Blue Jays 40-man Roster Review: Jonatan Clase performed well in his short stint with the team
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Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jan 27, 2025, 09:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 27, 2025, 06:19 EST
Jonatan Clase is one of the most exciting prospects in the Blue Jays organization.
This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual 40-man Roster Review, where we look at the players on the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster. We’ll look at how the player performed in 2024, his season projections for the 2025 season, and any storylines heading into this coming season. In this article, we’ll look at Jonatan Clase.
Clase signed as an international free agent during the 2018 period with the Seattle Mariners, making his debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2019 where he slashed .300/.434/.444 with two home runs in 286 plate appearances. Clase missed most of the 2021 season due to injury but played well in 2022 in Single-A where he slashed .267/.373/.463 with 13 home runs in 499 plate appearances.
The outfielder’s breakout was in 2023 though, as he slashed .242/.353/.449 with 20 home runs in 595 plate appearances between High-A and Double-A for a 113 wRC+. Clase performed well in Triple-A with the Mariners organization in 2024, slashing .274/.373/.483 with 10 home runs in 280 plate appearances. However, he struggled in the big leagues with the Mariners, slashing .195/.233/.220 with no home runs in 43 plate appearances for a 34 wRC+.
Before the 2024 trade deadline, he was traded along with Jacob Sharp to the Blue Jays for reliever Yimi García. With the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, Clase slashed .244/.288/.363 with two home runs in 146 plate appearances. However, he found success with the Blue Jays in a late-season call-up, hitting his first career home run while slashing .350/.435/.550 in 23 plate appearances.
Clase isn’t projected to hit well next season. Fangraphs’ Steamer has him slashing .220/.290/.353 with one home run in 32 plate appearances for an 85 wRC+. Both OOPSY and ATC have him posting a similar slash line, although ATC has him getting 113 plate appearances while OOPSY only has him getting 35 plate appearances.
There’ll be a chance for Clase to earn plate appearances out of Spring Training, as Daulton Varsho may not make the Opening Day roster due to the shoulder surgery he received in September. With a nice blend of speed, power, and solid defence, Clase is one of the numerous in-house options for the Blue Jays at centre field while Varsho is on the Injured List.

As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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