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Blue Jays Minor League Musings: Arjun Nimmala’s power stroke and FCL Jays looking to repeat as champions
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Photo credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jul 23, 2026, 17:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 23, 2026, 15:17 EDT
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In the coming week, the farm system will be the centre of attention regarding the Toronto Blue Jays.
Thanks to being 10 games below .500, the Blue Jays have cemented themselves as sellers ahead of August 3rd’s trade deadline. While the big league team has been struggling, there have been some positive developments in the minor league system.
On Thursday evening, the Double-A New Hampshire Cats fell 9-3 to the Somerset Patriots in the first game of the doubleheader, but Arjun Nimmala hit his Double-A home run. Since returning from injury, Nimmala has now hit four home runs in eight games for the Fisher Cats.
After beginning the season in High-A, Nimmala is slashing .298/.377/.489 in 106 plate appearances with the Fisher Cats. The shortstop prospect had a tough second half of the 2025 season, but the Blue Jays’ first round pick in 2023 has regained some shine.
Nimmala had a brief tenure with the Florida Complex League Blue Jays during a rehab assignment. Well, with an 8-1 victory over the FCL Phillies on Thursday, the FCL Jays have finished the season with a 38-20 record.
That earned them top spot in their division, meaning that they’ll have a chance to win back-to-back championships. The first round begins on Saturday, with the FCL Jays taking on the FCL Rays.
They’ll get a boost in the form of Brandon Barriera and Jesús Sánchez. Both players are set to rehab with the FCL Jays according to the transaction log. Additionally, Daniel Guerra, Colby Holcombe, T.J. Brock, Brayden Heidel, and Alexis Hernandez are minor leagues on rehab stints at the moment.
One of the FCL Blue Jays’ best pitchers this season has been Angel Rivero. His most recent start last Friday saw him throw five scoreless innings, striking out five and walking a batter to bring his season ERA to 2.36.
Sticking in the rookie leagues, Alieski Torres has been one of the best pitchers in all of the rookie leagues this season. After throwing five hitless perfect innings in the Dominican Summer League Blue Jays Red’s 11-1 victory over the DSL Angels, Torres now has a 0.95 ERA for the season. They carried a perfect game into the eighth inning before it was broken up.
Both the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays and High-A Vancouver Canadians have started their week well. On Tuesday, the D-Jays defeated the Bradenton Marauders by a score of 10-9, with Juan Sanchez hitting his seventh blast of the season. JoJo Parker hit his 20th double, Enmanuel Bonilla hit his second double, and Aldo Gaxiola had a three-hit, five-RBI game.
Later that evening, the Canadians defeated the Hillsboro Hops by a score of 9-8. Jake Casey, Edward Duran, and Tucker Toman each hit a home run, the latter becoming yet another Blue Jay prospect to reach double-digit long balls this season.
Both teams won their game on Wednesday, in fact, all four minor league teams in the organization found a way to win. The D-Jays won 16-5, with all but one player finishing with a multi-hit game. Blaine Bullard and Jake Cook each hit two doubles, while Sanchez and Parker each hit a double as well.
Down 6-4 heading into the top of the ninth, the C’s managed to score four runs to complete the comeback victory. Ryan Sprock, who was acquired by the Blue Jays about two weeks ago, hit his second home run in as many games.
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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