We’re well past a month in the Blue Jays farm system, and a few things have become clear.

For starters, despite the rash of UCL injuries suffered in the organization last season, pitching still remains its strength. 2024 draftees Trey Yesavage and Khal Stephen coming online certainly helped, but there have been many notable performances, including:

-Dunedin - Gage Stanifer, Daniel Guerra, Gilberto Batista, Colby Martin

Stanifer has arguably been the best pitcher on the D-Jays staff; as a 19th round HS pick two years ago, he’s shaping up as a drafting and development story. Martin, a two-way player in college who is still relatively new to pitching, has given up a tick or two of velocity this season (just under 97) on his four-seamer, but has not given up a run in 9 outings so far.

Blue Jays fans are rightly wondering when Yesavage and Stephen will get promoted to Vancouver. The time has to be coming close, but if there’s one thing I hope my readers have learned from me over the years, performance is only one part of the promotion puzzle. But their time is certainly coming. Martin and Stanifer likely won’t be far behind.

-Vancouver - Jackson Wentworth, Grant Rogers, Juaron Watts-Brown

Wentworth, who was surprisingly sent north while his fellow draftees Yesavage and Stephen remained in Florida, has struck out better than a batter per inning in 26 innings over 6 starts. Watts-Brown, a 2023 draftee, leads the Northwest League in strikeouts by a considerable margin.

-New Hampshire: Ryan Watson

Watson was pitching in indy ball just over a year ago before the Blue Jays signed him. At 26, he is at an advanced age, but it’s impressive how he has advanced so quickly, and has easily been the Fisher Cats best starter. In his most recent outing, he tossed 7 innings of shutout, 3-hit ball, lowering his ERA to a tiny 1.43.

-Buffalo: Jake Bloss, Paxton Schultz, Andrew Bash

Bloss’ stats certainly are not gaudy in any sense of the word. But when you factor in his age and experience, he’s started to hold his own at AAA. Unfortunately, he left his most recent start yesterday in the 4th inning, and headed to Toronto for tests - which does not sound good.

Schultz made a memorable MLB debut, and Bisons’ broadcaster Pat Malacaro told us on the latest Around the Nest episode (more to come) that he wouldn’t be surprised if reliever Bash isn’t the next pitcher elevated to the 40-man.

Other notables….

-Arjun Nimmala has arguably been the best position player in the system, although Vancouver teammate Victor Arias has given him a run for his money. Nimmala, the second-youngest player on an Opening Day Northwest League roster, has hit six home runs in a league where the ball doesn’t tend to carry well until after the long weekend in May. On defence, he shows the hands, arm, and instincts necessary to stick at SS; I have seen the odd mental lapse, but he is still so young. Nimmala may not have elite range, but he makes the plays on balls he gets to.

-Arias, the Canadians’ ballhawk, has shown an ability to get on base and steal, and his range in centrefield is considerable. The organization would likely like to see a bit more extra base pop.

-Yeuni (say Jay-uni) Munoz suffered a concussion in a scary collision at 2nd last season with Dunedin. He had to be carted off the field, and the game was suspended. The injury did not put an end to his 2024 season, but it certainly curtailed it. There is perhaps no one in the organization. Munoz’ 1.053 OPS to date certainly shows his power and contact ability, but with a K rate of about 30%, making more contact is a must. But there is not much doubt about the power: Munoz has put 20 balls in play of 95 or more mph, and his 93.6 mph average exit velocity is the 7th highest in all of A ball. He’s still only 21, although another trip to the IL this past weekend is cause for concern.

-Yohendrick Pinanago doesn’t get a ton of prospect love, but the Melky Cabrera-esque LF, who came along with SS Josh Rivera (currently solidifying Buffalo’s infield defence) cost only Nate Pearson, last seen trudging in from the Cubs’ AAA bullpen with his 10.80 ERA this weekend. Pinango, in the words of Fangraphs, is a “data-darling corner outfield prospect whose contact rates and peak exit velocities are plus.” Pinanago has tailed off a bit, but his .971 OPS has been about the only bright spot for New Hampshire’s offence so far.

-Dunedin SS/2B Manuel Beltre has been Dunedin’s best player on both sides of the ball. It seems like one of the top-ranked IFAs from the 2021 class has needed three shots at Single A ball - which is very much a reflection of the elimination of the short season level - but appears to be figuring things out. It seems like Beltre has been around forever, but at 20, he still has plenty of development time ahead of him.

Watching the Fisher Cats

I spent last week watching New Hampshire. The Fisher Cats have an interesting mix of prospects, although they likely are the least-stocked team in the system from a top prospect perspective.

On the pitching side, Ryan Jennings was probably the pitcher closest to MLB-ready on the New Hampshire staff on the basis of a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. But he has struggled mightily with his fastball command, the pitch in his arsenal that sets up his secondaries. While he has the profile of a future 8th inning guy, the Jays have given New Hampshire manager Brent Lavallee license to use Jennings in more of a long relief role to help get him on track. And back on the rails he appears to be, having thrown four consecutive scoreless outings.

CJ Van Eyk seemed to have plateaued in his development last year after something of a breakout in 2023. His numbers so far at AA are on the unsightly side, but he’s been a victim of some bad luck and shaky defence. His 55% groundball rate would indicate that Van Eyk is getting weak contact, but maybe hasn’t had the plays behind him.

RHP Rafael Sanchez has quietly put together a tidy 1.35 ERA in 5 starts.

Hunter Gregory has easily been the Fisher Cats’ best reliever, sporting an 0.79 ERA in 9 appearances. A guy who has always interested me is Michael Dominguez, who has been primarily a starter throughout his career, but took a few turns coming out of the bullpen this season. That has allowed his fastball to play up.

On the offensive side, once we get past Pinango, there has not been a lot to write home about. While the cold northeastern weather has impacted just about all Eastern League teams, New Hampshire is last in the loop in OPS and runs, and is tied for last in Home Runs. 1B Peyton Williams, he of the Iowa Meat Truck fame, has seen a steady diet of spin, and has struggled with his first lengthy exposure to higher level breaking stuff, striking out in a third of his plate appearances while slashing .176/.273/.555. Charles McAdoo, acquired at the trade deadline last year, has scuffled as well, hitting just below the Mendoza Line. 3B/2B Cade Doughty missed much of last year and the first month of this one due to injury, but this past weekend showed the ability to have professional ABs that led Toronto to draft him in the 2nd round two years ago; he will be an interesting one to follow. RJ Schreck, another acquisition last year, had his difficulties so far, but appeared to be breaking out this past weekend.

There is no doubt about Schreck’s defence:

Other Stuff

Some Twitter - sorry, X - highlights from around the system:

Even More Stuff

-Alek Manoah has started throwing bullpen sessions at the minor league complex as part of his progression after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

-while we’re on the topic of pitchers returning to action, Landen Maroudis, the ‘23 4th round pick who generated considerable backfield buzz last spring before blowing out his elbow and undergoing the UCL brace procedure, started a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League (which opened this weekend), striking out 4 and walking 2 in 2.1 innings. LHP Adam Macko, slated to begin the season at Buffalo before injuring his knee and requiring surgery near the end of spring training, is throwing again and should start his rehab stint soon. And southpaw Brandon Barriera, whose career has been sidelined by injury, is worth checking the transaction page regularly, according to a source.

-Saving the best until last year. I have joined the Around the Nest podcast as a producer this season. In the season opener of this look around the Blue Jays system, host Tyler Zickel, the play-by-play voice of the Vancouver Canadians talks to New Hampshire voice Chris Jared, Buffalo’s Pat Malacaro, and Eli Fishman of the Dunedin Blue Jays about the highlights of the past month with their respective clubs. Zickel’s broadcast cohort Chris Georges finishes the episode off with his conversation with former big league player and manager, and current Blue Jays VP and Assistant General Manager David Bell. You will not find Blue Jays farm system content anywhere else.