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Blue Jays farm system notes (April 3): Arjun Nimmala hits first home run of the season
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Photo credit: Tav Morisson / Blue Jays Nation
Ryley Delaney
Apr 4, 2026, 10:30 EDTUpdated: Apr 4, 2026, 17:04 EDT
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For the first time in 2026, all four Toronto Blue Jay “A” affiliates were scheduled to play.
Unfortunately, only three of the four teams played, as the Buffalo Bisons’ game against the Omaha Storm Chasers was postponed. The three other teams, the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, High-A Vancouver Canadians, and Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays played their season openers.
Like the big league team, all three of the Blue Jays affiliates lost on Friday. The Fisher Cats played a 13-inning game, eventually falling 10-9. Both the Canadians and D-Jays games were lost late, with the Canadians falling 8-6 and the D-Jays following 6-4.
Let’s take a look at some notes from the three games.

Trey Yesavage rehab assignment

On Friday morning, it was announced that rookie sensation Trey Yesavage would make a start on a rehab assignment. It was a solid start for Yesavage, as he pitched two and two-thirds innings with three strikeouts, a walk, and an earned run against. That came on an inside-the-park homer.
Results are secondary to his stuff, and Yesavage’s velocity was around where it was last season, an encouraging outing. Hopefully, he can be back sooner rather than later given the injuries to the Blue Jays’ rotation.
It’s unclear when Yesavage’s next start will be, or where.

Blaine Bullard hits triple, JoJo Parker struggles

As for the game itself, there are a few other notable storylines from the game. On the first professional pitch Blaine Bullard saw, he hit a lead-off triple. That was one of two hits he had, and the lone extra-base hit the D-Jays had. The 12th rounder’s other hit was an RBI single.
Fellow 2025 draftee JoJo Parker also made his professional debut, but it didn’t go nearly as well as Bullard’s debut. Parker struck out in three of his four plate appearances. Also making his Single-A debut was Enmanuel Bonilla, who struck out three times and hit a single.
On the pitching side of things, Troy Guthrie had a fantastic Single-A debut, striking out three in his first inning and finishing with three perfect innings. Dylan Watts, drafted in the seventh round of the 2025 draft, had a tough professional debut, giving up three earned runs in two-thirds of an inning.
The D-Jays are back in action on Saturday, playing twice to make up for Thursday’s rainout.

Arjun Nimmala hits a home run

On the west coast, the Canadians fell 8-6. The star of this game was top Blue Jays prospect Arjun Nimmala, as he hit a home run in his first plate appearance, then hit a double later in the game. Nimmala accounted for the two extra base hits, while J.R. Freethy, Jake Casey, and Alexis Hernandez had the other three hits. Tough game for Tucker Toman, as the 2022 draftee struck out three times. Brennan Orf struck out twice as well.
On the pitching side of things, Landen Maroduis had a strong start, pitching three innings with four strikeouts and just a single hit allowed. He was the only C’s pitcher to not give up a run, as Gilberto Batista, Aaron Munson, Austin Marozas, and Kelena Sauer all gave up at least one earned run.
The Canadians are back in action on Saturday evening.

Eddie Micheletti and Sean Keys hit their first home run of the season

Fans in Manchester were given extra baseball, as the Fisher Cats and Binghamton Rumble Ponies played 13 innings. Eventually, the Blue Jays’ Double-A team lost the game, but there are some interesting storylines from this game.
Down 5-2 in the bottom of the third, Eddie Micheletti hit his first career Double-A home run to make it 5-3. The Fisher Cats scored another run that inning, but were down 7-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth.
A lead-off triple by Jace Bohrofen started the inning, and he was driven in by Jackson Hornung. Up stepped Sean Keys, who hit a massive two-run home run to tie the game, his first Double-A home run. The Fisher Cats didn’t get another hit.
On the pitching side of things, Gage Stanifer had a great start, but walked four in the third inning, eventually giving up a grand slam to be tagged with five earned runs. The Fisher Cats’ bullpen had a solid game, with Pat Gallagher, Nate Garkow, and Brendan Cellucci all pitching scoreless outings. Javen Coleman and Conor Larkin both allowed the ghost runner to score, while Geison Urbaez was tagged with two earned runs.
The Fisher Cats are back in action on Saturday.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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