As the 2024 Arizona Fall League gets underway, one Toronto Blue Jays prospect will search for better days after a disappointing start to his tenure with the Scottsdale Scorpions on Thursday.

Left-hander Kendry Rojas, the franchise’s No. 11 top prospect per MLB Pipeline, endured a rough inning of work during his first start of the fall, allowing two runs (both earned) on four hits and a walk despite striking out a pair. He needed 32 pitches to work through the opening frame, throwing 21 for strikes.

Rojas is one of eight Blue Jays prospects attending this year’s AFL, joined by fellow pitchers T.J. Brock, Lazaro Estrada, Johnathan Lavallee and Ryan Jennings and infielders Adrian Pinto, Eddinson Paulino and Peyton Williams.

Brock also made his AFL debut Thursday, pitching a scoreless inning of relief in the seventh inning, retiring two of his five batters faced via strikeout while surrendering a single and walk. But the damage was already done at that point, as the Scorpions lost 12-5 to the Surprise Saguaros.

Last season, Rojas enjoyed a breakout performance at single-A Dunedin, posting a 3.75 ERA and 4.34 FIP with 82 punchouts across 20 games (15 starts) with the minor-league Blue Jays. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury cost the young lefty over two months this year, limiting him to 62.2 innings across three levels (Complex League, single-A, high-A).

The 21-year-old hurler, who’ll turn 22 next month, only made a pair of starts with the Vancouver Canadians before landing on the IL last April. Following two rehab outings, he returned for the final two months to help lead his club to a third consecutive Northwest League playoff berth, recording a sparkling 2.16 ERA and 2.99 FIP with 56 strikeouts over his final nine starts.

With a strong finish to his fourth professional campaign, Rojas — who’s Rule 5-eligible after next season — could advance to double-A New Hampshire out of spring training in 2025.