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Blue Jays 2026 end of season Prospect Countdown: No. 17 Danny Thompson Jr.
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Photo credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images
Cynthia Ryley Delaney
Sep 29, 2026, 20:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 29, 2026, 19:24 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays had a handful of pitching prospects that broke out in 2026.
No breakout was more surprising than Danny Thompson Jr.’s. Drafted in 2025, the right-handed pitcher signed a bonus worth just $5,000. Yet, he’s emerged as one of their better pitching prospects while also being close to MLB-ready.
Thompson Jr. ranks as our 17th-best Blue Jays’ prospect in the 2026 end of season countdown. If you missed who ranked 18th, you can read about Jake Bloss here.

Danny Thompson Jr.

Position: Starting pitcher
Throws: Right
Born: August 9th, 2002
Acquired: Eighth-round, 2025 MLB Draft
Previous ranking: Unranked
Thompson Jr. spent five seasons at college, with his final year coming with UNC Greensboro in 2025. Over 61.2 innings of work, the right-handed pitcher had a 3.79 ERA and 3.75 FIP, starting just two of the 23 games he appeared in. Still, he did enough to get drafted in the eighth-round of the 2025 draft as an under-slot signing.
He’s had a great start to his professional career following the draft. Thompson Jr. appeared in 10 games following the draft, ending his 2025 season with a 0.66 ERA and 3.40 FIP in 13.1 innings of work. Thompson Jr. was stretched out as a starter to begin his 2026, and that’s when the breakout happened.
Beginning his season with the High-A Vancouver Canadians, the 24-year-old posted a 3.80 ERA and 3.47 FIP in 47.1 innings of work, starting nine of the 12 games he appeared in. Thompson Jr. had a 33.8 K%, though an elevated BB% of 11.9 percent. Upon his promotion to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the righty finished with a 3.06 ERA and 3.85 FIP in 53 innings of work, with a 25.8 K% and 7.4 BB%.
The 24-year-old has emerged as a top 30 prospect in the organization. His fastball sits in the mid-90s, but his delivery helps it play up. His best secondary is a slider and he also features a below-average changeup with average command. Thompson Jr. has back-end of the rotation potential, but there’s also some relief risk.
If he starts his 2026 season well, likely with the Fisher Cats, Thompson Jr. could work his way to a late season call-up.
Cynthia Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, DFOEdmonton, and DFOCalgary. She can be followed on Twitter @CynthiaRDelaney.
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