Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown – No. 23: CJ Van Eyk

Photo credit:Vancouver Canadians

5 months ago

Today’s prospect missed all of the 2022 season, but returned in good form just the 2023 season.

This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual pre-season list, in which I’ll take a look at the top 50 prospects in the organization. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publications’ scouting reports if available.

Let’s take a look at CJ Van Eyk

Getting to know CJ Van Eyk…

Position: Starting Pitcher

Throws: Right

Born: September 15, 1998

Acquired: 2nd-round, 2020 draft (Blue Jays)

2023 Team: Double-A New Hampshire

Previous Ranking: 34

Van Eyk made his professional debut in the 2021 season with the High-A Vancouver Canadians, where he pitched 80.1 innings and had a 5.83 ERA and a 4.55 FIP. Despite the high totals, Van Eyk still managed to put up a 28.3 K%, with a rather high 11 BB%. Unfortunately, he didn’t finish the season as he required Tommy John surgery in the last month of the season.

After missing all of 2022, Van Eyk returned for several rehab stints with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays in 2023, posting a 3.86 ERA and a 4.50 FIP in 18.2 innings pitched. His K% sat at an impressive 30.1%, while his BB% dropped to 8.2%.

Towards the end of the season, Van Eyk reached the upper minors where he had a 4.15 ERA and a 5.81 FIP in 13 innings pitched with Double-A New Hampshire. It is worth noting that Van Eyk’s K% dropped to 11.7%, while his BB% jumped to 10%.

To give the 25-year-old more innings, the Blue Jays sent Van Eyk to the Arizona Fall League in 2023. With the Surprise Saguaros, Van Eyk had a 2.51 ERA in 14.1 innings pitched, along with a 23.3 K% and a 13.3 BB%. He started the Fall Stars game for the American League team.

Van Eyk has a three-pitch mix, a fastball that sits 92.5 mph, a mid-80s slider, and a low-80s curveball. In terms of generating whiffs, his curveball had a 32.3 whiff% with the Dunedin Blue Jays, while his slider had a 23.1 whiff% and the fastball a 16.2 whiff%.

The 25-year-old ranks on two publication’s lists, as Fangraphs has him as their 22nd-best Blue Jays prospect and Scott Mitchell has him as his 26th-best Blue Jays prospect. Both sites note that his curveball is his best pitch, and the slider is at worst, average. Fangraphs note that his fastball is inconsistent and there is some reliever risk.

Van Eyk’s 2024 season will go a long way in determining his future. He’ll have to pitch better against the more advanced batters in Double-A, where he’ll likely start his season. He has back-end-of-the-rotation potential, but may end up in the bullpen long-term.