<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> are going to have to make a few tough decisions this off-season.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chief among them is protecting players from the Rule 5 draft. There are quite a few players of note who are Rule 5 eligible, and to be protected from the Rule 5 draft, they’ll have to be added to the 40-man roster.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this article, we’ll look at noteworthy prospects whom the Blue Jays may protect this off-season.</span></p>
<h2><b>Ricky Tiedemann</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once a top 100 prospect, Ricky Tiedemann has dealt with injuries the past three seasons and is <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-prospect-ricky-tiedemann-eyeing-late-2025-return-from-tommy-john-recovery">currently recovering from Tommy John surgery</a>. When he’s at his best, the left-handed starter sits in the mid-90s with his fastball and touches the upper-90s. He also features a devastating slider and a plus changeup, while his command can be a bit erratic.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thanks to his potential, there’s almost no chance that Tiedemann isn&#8217;t added to the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster</span></p>
<h2><b>Yohendrick Piñango</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Acquired before the 2024 trade deadline, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/under-the-radar-blue-jays-prospects-yohendrick-pinango">Yohendrick Piñango</a> is one of a handful of position players who have broken out in 2025. In Double-A, the outfielder slashed .298/.406/.522 with eight home runs in 192 plate appearances for a 169 wRC+. Since joining the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, he’s hovering around average with the bat in Triple-A, but has hit seven home runs.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Piñango is a top 30 Blue Jays’ prospect, so they may go out of their way to protect him.</span></p>
<h2><b>Victor Arias</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another top 30 prospect in the upper minors is Victor Arias. He hit the ground running in High-A, slashing .294/.381/.437 with five home runs in 318 plate appearances for a 127 wRC+. Although he started his tenure hot in Double-A, he has an 82 wRC+ with two home runs in over 150 plate appearances.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Arias has the potential to be a five-tool player, but his results in Double-A may be reason enough to leave him unprotected.</span></p>
<h2><b>Josh Kasevich</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Josh Kasevich has missed most of the 2025 season due to injury, only joining the Bisons in mid-August. He’s been a below-average hitter this season with the Bisons, but had a strong 2024 season and is good defensively at shortstop.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It seems unlikely that the Blue Jays will add him to the 40-man roster due to that injury, but he’s the type of player who may get claimed thanks to his strong hitting ability and defence.</span></p>
<h2><b>Riley Tirotta</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Teams passed over Riley Tirotta in the last Rule 5 draft, but that may not be the case this off-season. With the Buffalo Bisons, the 27-year-old is slashing .283/.373/.448 with 12 home runs in 407 plate appearances. While his strikeout rate is high, Tirotta can play multiple positions and is a good bat to have off the bench.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It seems plausible that the Blue Jays add Tirotta to the 40-man roster.</span></p>
<h2><b>Brandon Valenzuela</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Acquired before the 2025 trade deadline, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/brandon-valenzuela-ranks-toronto-blue-jays-nations-37th-best-prospect-2025-mid-season-update">Brandon Valenzuela</a> has the defensive ability to be the Blue Jays’ catcher of the future. While the bat is a little lacking (with some slight pop), he’s an excellent receiver and has a strong arm.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Depending on what the Blue Jays do with Tyler Heineman this off-season, the Blue Jays may look to add the 24-year-old. They may even add him anyway, as they only have Alejandro Kirk and Heineman on the 40-man roster.</span></p>
<h2><b>Edward Duran</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sticking with Rule 5 eligible catchers, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/edward-duran-ranks-toronto-blue-jays-nations-24th-best-prospect-2025-mid-season-update">Edward Duran is the Blue Jays’ top catching prospect in the system</a>. With the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays, he slashed .296/.378/.439 with five home runs in 291 plate appearances. After a tough start with the High-A Vancouver Canadians, he has played well over the past month or so.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although he’s shown to be solid with the bat this season, Duran’s calling card is his strong defensive abilities behind the plate. However, he’s only in High-A and will probably start next season there as well. It seems incredibly unlikely that he’ll be selected, much less protected.</span></p>
<h2><b>Yondrei Rojas</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/yondrei-rojas-ranks-toronto-blue-jays-nations-41st-best-prospect-2025-mid-season-update">Yondrei Rojas has become one of the Blue Jays’ best relief prospects</a>, authoring a 1.71 ERA and 2 FIP in 31.2 innings pitched. In High-A,  he had a 38.3 K% and 6.4 BB%, although his K% has dropped to 17.2% with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His fastball averages around the mid-90s, but has maxed out at 97 mph, a bit surprising given his 5’10”, 180 lbs stature. The 22-year-old also has a cutter, slider, and changeup. Come the off-season, Rojas will become eligible for the Rule 5 draft for the first time in his career, but it’s unlikely he’ll be protected.</span></p>
<h2><b>Other Rule 5 draft-eligible prospects</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are a few other notable players who are Rule 5 eligible but have a low likelihood of being protected and selected. Three of those players, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/ryan-jennings-ranks-toronto-blue-jays-nations-33rd-best-prospect-2025-mid-season-update">Ryan Jennings</a>, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/pat-gallagher-ranks-toronto-blue-jays-nations-47th-best-prospect-2025-mid-season-update">Pat Gallagher</a>, and T.J. Brock, were all selected in the 2022 draft. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jennings had a good start to his season in Double-A, but he hasn’t put up great numbers in Triple-A. Gallagher has pitched well in both High-A and Double-A, while Brock hasn’t pitched at all this season as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Trenton Wallace was selected in 2021 and has a 3.95 ERA and 4.68 FIP in 54.2 innings pitched, making 10 starts in 27 appearances for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He strikes out a lot of batters, but has had command issues in 2025.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Phil Clarke is another catcher of note, as he has once again been above average when healthy this season, slashing .278/.384/.368 with two home runs in 159 Triple-A plate appearances.</span></p>
<p><b></b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Acquired before the 2024 trade deadline, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/eddinson-paulino-ranks-toronto-blue-jays-nations-23rd-best-prospect-2025-mid-season-update">Eddinson Paulino</a> has hit 11 home runs this season with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, but has been below-average with a high K% throughout the season. <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-prospect-dasan-brown-promoted-triple-a-buffalo">Dasasn Brown was promoted to Triple-A</a> recently, but he’s had a poor season with the Fisher Cats. Still, Brown’s speed and defensive ability could land him a big league roster spot in the future.</span></p>
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<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Blue Jays Nation</a>, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Oilersnation</a>, and <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/author/ryley-delaney">FlamesNation</a>. She can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.</span></i></p>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> are going to have to make a few tough decisions this off-season.</span>



<span style="font-weight: 400;">Chief among them is protecting players from the Rule 5 draft. There are quite a few players of note who are Rule 5 eligible, and to be protected from the Rule 5 draft, they’ll have to be added to the 40-man roster.</span>
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&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">In this article, we’ll look at noteworthy prospects whom the Blue Jays may protect this off-season.</span>
<h2><b>Ricky Tiedemann</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Once a top 100 prospect, Ricky Tiedemann has dealt with injuries the past three seasons and is <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-prospect-ricky-tiedemann-eyeing-late-2025-return-from-tommy-john-recovery">currently recovering from Tommy John surgery</a>. When he’s at his best, the left-handed starter sits in the mid-90s with his fastball and touches the upper-90s. He also features a devastating slider and a plus changeup, while his command can be a bit erratic.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Thanks to his potential, there’s almost no chance that Tiedemann isn't added to the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster</span>
<h2><b>Yohendrick Piñango</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Acquired before the 2024 trade deadline, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/under-the-radar-blue-jays-prospects-yohendrick-pinango">Yohendrick Piñango</a> is one of a handful of position players who have broken out in 2025. In Double-A, the outfielder slashed .298/.406/.522 with eight home runs in 192 plate appearances for a 169 wRC+. Since joining the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, he’s hovering around average with the bat in Triple-A, but has hit seven home runs.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Piñango is a top 30 Blue Jays’ prospect, so they may go out of their way to protect him.</span>
<h2><b>Victor Arias</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Another top 30 prospect in the upper minors is Victor Arias. He hit the ground running in High-A, slashing .294/.381/.437 with five home runs in 318 plate appearances for a 127 wRC+. Although he started his tenure hot in Double-A, he has an 82 wRC+ with two home runs in over 150 plate appearances.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Arias has the potential to be a five-tool player, but his results in Double-A may be reason enough to leave him unprotected.</span>
<h2><b>Josh Kasevich</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Josh Kasevich has missed most of the 2025 season due to injury, only joining the Bisons in mid-August. He’s been a below-average hitter this season with the Bisons, but had a strong 2024 season and is good defensively at shortstop.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It seems unlikely that the Blue Jays will add him to the 40-man roster due to that injury, but he’s the type of player who may get claimed thanks to his strong hitting ability and defence.</span>
<h2><b>Riley Tirotta</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Teams passed over Riley Tirotta in the last Rule 5 draft, but that may not be the case this off-season. With the Buffalo Bisons, the 27-year-old is slashing .283/.373/.448 with 12 home runs in 407 plate appearances. While his strikeout rate is high, Tirotta can play multiple positions and is a good bat to have off the bench.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It seems plausible that the Blue Jays add Tirotta to the 40-man roster.</span>
<h2><b>Brandon Valenzuela</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Acquired before the 2025 trade deadline, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/brandon-valenzuela-ranks-toronto-blue-jays-nations-37th-best-prospect-2025-mid-season-update">Brandon Valenzuela</a> has the defensive ability to be the Blue Jays’ catcher of the future. While the bat is a little lacking (with some slight pop), he’s an excellent receiver and has a strong arm.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Depending on what the Blue Jays do with Tyler Heineman this off-season, the Blue Jays may look to add the 24-year-old. They may even add him anyway, as they only have Alejandro Kirk and Heineman on the 40-man roster.</span>
<h2><b>Edward Duran</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Sticking with Rule 5 eligible catchers, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/edward-duran-ranks-toronto-blue-jays-nations-24th-best-prospect-2025-mid-season-update">Edward Duran is the Blue Jays’ top catching prospect in the system</a>. With the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays, he slashed .296/.378/.439 with five home runs in 291 plate appearances. After a tough start with the High-A Vancouver Canadians, he has played well over the past month or so.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Although he’s shown to be solid with the bat this season, Duran’s calling card is his strong defensive abilities behind the plate. However, he’s only in High-A and will probably start next season there as well. It seems incredibly unlikely that he’ll be selected, much less protected.</span>
<h2><b>Yondrei Rojas</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/yondrei-rojas-ranks-toronto-blue-jays-nations-41st-best-prospect-2025-mid-season-update">Yondrei Rojas has become one of the Blue Jays’ best relief prospects</a>, authoring a 1.71 ERA and 2 FIP in 31.2 innings pitched. In High-A,  he had a 38.3 K% and 6.4 BB%, although his K% has dropped to 17.2% with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">His fastball averages around the mid-90s, but has maxed out at 97 mph, a bit surprising given his 5’10”, 180 lbs stature. The 22-year-old also has a cutter, slider, and changeup. Come the off-season, Rojas will become eligible for the Rule 5 draft for the first time in his career, but it’s unlikely he’ll be protected.</span>
<h2><b>Other Rule 5 draft-eligible prospects</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">There are a few other notable players who are Rule 5 eligible but have a low likelihood of being protected and selected. Three of those players, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/ryan-jennings-ranks-toronto-blue-jays-nations-33rd-best-prospect-2025-mid-season-update">Ryan Jennings</a>, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/pat-gallagher-ranks-toronto-blue-jays-nations-47th-best-prospect-2025-mid-season-update">Pat Gallagher</a>, and T.J. Brock, were all selected in the 2022 draft. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Jennings had a good start to his season in Double-A, but he hasn’t put up great numbers in Triple-A. Gallagher has pitched well in both High-A and Double-A, while Brock hasn’t pitched at all this season as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Trenton Wallace was selected in 2021 and has a 3.95 ERA and 4.68 FIP in 54.2 innings pitched, making 10 starts in 27 appearances for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He strikes out a lot of batters, but has had command issues in 2025.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Phil Clarke is another catcher of note, as he has once again been above average when healthy this season, slashing .278/.384/.368 with two home runs in 159 Triple-A plate appearances.</span>

<b></b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Acquired before the 2024 trade deadline, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/eddinson-paulino-ranks-toronto-blue-jays-nations-23rd-best-prospect-2025-mid-season-update">Eddinson Paulino</a> has hit 11 home runs this season with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, but has been below-average with a high K% throughout the season. <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-prospect-dasan-brown-promoted-triple-a-buffalo">Dasasn Brown was promoted to Triple-A</a> recently, but he’s had a poor season with the Fisher Cats. Still, Brown’s speed and defensive ability could land him a big league roster spot in the future.</span>

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<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Blue Jays Nation</a>, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Oilersnation</a>, and <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/author/ryley-delaney">FlamesNation</a>. She can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.</span></i>

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