts the 2023 season with the High-A Vancouver Canadians, but he could quickly rise up the minor leagues due to his makeup.
Blue Jays Nation’s Grades:
Fastball: 60
Slider: 55
Control: 40
Overall: 35
The next update:
Now, you may be curious when the next update will take place. The answer to that will be after the 2023 draft, or potentially after the 2023 trade deadline.
I hope you enjoyed reading the series, as I put a ton of effort into the 31 articles (even this one!)
As always, you can follow me on Twitter and Instagram @Brennan_L_D.
Recent articles from Ryley Delaney
- Minor League Report: Orelvis Martinez hit his fifth home run of the series in a Bisons win, Vancouver lost a close one, and more!
- Instant Reaction: The Blue Jays once again dropped the final game of a series, losing 6-3 to the Padres
- Pitching prospect Landen Maroudis left Dunedin’s game on Sunday due to an apparent injury
