The Toronto Blue Jays sent eight prospects to the Arizona Fall League this winter, with three position players and five pitchers suiting up for the Scottsdale Scorpions. From a pitching standpoint, the Jays sent RHP Ryan Jennings, RHP T.J. Brock, RHP Jonathan Lavallee, RHP Lazaro Estrada, and LHP Kendrys Rojas, with the southpaw ranked at #11 on the Blue Jays top prospect list heading into the winter months.

The Scorpions currently sit second last in the standings with a 13-14 record but the Jays prospects have fared well on their own, with Estrada, 1B Peyton Williams, and 2B/OF Adrian Pinto being selected to the AFL All-Star Game this past weekend. While Estrada was the only Toronto prospect to head to the contest, there has been no shortage of impressive outings from the Jays staff with Scottsdale so far.

Estrada has made four appearances for the Scorpions (one start) and through 11 2/3 innings, the Cuban product has allowed seven hits and five earned runs to the tune of a 3.86 ERA and a 0.943 WHIP. Estrada has allowed three home runs so his HR/9 is a bit elevated (2.3) but his command has been solid (3.1 BB/9) and he has been a strikeout machine – posting a 14.7 K/9.

Working out of the bullpen, Ryan Jennings has appeared in eight games (nine innings) and has not yet allowed an earned run while walking three batters. He has just five hits on his record and has held opponents to a .167 average while striking out 13 and racking up one save against the Salt River Rafters.

Not to be outdone, 25-year-old T.J. Brock has also not allowed an earned run through seven innings and seven relief appearances but has just two hits on his stat line.

Boasting a 0.71 WHIP, Brock also has a save under his belt and has been one of the best relievers on the Scorpions squad – which is surprising to see him left off the AFL All-Star roster.

Joining the group is right-hander Johnathan Lavallee, who split the 2024 season between high-A Vancouver and double-A New Hampshire. He also owns an impressive ERA mark with Scottsdale (1.93) but has found himself in some trickier situations compared to Jennings and Brock.

The right-hander has allowed 10 hits and four runs (two earned) during his 9 1/3 innings of work but has shown an impressive command of the strike zone, with zero walks allowed while striking out eight batters. He owns a 1.071 WHIP and a 7.7 K/9 with the Scorpions and has been impressive so far this winter.

Ironically, the one struggling the most of the Blue Jays pitchers in Arizona is the highest-ranked prospect – Kendry Rojas.

The southpaw owns a 6.92 ERA through five appearances (four starts) and has allowed 15 hits and 10 earned runs across 13 innings of work. He has struggled mightily with his command – which is off the course from the 2.0 BB/9 he posted in 2024 across three levels – and his strikeout numbers have dipped to 6.9 K/9 while struggling to a 1.615 WHIP.

Rojas got off to a rocky start – allowing two runs through one inning in his first start of the AFL – and followed that with three more runs in his second outing through three innings. His third start was a step in the right direction – three innings with only two hits and zero runs – but his last start saw him surrender four runs across three innings. He does have one bulk relief outing under his belt, where he followed the starter and went three innings with just two hits and one earned run – but his three home runs allowed so far are tied for the team-high.