With a 13-3 drubbing of the Detroit Tigers this afternoon, the Blue Jays are now 6-3-1 this spring and tied for the best record in the Grapefruit League.
As meaningless as Spring Training victories are, several young players have flashed some real potential down in Florida. Some of the prospects are fighting for major league jobs while others are simply making a good impression before starting the year in the minors.
Here are three prospects that have impressed through the first third of exhibition play.
Alan Roden – OF
All spring training stats are of the sample size variety, but it’s easy to get excited about what Alan Roden has done so far.
He has collected three hits (two doubles) while showing off the patient approach (four walks), which allowed him to dominate International League pitching last season. After starting the year with double-A New Hampshire, the 25-year old outfielder slashed .314/.406/.510 with triple-A Buffalo. His 12.2% walk rate and miniscule 14.3% strikeout rate give him a great chance to hit near the top of the Blue Jays lineup before too long. The five-foot-eleven start to the spring is even more impressive considering general manager Ross Atkins singled him out before spring training games got under way as a player to watch.
Although it may not be obvious where he fits on the Opening Day roster, it may not be long before the Middleton, Wisconsin native forces his way into the Blue Jays starting lineup.
2 Doubles ✅
1 Highlight Catch ✅
Big day for Alan Roden fans 😉 pic.twitter.com/NnkGaKoguC
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) February 23, 2025
Steward Berroa – OF
The 25-year-old has got off to a torrid start to his spring, racking up six hits (two doubles, one home run) in just 13 at bats.
The five-foot-nine outfielder failed to impress with his offensive numbers in a 28-game late-season debut in Toronto last year, but his prior production at triple-A Buffalo was solid. He slashed .281/.371/.454 in 79 games, including 10 home runs and 34 stolen bases. His skillset appears perfectly tailored for a fourth outfielder role in the big leagues, a roster spot that he may need to beat out the likes of Jonatan Clase and Myles Straw for over the next few weeks. The Dominican outfielder has been lauded as a great clubhouse guy throughout his time as a pro, having a personality that could mesh well with the mix of veteran and young players currently on the roster.
Steward Berroa – Toronto Blue Jays (1)* pic.twitter.com/22PgXJoZVo
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) March 2, 2025
Anders Tolhurst, Relief Pitcher
Few would have expected reliever Anders Tolhurst to have thrown the third most innings out of any Blue Jays pitcher so far this spring, behind starters Max Scherzer and José Berríos.
The San Diego, California native holds a 3.60 ERA with eight strikeouts in his five complete innings, securing a save in the process. The six-foot-four right hander battled injury issues in 2022 and 2023, before finally pitching a complete season in 2024. He dominated to the tune of a 1.73 ERA in 21 games at high-A Vancouver before struggling with the long ball in double-A, leading to a 4.54 ERA.
The 2019, 23rd rounder has legitimate strikeout stuff, holding an 11.3 K/9 mark last season. With several new bullpen acquisitions this offseason, it’s probably unlikely that the 25-year-old will break camp with the Jays. However, we’ll probably see him debut this summer if he continues to pitch well into the season.