Blue Jays’ top prospects Martinez, Tiedemann featured among Baseball America’s post-draft top 100 list

The Toronto Blue Jays’ prospect system isn’t rich with future all-stars. There is, however, still plenty of hype surrounding shortstop Orelvis Martinez and left-hander Ricky Tiedemann – ranked Nos. 4 and 1, respectively, per MLB Pipeline.

Both youngsters, enduring first halves that didn’t go as expected, were featured prominently amongst Baseball America’s post-draft updated top 100 prospect list, which dropped Friday morning.

Tiedemann, sidelined since early May due to biceps inflammation but is expected to return in roughly three weeks, placed No. 50 on the updated board, with Martinez ranking a bit lower at No. 67. Baseball America also credits the 21-year-old’s improved swing decisions, resulting in improved offensive results since May 1.

Martinez endured a brutal start to the 2023 campaign, hitting an abysmal .089/.159/.250 with just three home runs, 10 RBIs and a 5 wRC+ across his first 15 games at double-A New Hampshire. He also struggled to a 23.4 per cent strikeout rate, walking a measly 7.8 per cent of the time.

But thanks to his refined approach, the right-handed infielder has lowered his strikeout rate to 18.8 per cent while boosting his walk rate to 16.1 per cent over his previous 54 games heading into the All-Star break. That improved plate discipline has also earned him a .274/.397/.570 slash line, nine doubles, 14 home runs, a .296 ISO and a 158 wRC+ with the Fisher Cats.

The 5-foot-11 shortstop is expected to be rewarded for his impressive efforts shortly, with Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reporting he is expected to be promoted to triple-A Buffalo in the coming days. There, he will join fellow top infield prospects Addison Barger, Otto Lopez and Davis Schneider.

Martinez, added to Toronto’s 40-man roster last November, blasted a career-high 30 home runs and 76 RBIs with a .203/.286/.446 slash line and a 96 wRC+ in 96 games at double-A last season.