Blue Jays: Looking at Juaron Watts-Brown’s performance since the trade
Photo credit: © James A. Pittman-Imagn Images
Sep 3, 2025, 08:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 3, 2025, 01:47 EDT
Juaron Watts-Brown is a former Toronto Blue Jay prospect who broke out in a big way in 2025.
Alongside Kendry Rojas and Khal Stephen, Watts-Brown was one of three pitching prospects traded before the 2025 trade deadline, as the Jays sent him to the Baltimore Orioles for Seranthony Domínguez.
While he doesn’t quite have the same shine as Rojas or Stephen, Watts-Brown is a strikeout artist who could see some Top 100 consideration before the start of the 2026 pre-season updates.
Let’s see how he was doing before the trade and how he’s done since the move!
Before the trade
Watts-Brown was selected in the third round of the 2023 draft and signed to a bonus worth a little over $1 million. He didn’t make his debut until 2024, where he finished with a 4.72 ERA and 4.57 FIP in 103 innings pitched, with a 28.9 K% and 13.2 BB%, totally unremarkable.
He hit a different gear in 2025, beginning his season with the High-A Vancouver Canadians, authoring a 3.62 ERA and 1.97 FIP in 37.1 innings pitched. With the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the 23-year-old had a 3.48 ERA and 3.99 FIP in 51.2 innings pitched.
Before the trade, Watts-Brown was set to rank in the Top 10 in our mid-season prospect countdown, and for good reason, as he strikes out a ton of batters. However, he was traded to the Orioles for relief pitching help at the big league level.
Since the trade
Domínguez famously walked down the hall to join the Blue Jays’ bullpen between a doubleheader against the Jays and the Orioles. At the same time, the Fisher Cats were in a series against the Double-A Chesapeake Baysox.
Watts-Brown made his Orioles organization debut in the same series, allowing five earned runs (six in total) in four innings of work. The righty rebounded in the following game, giving up two earned runs in four and two-thirds innings. His start on August 16th was his second-worst appearance, giving up four earned runs in five and two-thirds innings.
In Watts-Brown’s past two starts, he’s given up just four earned runs in 11.1 innings pitched, including throwing a quality start in his last game. Among pitchers with 90 or more innings pitched this season, Watts-Brown’s 30.7 K% ranks 14th, with Trey Yesavage and Gage Stanifer ranking first and third, respectively.
Watts-Brown’s next expected start is on Friday, as the Baysox host the Harrisburg Senators. His next and final start will be against his former team, the Fisher Cats, likely in the middle of the week at some point.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.