The Blue Jays top signing from the 2021 International Free Agency class will need to take a big step soon.

This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual pre-season list, in which I’ll take a look at the top 50 prospects in the organization. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publications’ scouting reports if available.
Let’s take a look at Manuel Beltre.
<h2>Getting to know Manuel Beltre…</h2>
Position: Shortstop
Bats: Right
Born: June 9, 2004
Acquired: 2021 International Free Agency
2023 Team: Single-A Dunedin
Previous Ranking: 24
The Blue Jays signed the shortstop at the start of the 2021 International Free Agency for a signing bonus of $2.35 million. In his first season in the Jays organization, he slashed .225/.391/.346 with two homers in 238 plate appearances with the Dominican Summer League team. Moreover, he had a higher BB% (17.6%) than K% (13.9%).
Beltre&#8217;s 2022 season was a bit of a struggle, as he slashed .234/.351/.310 with a homer in 206 plate appearances in 206 plate appearances once he moved Stateside to play for the Florida League Complex Blue Jays. Moreover, Beltre’s BB% decreased to 10.7%, while his K% increased to 19.9%, giving him a 96 wRC+.
There were some positives from the 2022 season, as he had 22 plate appearances with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays, where he hit a homer and had eight hits for a 178 wRC+.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Here&#39;s Manuel Beltre (<a href="https://twitter.com/manuel_beltre09?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@manuel_beltre09</a>)&#39;s homer from yesterday!
His second of the season.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NextLevel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NextLevel</a> <a href="https://t.co/By8xvRcFik">pic.twitter.com/By8xvRcFik</a>
&mdash; Brennan qualifying offer Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1668364433146499074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Beltre was one of the youngest players in the Florida State League to start the 2023 season, along with then Blue Jay Sammy Hernandez. Beltre held his own as a youngster in Single-A, slashing .231/.335/.340 with a career-high six homers in 431 plate appearances for a 91 wRC+. Moreover, his BB% sat at 11.1%, while his K% hovered around what it did last season, 19.3%.
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/prospects/bluejays/manuel-beltre-694202">According to his 2023 MLB Pipeline report</a> where he ranked 28th, Beltre has a tenacious work ethic and is a leader. The bat is a bit light when it comes to power, but he may have a similar trajectory to Leo Jimenez who finally started to hit for power (still not a lot) in his age 21 season. Beltre’s going to have to hit for average and play good defence, and he’s already got the latter down.
Beltre ranked as Scott Mitchell’s 43rd-best prospect in the Jays organization in his pre-season ranking. The 19-year-old (remember he’s still very young), is off Fangraphs’ Top 31 list and Baseball America’s Top 30 list.
The 2024 season will be a big one for Beltre, as he either needs to hit for more power or average when he repeats the Single-A level. Having more experience and being another year old could certainly help him do at least one of those things.
<h2>In case you missed it…</h2>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-the-honourable-mentions">Blue Jays Nation&#8217;s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown: The honourable mentions</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-50-luis-torres">Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 50: Luis Torres</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-49-t-j-brock">Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 49: T.J. Brock</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-48-will-robertson">Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 48: Will Robertson</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jay-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-47-irv-carter">Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 47: Irv Carter</a>
<a href="https://www.bluejaysnation.com/2024/01/24/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-46-trent-palmer">Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown- No. 46: Trent Palmer</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-45-fernando-perez">Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 45: Fernando Pérez</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-44-zach-britton">Blue Jays Nation&#8217;s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 44: Zach Britton</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-43-david-guzman">Blue Jays Nation&#8217;s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 43: David Guzmán</a>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-42-devonte-brown">Blue Jays Nation&#8217;s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown &#8211; No. 42: Devonte Brown</a>
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As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.
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<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold" style="text-align: center"><a class="text-accent" href="https://gml-grp.com/C.ashx?btag=a_24038b_2065c_&amp;affid=7966&amp;siteid=24038&amp;adid=2065&amp;c=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE PRESENTED BY BETANO</a></h2>
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The Blue Jays top signing from the 2021 International Free Agency class will need to take a big step soon.



This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual pre-season list, in which I’ll take a look at the top 50 prospects in the organization. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publications’ scouting reports if available.

Let’s take a look at Manuel Beltre.
<h2>Getting to know Manuel Beltre…</h2>
Position: Shortstop

Bats: Right

Born: June 9, 2004

Acquired: 2021 International Free Agency

2023 Team: Single-A Dunedin

Previous Ranking: 24

The Blue Jays signed the shortstop at the start of the 2021 International Free Agency for a signing bonus of $2.35 million. In his first season in the Jays organization, he slashed .225/.391/.346 with two homers in 238 plate appearances with the Dominican Summer League team. Moreover, he had a higher BB% (17.6%) than K% (13.9%).

Beltre's 2022 season was a bit of a struggle, as he slashed .234/.351/.310 with a homer in 206 plate appearances in 206 plate appearances once he moved Stateside to play for the Florida League Complex Blue Jays. Moreover, Beltre’s BB% decreased to 10.7%, while his K% increased to 19.9%, giving him a 96 wRC+.

There were some positives from the 2022 season, as he had 22 plate appearances with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays, where he hit a homer and had eight hits for a 178 wRC+.

https://twitter.com/Brennan_L_D/status/1668364433146499074

Beltre was one of the youngest players in the Florida State League to start the 2023 season, along with then Blue Jay Sammy Hernandez. Beltre held his own as a youngster in Single-A, slashing .231/.335/.340 with a career-high six homers in 431 plate appearances for a 91 wRC+. Moreover, his BB% sat at 11.1%, while his K% hovered around what it did last season, 19.3%.

<a href="https://www.mlb.com/prospects/bluejays/manuel-beltre-694202">According to his 2023 MLB Pipeline report</a> where he ranked 28th, Beltre has a tenacious work ethic and is a leader. The bat is a bit light when it comes to power, but he may have a similar trajectory to Leo Jimenez who finally started to hit for power (still not a lot) in his age 21 season. Beltre’s going to have to hit for average and play good defence, and he’s already got the latter down.

Beltre ranked as Scott Mitchell’s 43rd-best prospect in the Jays organization in his pre-season ranking. The 19-year-old (remember he’s still very young), is off Fangraphs’ Top 31 list and Baseball America’s Top 30 list.

The 2024 season will be a big one for Beltre, as he either needs to hit for more power or average when he repeats the Single-A level. Having more experience and being another year old could certainly help him do at least one of those things.
<h2>In case you missed it…</h2>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-the-honourable-mentions">Blue Jays Nation's Pre-Season Prospect Countdown: The honourable mentions</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-50-luis-torres">Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 50: Luis Torres</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-49-t-j-brock">Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 49: T.J. Brock</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-48-will-robertson">Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 48: Will Robertson</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jay-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-47-irv-carter">Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 47: Irv Carter</a>

<a href="https://www.bluejaysnation.com/2024/01/24/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-46-trent-palmer">Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown- No. 46: Trent Palmer</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-45-fernando-perez">Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 45: Fernando Pérez</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-44-zach-britton">Blue Jays Nation's Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 44: Zach Britton</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-43-david-guzman">Blue Jays Nation's Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 43: David Guzmán</a>

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-nations-pre-season-prospect-countdown-no-42-devonte-brown">Blue Jays Nation's Pre-Season Prospect Countdown - No. 42: Devonte Brown</a>

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As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.

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<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold" style="text-align: center"><a class="text-accent" href="https://gml-grp.com/C.ashx?btag=a_24038b_2065c_&amp;affid=7966&amp;siteid=24038&amp;adid=2065&amp;c=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE PRESENTED BY BETANO</a></h2>
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61491" src="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" />

Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown – No. 41: Manuel Beltre

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