logo
Looking at the key prospects that earned the FCL Blue Jays a playoff berth
alt
Photo credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jul 24, 2026, 14:15 EDTUpdated: Jul 24, 2026, 14:42 EDT
Comments
At least one Toronto Blue Jays’ affiliate will have the opportunity to play for their respective championship.
The Florida Complex League Blue Jays begin a single-game semifinal against the FCL Rays on Saturday. They finished as the second seed after a 38-20 season, an identical record to the FCL Rays.
Whoever wins that game will play in the FCL finals, either between the FCL Yankees or FCL Orioles. The FCL Blue Jays are looking to get back there after winning their first FCL championship in franchise history last summer.
Last season, prospects like David Beckles, Drew Jemison, Dariel Ramon, Yorman Licourt, Troy Guthrie, Johnny King, and many others played a part in capturing the title. That begs the question, which prospects have helped the 2026 FCL Jays get the opportunity to repeat as champions?
Pascual Archila has been their best bat by far. Over 55 games, the left-handed batting outfielder slashed .266/.454/.450 with a career-best seven home runs in 232 plate appearances. His 138 wRC+ is the highest among position players on the team with 100+ plate appearances.
Moreover, Archila’s seven home runs were tied for the most on the team alongside Angel Guzman. Like Archila, Guzman set a new career-best with his seven home runs, all while slashing .284/.388/.461 with a 13.5 BB% and 17.6 K%.
One thing Archila and Guzman have in common is that they’re a part of the Blue Jays’ 2024 IFA class. So are Andres Arias and Franklin Rojas, two key contributors for the FCL Jays this past season. Arias slashed .247/.396/.411 with four home runs in 183 plate appearances, far better than his 2025, while Rojas slashed .266/.413/.427 with three home runs in 179 plate appearances for a 121 wRC+.
An older IFA prospect on the team is David Guzman, signed by the Jays in the 2023 period. D. Guzman, who has no relation to A. Guzman, had a strong season in the FCL, slashing .250/.417/.388 with three home runs in 103 plate appearances for a 117 wRC+. He walked more (20.4 BB%) than he struck out (12.6 K%) and is a player to watch for the future. The outfielder has even played a handful of games in Single-A and Double-A this season.
There were two Canadians on the FCL Jays who made an impact. Owen Gregg, 19, slashing .435/.490/.609 with a home run in 52 plate appearances, while also getting a cup of tea in Single-A. Sam White, 22, slashed .313/.430/.563 with four home runs in 79 plate appearances. Gregg and White finished second and third in wRC+ on the team with players with 50 or more plate appearances.
No player had a higher wRC+ (minimum 50 plate appearances) than Giaconino Lasaracina, who won’t be with the team for the playoffs. In his 14 games with the team, the Italian catcher mashed six home runs in just 59 plate appearances for a 186 wRC+. He’s found success in Single-A since his promotion.
Another Italian who was promoted to Single-A is Giacomo Taschin. The left-handed pitcher finished his FCL tenure with a 1.99 ERA and 3.84 FIP in 22.2 innings pitched, along with a 34.8 K% and 7.9 BB%.  Neither will Carson Messina. After throwing just two innings in 2025, Messina began 2026 with the FCL Jays, posting a 1.69 ERA and 3.05 FIP in 16 innings before his promotion. 
Their two key pitchers who are still on the team are Angel Rivero and Miguel Pantoja. The former is rocking a 2.36 ERA and 4.47 FIP in 42 innings of work this season, with no other player on the team throwing more innings than him. Pantoja had a strong start to the season, but a rough second half bumped his ERA to 4.62 and his FIP to 6.59. Still, he’s thrown 37 innings and won’t turn 19 until January.
The game is set to be played at 12:00 PM ET on Saturday.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
Editorials
MORE NEWS. IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Breaking News