At last year’s trade deadline, the Blue Jays’ front office sought some bullpen depth heading into the season’s last two months. They would later facilitate a deal with Kim Ng and the Miami Marlins, acquiring relievers Anthony Bass and Zach Pop in exchange for former first-rounder Jordan Groshans. The trade received mixed reviews from those who really valued the infielder and his depth in the organization, as the Magnolia, Texas product was noted for his ability at shortstop/third base and his plus bat for both contact and power.

An off-the-board pick for the Blue Jays #12 overall in the 2018 MLB Draft, Groshans was selected in the first round while his teammate Adam Kloffenstein was also drafted by the Jays two rounds later, with the front office utilizing the money saved on the righty-batter to overspend on signing Kloffenstein.

Groshans would spend parts of four seasons within the Jays Minor League system, making it to Triple-A Buffalo last season, authoring a .250/.348/.296 slash line with one home run to the tune of a .644 OPS.  While his 2019 campaign was limited to just 23 games due to an ankle injury, his best season came in 2021, where he amassed a .291 average with a .817 OPS through 278 at-bats in Double-A New Hampshire. Overall, Groshans dealt with numerous injuries and also the cancelled COVID-19 season that saw his bat struggle at times to go along with a blocked path to the big leagues as an infielder on the left side of the diamond.

Following the trade, Groshans would head down to Triple-A and join the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, spending the next month with the Marlins affiliate. Through 31 games, he posted a .301 batting average, going 34 for 113 in the batter’s box while also adding nine extra-base hits (the same amount he posted with Buffalo that season in half the amount of games) with a .814 OPS.

On September 14th, the Marlins would call up Groshans to the big league squad and he would finish the year with Miami, collecting 16 hits (.262 avg) with one home run and two RBIs. His first MLB home run made the headlines as well, as his brother Jaxx was unable to control his excitement and went for a run around the ballpark. Defensively, Groshans spent all 17 games with the Marlins at third base and committed just one error with a .981 fielding percentage.

Heading into the 2023 season, the Miami Marlins made a number of signings to shore up their infield, signing Jean Segura and Yuli Gurriel while also trading for Luis Arráez and Jacob Amaya. Groshans had a mixed spring, posting a .291 avg with a slightly less impressive .675 OPS but with the influx of MLB signings, the Texas product was optioned down to Triple-A to start the season and is currently still with Jacksonville.

Through 28 games, the Marlins’ #10 ranked prospect has struggled in the batter’s box late, registering just five doubles and zero home runs through 28 games to the tune of a .165 average and a .487 OPS. He currently owns a 23.9% strikeout rate with 17 walks and has nine RBIs on the season with just 23 total bases while splitting time between first and third base for the Jumbo Shrimp, where he has six combined errors so far in the year. He started the year strong but through his last 34 at-bats, he has just one hit compared to nine strikeouts while his slugging has fallen to .211.

Projection-wise, the reduced power is not what many were expecting for the Magnolia High School product, as the 6’3″ righty-batter has just three home runs through 125 games in Triple-A. He did see time at all four infield positions last season and scouts are predicting that he may be more fit for a utility role moving forward instead of taking over at third base or shortstop for the Marlins, especially with Jacob Berry also in the organization and working his way up the Minor League ladder.

For the Jays, Anthony Bass finished the 2022 season strong but has struggled in 2023, owning a 7.71 ERA through 11 relief appearances and allowing an earned run in seven of his outings this season. Pop cracked the Opening Day roster as one of the last roster additions given Mitch White started the year on the IL and the Brampton, Ontario product has been one of the most called-upon relievers for manager John Schneider. While he started the year strong, Pop has struggled with the long ball as of late, amassing a 9.00 ERA in his last seven games with six earned runs and home runs allowed in his last two appearances.