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Blue Jays Minor League Musings: Aaron Parker hits 17th home run
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Photo credit: © Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Aug 28, 2026, 16:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 28, 2026, 21:54 EDT
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Aaron Parker is quickly becoming a prospect to monitor in the Toronto Blue Jays’ system.
On Thursday evening, the catcher hit his 17th home run in a Double-A New Hampshire Cats’ 7-3 victory. With the blast, Parker moves into a tie with Carter Cunningham for the third-most home runs in the Blue Jays’ farm system in 2026.
Parker has come out of nowhere to become one of their best power-hitting prospects. After the Jays selected Parker in the sixth round of the 2024 draft, the 23-year-old hit five long-balls in 100 Single-A plate appearances. In 2025, he hit just eight in 276 High-A plate appearances, giving him a career-worst 90 wRC+.
The power increased, but so too has his batting average. After hitting around .234 in 2024 and 2025, Parker is slashing .262/.362/.484 with those 17 home runs and six doubles, good for a 125 wRC+.  That said, there’s still a lot of work to be done, as his K% jumped from 19.6% in 2025 to 30.8% this season. Moreover, his future likely isn’t behind the plate, as he’s thrown out just 14 would-be stealers in 98 attempts.
On top of hitting a home run, he walked twice and scored two of the Fisher Cats’ seven runs. He was the lone batter with a home run, but Eric Snow, Cunningham, Dub Gleed, and Mathieu Vallee each hit a double. Gleed had a three-hit game, Vallee had a two hit game. On the mound, Johnny King struck out six and walked three over four scoreless innings.
The Fisher Cats were one of two affiliates in the system to win on Thursday. In the midst of a playoff push, the High-A Vancouver Canadians defeated Spokane 8-1. 
Like the Fisher Cats’ game, a Blue Jays’ prospect had a three-hit performance. Jake Casey hit his ninth High-A double and his third High-A triple, falling shy of a cycle by just a home run. JoJo Parker had his third consecutive multi-hit game, while Jean Joseph, Gable Mitchell, and Dameury Pena all hit a double.
The C’s pitching also stood out. Dasan Hill had his best start of the season (including his tenure with the Minnesota Twins), striking out six and giving up one unearned run over four and two-thirds innings. Holden Wilkerson also struck out six, going four and one-third scoreless innings.
With the win, the C’s take sole possession of first in the Northwest League. They have a three-game lead over the Everett AquaSox.
Things didn’t go as well for another affiliate in the playoff hunt, the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. They were walked-off in a 7-6 defeat. Nick Goodwin hit the team’s lone extra-base hit, while Peyton Williams had a two-hit game. John Klein surrendered three runs (two earned) in three and two-thirds innings. Javen Coleman had a tough game, giving up three earned run in his inning of work.
The Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays also suffered a defeat, falling 7-5 to the Palm Beach Cardinals. Aldo Gaxiola’s home run streak came to an end, but he hit a single. Juan Sanchez and Rhylan Thomas each hit a double.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, DFOEdmonton, and DFOCalgary. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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