Ever since Arjun Nimmal, the 20th overall pick from the 2023 MLB Draft, started this season with the high-A Vancouver Canadians, he’s been on the best stretch of his young career.

In his first season with the team, the young, slugging shortstop has dominated the pitching that the Northwest League (NWL) has had to offer. He’s slashing a very good .293/.372/.545 with nine home runs – good enough for the second-most long balls in the NWL. Nimmala also boasts 13 doubles, one triple, and 25 RBIs through 167 at-bats for the Canadians, while also amassing a .917 OPS. He’s authored a 148 wRC+ and a .415 wOBA through his first stint in high-A and has limited the swing and miss, racking up a 17.8% K rate this season.

He was rewarded for his efforts with the NWL Player of the Week Award for last week when he mashed two home runs and six RBIs in a six-game set against the Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants affiliate).

The award marks the second time that the Jays’ number one ranked prospect has taken home a league distinction since his Florida State League (single-A) Player of the Month honours with the Dunedin Blue Jays for August 2024. That month, he hit .296 with an .871 OPS.

As the top prospect in the Jays system, all eyes are on the still 19-year-old prospect as not only the major league team, but the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Buffalo Bisons continue to struggle with records below .500.

While the organization may not want to rush Nimmala through the ranks, at the rate he’s going, he appears to be forcing their hand. A move to New Hampshire could be in the cards later this season.

Currently ahead of him in the depth charts are players such as Eddinson Paulino, Jay Harry, and Alex De Jesus, who are all with the Fisher Cats and are able to play shortstop. None of them are hitting particularly well – all below a .220 average – which makes a Nimmala promotion even more likely.

Another factor that could play into how fast he moves through the system is how aggressively the Jays pursue an extension with former All-Star Bo Bichette.

As of now, not much is known about those talks. If the team doesn’t plan on extending him, though, Nimmala appears to be on the right trajectory to eventually take over as the franchise’s long-term shortstop.

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