Blue Jays Nation’s Mid-Season Prospect Countdown – No. 28: Yohendrick Piñango

Photo credit: © Chloe Trofatter - South Bend Tribune/USA Today

Aug 28, 2024, 06:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 27, 2024, 23:54 EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays set themselves up nicely for their future at the 2024 trade deadline.

This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual Mid-Season top prospect list, where we’ll look at the 35 best prospects in the Blue Jays system. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publication’s scouting reports if available.

Let’s take a look at our 28th-best prospect, Yohendrick Piñango.

Getting to know Yohendrick Piñango…

Position: Outfield

Bats: Left

Born: May 7, 2002

Acquired: Trade with the Chicago Cubs

Previous ranking: Not ranked

The Chicago Cubs signed Yohendrick Piñango to signing bonus of $400,000 during the 2018 international free agency. The outfielder made his professional debut the season after, slashing .358/.427/.442 with no home runs in 274 plate appearances.

Starting the 2021 season in Single-A, Piñango slashed .272/.322/.370 with four home runs in 351 plate appearances, getting the call up to High-A towards the end of the season. There, he slashed .289/.343/.381 with one homer in 105 plate appearances.

Piñango spent part of the next three seasons in High-A. In 2022, he slashed .250/.297/.394 with 13 home runs in 495 plate appearances, along with a 6.1 BB% and a 17.8 K%, playing the entirety of the year at the level. The following season, the outfielder slashed .247/.317/.349 with six home runs in 439 plate appearances, along with a 9.1 BB% and a 16.4 K%. Again, the outfielder spent his entire season in High-A.

Minor League Baseball

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It's a Pinango Party! @Cubs prospect Yohendrick Pinango belts his fourth homer of the season for the @SBCubs on his 22nd birthday.

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2:34 AM · May 8, 2024

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Once again, Piñango started the year in High-A to begin the 2024 season, slashing .340/.451/.610 with five home runs in 122 plate appearances, along with a higher BB% (16.4%) than K% (12.3%). He finally earned a call-up to Double-A, where he slashed .223/.316/.345 with four home runs in 225 plate appearances, along with an 11.1 BB% and a 20.9 K%.

Prior to the 2024 trade deadline, he was traded along with prospect Josh Rivera to the Blue Jays in exchange for Nate Pearson. Since joining the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Piñango is slashing .242/.309/.339 with no home runs (six doubles) in 68 plate appearances, along with an 8.8 BB% and a 19.1 K%.

Chicago Cubs

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The #Cubs today acquired RHP Nate Pearson from the Toronto Blue Jays for INF Josh Rivera and OF Yohendrick Piñango. To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Jesús Tinoco has been designated for assignment.

7:03 PM · Jul 27, 2024

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Piñango ranks as MLB Pipeline’s 22nd-best Blue Jays prospect. He has great bat-to-ball skills and has high contact rates. Along with a better approach, Piñango is a solid hitter who can also post high exit velocities. Defensively, he plays in the corner outfield with a solid arm and solid speed. As of now, his ceiling is that of a fourth outfielder, but that could change if he adds more power.

Come December, the Blue Jays will have to make a decision if they want to add him to their 40-man roster, as Piñango is Rule 5 eligible. It seems unlikely that the Jays will add him or he’ll get picked up given he’s spent half a season in Double-A, but weirder things have happened. He’s a prospect worth watching in his first full season with Toronto, though.