Future Blue Jays Newsletter

 Baseball America listed its annual breakout prospect list for 2024, and it’s useful fodder for further discussion.

BA has tabbed OF Enmanuel Bonilla, the prize Blue Jays 2023 IFA signing, as one of three prospects to watch in 2024. We have yet to see Bonilla play stateside, but he will this year - at some point. Bonilla is a high risk/high reward prospect who appears to be an OF version of Orelvis Martinez. Like Orelvis, there is high grade raw power, but also difficulty with spin, and similar to Martinez, the up-the-middle Bonilla is only an average runner who will likely move off the position as he matures physically. His arm is rated as above-average, so he could move to either corner.

His is a bat to get excited about, but there will likely be some developmental lumps along the way.

RHP Landen Maroudis

Impressive Florida prep RHP, with a high effort delivery, with a three-pitch mix from a low arm angle and a fastball that sits in the low 90s and touches 96.

That is the scouting report about 4th rounder Maroudis, whose $1.5 million signing bonus was the second-highest among Blue Jay 2023 draft picks. It’s also the report written about Irv Carter, taken a round later in 2021. To date, Carter, while showing some flashes of promise, has largely disappointed. And that’s why even though there is considerable promise with Maroudis, it’s worth keeping in mind that the high school pitcher is the draft’s most unpredictable commodity.

Like Bonilla, Maroudis - who didn’t pitch after being drafted - will probably start in the Complex League.

2B Sam Shaw

More and more, I’m liking this pick. Shaw is a “hit-over-everything second baseman with an advanced knowledge of the strike zone and excellent barrel control,” in the words of BA’s Geoff Pontes, and while 12th round 2nd Basemen are not sexy picks, there’s so much to like with the B.C. native.

While BA doesn’t think the 5’10”/175 has a ton of room for added power, but to that i say: Davis Schneider.

Shaw got into 9 Complex games after being drafted. He has an outside shot at cracking Dunedin’s starting lineup. I know the Blue Jays really like this kid.

So, it’s hard to argue with those three players, but I would add a few more……

RHP Jauron Watts-Brown

Probably no pick from last year’s haul of Blue Jays selections is as close to big league-ready as the former HS Quarterback from Oklahoma State.

Watts-Brown has a slider that already profiles as a plus pitch. It’s fastball command that has been the issue. It will be the development of that pitch that determines his future path. The Blue Jays will likely give him every chance to develop as a starter, but the bullpen seems a more probable destination.

MLB Pipeline describes JWB as “more athletic than physical,” which suggests that he has some time in the weight room (and maybe kitchen) ahead of him. I talked to a BA writer about him, and his feeling is that he’s “not really strong, just tall and lanky.” The Blue Jays do like their long and lean pitchers, although his source admittedly is not as high on JWB as others are.

He didn’t pitch after the draft either, but a good spring could see him land an aggressive assignment to Vancouver.

LHP Kendry Rojas

The 2020 signing from Cuba seems to have stalled a bit with his development. He can hit 97 with his fastball, and control does not appear to be an issue (although attacking hitters is an area the Blue Jays are trying to work with him on), but it seems like Rojas is taking a long time to develop.

We heard (but were unable to confirm) that Visa issues kept Rojas in Florida last year when the organization wanted to move him up to Vancouver for the stretch run. Hopefully, that has been cleared up, and he should start his season in the Northwest League.

2B/SS/OF Adrian Pinto

Injuries have derailed the development of the 2021 Dominican League MVP somewhat, but when he’s healthy, the Altuvian up-the-middle guy can get on base, use his speed, and play all over the place. I think there’s still some room for some added pop too, despite his 5’6” stature. But he’s missed significant time with injury in each of the past two seasons, which has kept him in Florida when he really should be up the ladder.

A healthy Pinto would be an ideal sparkplug for Vancouver’s Opening Day lineup.

RHP Ryan Jennings

Shoulder issues landed Jennings on the IL for almost a year, but he was lights out for Vancouver late in the season, capping off 2023 with three innings of no-hit, five K ball for the C’s in a playoff outing.

LHP Ian Churchill

The 2022 10th rounder has yet to surrender a Home Run in 39 minor league appearances totalling 52 innings. He had a microscopic 0.44 ERA in 15 outings for Vancouver.

RHP Kelena Sauer

Look, Low A relievers are still a dime a dozen, but the player development staff were thrilled with the dozen bullpen appearances the 2023 15th rounder pitched for Dunedin.

MiLB Upgrades

When MLB took over the minors several years ago, they put numerous orders in place for the upgrading of the playing facilities. We are just starting to see a bit of a squeeze for affiliates at the lower levels who are hoping for public money to help pay for some of these improvements. Both Hillsboro and Eugene, who are members of the Northwest League, are lobbying the Oregon legislature for funding. Team ownership will kick in $80 million, but they are asking for $15 million in state funds. The team could relocate if they don’t come up with the money by March 15th.

Eugene, which is a tenant of the University of Oregon’s ballpark, are looking to build their own facility, and are seeking support from the state.

We have already seen one casualty of these upgrades. The Braves’ AA affiliate Mississippi, based in Pearl, will be relocating to Georgia next season, likely because state and municipal officials were unwilling to provide funding for stadium improvements.

Interestingly, Mississippi is owned by Diamond Holdings, a company which owns 29 minor league franchises. Diamond added both Vancouver and New Hampshire to their portfolio last year; the people I talked to in Vancouver felt that Diamond would provide the necessary injection of capital to bring 70+ year old Nat Bailey Stadium up to standards. And while some of those renovations (upgraded weight, dressing, and training rooms, which formerly could best be described as quaint and cozy, as well as an indoor batting cage) have already started, it gives one an uneasy feeling that Diamond could give up on Pearl so easily. A promised $50 million bond issue to fund stadium upgrades by Columbus, GA officials helped, as did underwhelming attendance in Pearl.

I don’t think Vancouver or New Hampshire are at any risk of being relocated. The latter is a fairly new facility that wouldn’t take much to bring to state-of-the-art status. But it does make one feel for cities like Pearl or Visalia, CA (which reportedly is in a battle for municipal funding) who have lost or may lose pro ball.

Spring Training Invites

It’s always fun to see who the organization feels would benefit from an invite to big league camp. It’s an opportunity to let top minor league players see how their big league cousins train, prepare, and recover. It also lets the front office see how these prospects play in a small sample size big league environment. Last season, 14 non-roster players received invitations - all but 3 were pitchers, which makes sense as teams slowly ramp up their arms.

Rickey Tiedemann received an invite last year, and should get another. Chad Dallas should join him. Bullpen arms like Connor Cooke, Mason Fluharty, and TJ Brock are other likely candidates. Catchers Phil Clarke and Andres Sosa were invited last spring, and should be again, because you need someone to catch all those pitchers.