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Blue Jays 2026 mid-season top prospect list: No. 34 Ryan Cooney
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Photo credit: © Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Aug 29, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 28, 2026, 23:21 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays have an army of hit-over-power middle infielders on the way.
One of them, Eric Snow, has already ranked on our 2026 mid-season top prospect list. This time around, we’ll take a look at our first 2026 draftee, Ryan Cooney, who ranks as our 34th-best Blue Jays’ prospect in the mid-season update.
Like Snow, Cooney has a lot of similarities to another prospect who’ll eventually rank on this list, Josh Kasevich. Cooney even joined the same university that Kasevich played at. Anyway, if you missed our 35th-best prospect, you can read about Javen Coleman here.

Ryan Cooney

Position: Infielder
Bats: Right
Born: October 7th, 2004
Acquired: Third-round, 2026 MLB Draft
Previous ranking: N/A
Cooney joined the University of Oregon two years after Kasevich was drafted. In 2024, the infielder slashed .203/.323/.468 with six home runs in 95 plate appearances, which happened to be his best power-hitting season.
His playing time increased in 2025, becoming the Ducks’ full-time second baseman. Over 57 games, he slashed .335/.445/.500 with six home runs in 234 plate appearances, while also posting a higher BB% (14.1%) than K% (9%). In his draft year, Cooney slashed .331/.420/.524 with eight home runs in 295 plate appearances.
Cooney’s performance led to the Blue Jays picking the 21-year-old with the 103rd overall pick in July’s draft. His first professional experience has come with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays, where he’s slashing .232/.338/.375 with two home runs in 68 plate appearances for a 91 wRC+. His K% has jumped from his college days, currently sitting at 17.6%.
The 21-year-old ranks as MLB Pipeline’s 19th-best Blue Jays prospect and has a similar profile to a lot of prospects in the organization. He has a good approach at the plate, has a good eye, is a sound defender, and makes contact. 
Pipeline rank’s Cooney’s speed at 55, his best tool, while his hit tool, arm and field all grade out at 50, or average. There’s little in the way of pop, as the right-handed batter is given a 40-power tool by the publication.
The two home runs in a small sample size are encouraging, as was hitting a collegiate career-best eight long-balls. But to profile more than a utility player, he’ll need to do a little bit more damage.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, DFOEdmonton, and DFOCalgary. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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