All tied up courtesy of this solo home run from Jonatan Clase
Getting to know all the prospects the Blue Jays acquired ahead of the trade deadline
Photo credit: © Stan Szeto - USA Today
Jul 31, 2024, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 30, 2024, 23:22 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays were incredibly active leading up to Tuesday’s 6:00 PM ET trade deadline.
In this article, we’ll look at the 13 prospects the Blue Jays acquired, as well as Ryan Yarbrough, who is not a prospect but has cooked the Blue Jays when pitching against them.
We’ll start in order, from the Yimi García trade all the way to the Kevin Kiermaier trade. For a deeper dive, you can click the player names to read their individual “getting to know” article.
Let’s dig in!
Jonatan Clase
Jonatan Clase was the first top 30 prospect the Blue Jays acquired from another system, as they traded Yimi García to the Seattle Mariners for him and catcher Jacob Sharp.
The 22-year-old slashed .274/.373/.483 with 10 home runs in 280 plate appearances in Triple-A, before earning a promotion to the Mariners where he slashed .195/.233/.220 in 43 plate appearances.
Clase has a nice blend of speed, power, and defence. As you probably know, the Blue Jays are solid at developing players’ hit tools, so Clase could be a real steal. Clase ranked as the Jays’ eighth-best prospect following the trade according to MLB Pipeline.
Jacob Sharp
Jacob Sharp did not rank on the Seattle Mariners’ top 30 list, but he is an interesting prospect. Standing at 5’7”, he’s slashing .255/.339/.435 with six home runs in 191 games with the Mariners’ High-A affiliate, along with a 9.4 BB% and a 9.9 K%.
Here's a Jacob Sharp home run from late April.
Does his stature, ability to avoid strikeouts, and sneaky pop remind you of anyone? Perhaps the Blue Jays’ primary catcher, Alejandro Kirk?
Josh Rivera
One of the more shocking trades leading up to the deadline is when the Blue Jays traded Nate Pearson, formerly the eighth-best prospect in baseball, to the Chicago Cubs for Josh Rivera and Yohendrick Piñango.
Starting with Rivera, He was great in High-A but has struggled since hitting Double-A, slashing .169/.277/.260 with four home runs in 253 plate appearances.
2023 3rd round draft pick Josh Rivera hits his first High-A home run (a 2 run @hoosierlottery HR) to give the #SBCubs a 4-0 lead! #Cubs 428ft / 104 mph off the bat
Rivera ranked as the Cubs’ 23rd-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline during their preseason rankings. He’s a glove-first shortstop with improved power in recent seasons. However, after briefly ranking at the bottom of the Blue Jays’ top 30 list, he fell off after future acquisitions.
Yohendrick Piñango
Yohendrick Piñango spent parts of four seasons with the Cubs’ High-A team, and slashed .340/.451/.610 with five homers in 122 plate appearances before a call-up to Double-A. There, the 22-year-old is slashing .223/.316/.345 with four home runs in 225 plate appearances.
Piñango ranked as the Cubs’ 29th-best prospect heading into the season according to MLB Pipeline, noting he has great bat-to-ball skills with a solid approach. He’s profiled as a fourth outfielder, the power surge will help his stock. Post-trade, Piñango ranks as Toronto’s 26th-best prospect.
Cutter Coffey
The Blue Jays acquired three prospects when they sent catcher Danny Jansen to the Boston Red Sox: Cutter Coffey, Eddinson Paulino, and Gilberto Batista.
Starting with the former, Coffey was drafted in the 2022 draft and had a power surge this season in High-A, as he’s slashing .238/.321/.463 with 14 home runs in 271 plate appearances for a 118 wRC+. Moreover, he walked 10.3% of the time while striking out 24% of the time.
Cutter Coffey solo shot. The 14th home run of the season for the Boston Red Sox prospect in High-A.
Coffey didn’t rank on MLB Pipeline’s top 30 for Boston prior to the trade but slotted in as Toronto’s 28th-best prospect after the trade. They note his above-average power, strong arm, and solid run tool, but his fringy hit tool, which could be a problem in the future as he climbs the minor league ladder.
Eddinson Paulino
The Jays acquired infielder Eddinson Paulino in the Danny Jansen trade, and he’s an intriguing prospect.
With Boston’s High-A team in 2024, he slashed .257/.338/.420 with 12 home runs in 500 plate appearances, along with a 10 BB% and a 22.6 K%. Upon his promotion to Double-A, he’s slashing .263/.349/.391 with three home runs in 278 plate appearances.
Eddison Paulino's 2-run triple ties the game in the third.
Post-trade, the 22-year-old ranked as the Blue Jays’ 20th-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, with the site noting that he could hit for average in the future, but will need to add on muscle to hit for power. He’s not quick on the bases, but smart, and can play shortstop, third base, second base, and even some centre field.
Gilberto Batista
One of just two pitching prospects the Jays acquired at the trade deadline, 19-year-old righty Gilberto Batista was the final piece in the Danny Jansen trade.
In 2023, he posted a 3.54 ERA and a 3.02 FIP in 40.2 innings pitched in the Dominican Summer League, with a 33.5 K% and a 5 BB%. However, his numbers too a hit in the Florida Complex League in 2024, as he had a 3.92 ERA and a 3.48 FIP in 20.2 innings pitched, with a 24.2 K% and a worrisome 13.7 K%.
Batista has a four-pitch mix, a fastball that sits 92-94, a slider that sits in the mid-80s, a cutter that sits in the high-80s, and a changeup that sits in the mid-80s. The cutter and slider are similar, but there’s variation in the pitches.
RJ Schreck
SOMEBODY ONCE TOLD ME that the Toronto Blue Jays sent Justin Turner and some cash to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for RJ Schreck. The 24-year-old is one of numerous new Jays’ prospects with an 80-grade name.
Schrek was selected in the ninth round of the 2023 draft and tore up High-A this season, slashing .261/.401/.464 with 12 home runs in 344 plate appearances. However, he’s struggled in Double-A, where he’s slashed .143/.294/.250 with no home runs in 34 plate appearances. It’s worth noting that he’s only played two games at home.
RJ SCHRECK BREAKS THE TIE! FROGS LEAD 4-1!
Post-trade, Schreck ranked as the Blue Jays’ 29th-best prospect. He has an advanced approach at the plate and does a good job of putting the ball in play. The 24-year-old also has some pop in his bat but is a slow base runner and will be stuck in left field or even first base.
Jake Bloss
Every seven years at the trade deadline, Ross Atkins decides to fleece the Houston Astros. Prior to the 2017 trade deadline, he acquired Teoscar Hernández and Nori Aoki for Francisco Liriano. Somehow, he made an even better trade on Monday, moving rental starter Yusei Kikuchi for top prospects Jake Bloss, Will Wagner, and Joey Loperfido.
Starting with Bloss, the only other pitching prospect the Jays acquired, the 23-year-old was selected in the third round of the 2023 draft, and has already made the big leagues. Between High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, Bloss had a 1.64 ERA and a 3.18 FIP, along with a 25.6 K% and an 8.5 BB% in 66 innings pitched. His three big league starts haven’t gone great, but what a trade.
First Major League strikeout for Bloss.
Post-trade, Bloss ranked as the Blue Jays’ third-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. He sits in the low-90s with the fastball but can touch 97 mph, while featuring a good curveball and slider, and a fringy curveball. Good command, good trade.
Will Wagner
The Blue Jays like their utility players with great hit tools, and Will Wagner is essentially Spencer Horwitz, but with a different name.
Wagner was selected in the 18th round of the 2021 draft and was a fast riser in the Houston Astros system. This past season with their Triple-A team, the 26-year-old slashed .307/.424/.429 with five home runs in 324 plate appearances, along with a 16.7 BB% and a 10.2 K%. He plays third base and second base.
First Triple-A SMASH for Will Wagner. 💪
After the trade, Wagner ranked as the Blue Jays’ 21st-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. He has a great approach at the plate, gets on base, and has a little bit of pop, but hits too many ground balls. The Astros played him at first prior to the trade.
Joey Loperfido
The last prospect the Blue Jays acquired in the Yusei Kikuchi deal saw them land big-league outfielder, Joey Loperfido.
In Triple-A, the 25-year-old slashed .272/.365/.568 with 13 home runs in 189 plate appearances, along with an 11.1 BB% and a 28 K% for a 121 wRC+. In the big leagues, he’s slashing .236/.299/.358 with two home runs in 118 plate appearances.
How do we put into words Joey Loperfido’s performance tonight? Masterful. His third home run of the game is a GRAND one!
Loperfido graduated from MLB Pipeline’s top prospect list but ranked as the Astros’ fifth-best prospect heading into the season (before 13 home runs in 189 plate appearances). Baseball America’s midseason update had him fifth for the Astros.
Jay Harry
Moving to Tuesday, the Toronto Blue Jays traded rental reliever Trevor Richards in exchange for Jay Harry. Richards had his struggles in the month of July, knocking down his value significantly.
Harry was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, and slashed .214/.306/.349 with eight home runs in 340 plate appearances with Minnesota’s High-A team. Moreover, he had an 8.8 BB% and a 19.1 K% prior to the trade.
6th round pick Jay Harry had himself a day to remember going 4-4 with a HR, a double, 4 RBI, and 2 runs scored in the @MightyMussels win 💥 Through 19 games at Single-A, Harry is slashing .347/.442/.472 with a .914 OPS and a 11.6% BB rate to a 4.7 K%‼️ #MNTwins
Despite his numbers, Harry is a hit-over-power type of prospect, but there’s some pop in his bat and he avoids striking out. He plays all over the dirt, at second base, shortstop, and third base.
Charles McAdoo
The last prospect the Blue Jays acquired at the 2024 trade deadline was Charles McAdoo, as they moved Isiah Kiner-Falefa to the Pittsburgh Pirates for the third baseman/outfielder.
Selected in the 13th round of the 2023 draft, McAdoo has been terrific this season between High-A and Double-A. In High-A, the 22-year-old slashed .336/.415/.561 with nine home runs in 258 plate appearances. In Double-A, he was slashing .269/.347/.490 with five home runs in 118 plate appearances.
Charles says goodbye to that baseball!
Prior to the trade, he ranked as the Pirates’ 29th-best prospect but was set to rank in the top 15 for their midseason update. Moreover, Baseball America had him ranked 12th in their midseason update. He has a good feel for hitting and can do damage, especially on velocity. The 22-year-old features a good approach at the plate doesn’t chase, and will likely stay at third base.
Ryan Yarbrough
The last player the Blue Jays acquired at the 2024 trade deadline isn’t a prospect, but a “Getting to Know Ryan Yarbrough” article wasn’t written, so let’s give him some flowers here. He was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for centre fielder, Kevin Kiermaier.
Yarbrough has been in the league since 2018, starting his career with the Tampa Bay Rays. His career-best year was during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, where he posted a 3.56 ERA and a 3.80 FIP in 55.2 innings pitched. The following season, he had a 5.11 ERA and a 4.45 FIP in 155 innings pitched, accumulating a 1.3 fWAR.
This season with the Dodgers, Yarbrough had a 3.74 ERA and a 5.16 FIP in 67.1 innings pitched, along with a 13.9 K% and an 8.9 BB%. His acquisition was likely so the Blue Jays didn’t have to hold back any money on Kiermaier.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.