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Blue Jays Nation’s Top 25 Canadian Baseball Prospects for 2026: #21 Jacob Zibin
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Photo credit: © Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jan 30, 2026, 18:30 ESTUpdated: Jan 30, 2026, 18:22 EST
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Drafted out of high school in the 2022 draft and signing to a sizable bonus it took Jacob Zibin a long time to begin his professional career due to two major surgeries. Finally in 2025, the Canadian right-handed pitcher made his professional debut and was solid.
# 21 – Jacob Zibin
Hometown: Richmond Hill, Ontario
Organization: Cleveland Guardians
Draft: 10th round, 2022 (CLE)
Position: Pitcher
Bats/Throws: Left/Right
Zibin was born in the Toronto suburb of Richmond Hill, but grew up in Langley, British Columbia. The right-handed pitcher attended high school with the TNXL Academy in Longwood, Florida and ranked as MLB Pipeline’s 131st-best draft eligible player ahead of the 2022 draft.
It wasn’t until the 10th round that the Ohioan team selected the 6’4”, 218 lbs righty. Unfortunately, Zibin’s professional career got off to a rocky start, needing Tommy John surgery in May 2023, keeping him from pitching that season. The 2024 season was much of the same, as Zibin underwent ulnar nerve transposition surgery, keeping him from making his professional debut until 2025.

2025 season

Finally, the Canadian righty made his debut in 2025. He spent the 2025 season as 20-year-old with Cleveland’s Double-A team, making 19 starts and posting a 3.62 ERA and 4.78 FIP in 59.2 innings pitched, along with a 16.7 K% and an 11.8 BB%.
Zibin has slipped off the Guardians’ top prospect lists in the past two seasons, as his most recent ranking on MLB Pipeline coming in 2023. In that list, he ranked as their 26th-best prospect, noted for his above-average fastball with run while sitting in the mid-90s and touching 97 mph. In 2023, Zibin also had an above average changeup and a slider.
That said, these rankings were before his surgeries, so it’s unclear where the grades would rank after his professional debut. It’s good to see Zibin finally make it though, as he could quickly raise up the minor league ladder in the coming seasons.

Looking ahead to 2026

On Friday, Zibin celebrated his 21st birthday. While he may have lost two seasons of his development due to his injury, he’s still rather young for a prospect. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Guardians start the Canadian righty in High-A and go from there.
What’s important for Zibin next season is decreasing his walk rate while finding ways to strike out more batters. He’ll be Rule 5 eligible following the end of the season, but is unlikely to be drafted given his two seasons of injuries and lack of professional experience.
Previous rankings:
#22 – Eric Hartman
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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