This spring marks the fourth year in which Canadian prospect Damiano Palmegiani has spent time in Florida with the Blue Jays, and it might be his most pivotal one yet. After spending the bulk of the last two years in triple-A Buffalo, the slugging corner infielder is knocking on the door of the big leagues.

Palmegiani was a 14th round pick in 2021 by Toronto out of the College of Southern Nevada, the second time the club has drafted him. The Surrey, B.C. native has steadily made his way through the club’s minor league affiliates, appearing on Blue Jays’ top prospect lists along the way. One of his more memorable professional experiences came back in 2022, where he got the chance to play close to home for the high-A Vancouver Canadians.

“It was definitely an experience I still reminisce on,” Palmegiani said, speaking with Blue Jays Nation. “I’m never gonna forget it. I definitely would think to myself as a kid when I was watching those games that it’s something I would dream of doing one day, and it’s crazy because a lot of things have to fall in place. Not only do you have to play well enough to get drafted, but it has to be the Blue Jays. So I got very lucky that I got to experience that and I’m super grateful for it. And my parents didn’t miss a game.”

After the 2022 season, Palmegiani got the chance to participate in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) for Canada, where he got the opportunity to hobnob with major league veterans along with players that he had played with at various showcases and stops throughout his professional career.

“It was an incredible experience. Being on the team with guys that I have played with before, who are really good friends of mine. And also with guys who I’ve never met before who have had incredible careers like Freddie Freeman, Tyler O’Neill and John Axford,” Palmegiani explains. “I do think we are a very, very competitive country. We were then, and I do think we’re even more competitive now. Maybe [for the 2026 WBC] we can get some of the pieces that we were missing that couldn’t make it that year.”

Following the WBC, Palmegiani had a breakout 2023 season, producing an .842 OPS with 23 home runs across 128 games split between double-A New Hampshire and Buffalo. After the season, his numbers were even better in the Arizona Fall League, bopping six home runs across 22 games while producing the 11th best OPS (.942) in the league. He even participated in the AFL Home Run Derby, finishing second.

After impressing in 20 games in Buffalo in 2023, the Venezuelan-born, Canadian-raised ballplayer returned to the Bisons to open the 2024 season. He ended up staying in triple-A all season long, struggling to duplicate his numbers from the previous season. He still hit 19 home runs, but his contact rate suffered en route to a .210/.311/.381 slash line across 123 games. As he explains, the advanced pitching acumen at the highest minor league level presented a challenge throughout a full season.

“Pitchers attack your weaknesses until you prove that you can handle them and then maybe they find something else,” said Palmegiani. “So it was a long season of that and trying to understand myself and then at the end of the day, maybe you look up and it’s not exactly what you want or how you anticipated it to go. The beauty of it is that you have a very clear image of what it is you need to improve on and you have a whole off-season to do it. Sometimes you have to take a little step back to take a huge step forward.”

Blue Jays Nation’s 12th ranked Canadian prospect knows what he needs to do this spring to prepare for the upcoming season. Although we as fans are bound to over or under react to Spring Training statistics over the next few weeks, Palmegiani knows that his progression as a player goes well beyond the box score.

“I think sometimes when I was younger, I’d get pretty caught up in spring training performances and how I’m looking and stuff like that,” Palmegiani explains. “And while you can argue whether that’s important or not, what truly matters from that first game of the year to the last is whether you’re ready to go. How fresh are you? I want to be ready and a complete ballplayer in every aspect – baserunning, defense, obviously hitting and just everything.”

After gaining experience at three different spots in 2024, it remains to be seen which position the 25-year-old will ultimately settle into defensively. He played almost the same amount of games at third base as he did at first (45 compared to 44), while also logging 19 appearances in left field. With several other prospects vying for limited major league opportunities this spring, the ability to hold his own at a variety of positions could be a selling point for Palmegiani going forward.

“The corners are still probably the majority of the work I’m getting put in” explained Palmegiani. “The ability to be able to actually play both first and third base instead of just being stuck at one is important. At the end of the day, what the team needs is all that matters, so you better be good wherever. But I do have a lot of fun playing left field. I’ve been keeping my reps going there. I think versatility is super important.”

Although he’s likely to start the year back in Buffalo, some solid play to open the year could put him on the brink of a major league call-up should a roster spot open up. When asked what his main focus is this spring, Palmegiani’s answer makes it clear that his makeup and drive should position him to keep moving forward as a ballplayer.

“The things that are my benchmarks are, was I able to control the zone? Was I able to produce quality contact to all sides of the field depending on the pitch? Was I a complete ball player? Was I able to be a good base runner, especially on days where I’m not hitting well? Was I able to play a good steady defense? Did I care? Did I show up early? Did I get my work in? Those are all things that you can 100% control and they take zero talent to do.”

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