Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the The 2024 Prospect Digest Handbook here.
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1. Ricky Tiedemann, LHP
| FB | CB | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 50 | 55 | 45/50 | 55 |
Background: Despite the struggles of former first rounder Gunnar Hoglund, the Blue Jays’ 2021 draft class has to be considered a smashing success: (A) the front office moved Hoglund as one of the key pieces that brought in All-Star – and the forever unappreciated –Matt Chapman into the fold, (B) they found some mid- to late-round prospect depth with the likes of Hayden Juenger (6th round) and Damiano Palmegiani (14th round), but – perhaps more importantly – (C) they unearthed the top left-handed pitching prospect in the all the minors. The 91st overall player taken that summer, Tiedemann not only lasted until the third round, but the front office signed him to a below-slot deal. Granted, it was just about $3,000 below the recommended value, but – hey – it still counts. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound southpaw sparkled during his professional debut in 2022, throwing a total of 78.2 innings while averaging 13.4 strikeouts and 3.3 walks per nine innings as he made stops with Dunedin, Vancouver, and New Hampshire. Last season, Tiedemann continued his masterful work – when he was able to stay on the mound. He dealt with a shoulder injury in the spring and then another arm issue – this time related to his bicep muscle – cropped up later. The Golden West College product made 15 starts between the Complex League (one start), Dunedin (two starts), New Hampshire (11), and Buffalo (one). He tallied 44.0 innings, posting an absurd 82-to-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio to go along with an aggregate 3.68 ERA. For those interested: Tiedemann averaged 16.8 strikeouts and 4.7 walks per nine innings. Not too shabby.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: One of the loosest arms, generating one of the easiest plus fastballs in all of the minor leagues; Tiedemann saw a noticeable uptick in velocity from his pre-draft days to last season. Throw in a surprisingly improved feel for the strike zone and Tiedemann has the makings of a bonafide ace. The lone red flag, thus far, is the fact that he rarely turned over a lineup, especially in High-A and Double-A.
Scouting Report: One of the elite arsenals in the entire minor leagues. Tiedemann possess three plus offerings: plus, mid- to upper-90s fastball that’ll reach as high as 98 mph on occasion. His slider, which is really a sweeper, moves horizontally – only – with no vertical movement. Combine the movement on the pitch with his slinging, low three-quarter arm slot, and the pitch starts in the first base batter’s box and darts the entire length of the plate. His change is a third genuine swing-and-miss offering. The command tends to hover in the 40- to 45-grade range, but given his age, stifled development time the past two years, athleticism, and loose arm, it’s likely to bump up into the 45 / 50 range in the coming years. He’s one of the few minor league arms that have a legit shot at ascending towards true ace-dom. Robbie Ray vibes, big time. Despite tallying just 122.0 innings in his minor league career, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him make his big league debut in 2024.
Ceiling: 3.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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2. Arjun Nimmala, SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45 | 55 | 40 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Background: A product of Strawberry Crest High School, Nimmala quickly made up for his lost freshman season (due to COVID) with an explosive, well-rounded sophomore season for the Chargers. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound shortstop slugged .384/.474/.521 with 10 doubles and 14 stolen bases (in 15 attempts) that season. He also tallied a 12-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Nimmala’s production took a noticeable step backward during his junior campaign for the Florida-based school, batting .271/.386/.542 with four doubles, three homeruns, and seven stolen bases. Nimmala, however, saved the best for his final prep campaign: he mashed .479/.573/.877 with eight doubles, three triples, five homeruns, and nine stolen bases. He would earn the Gatorade Player of the Year award for the state of Florida. He was committed to FSU. Toronto selected Nimmala in the opening round, 20th overall, and signed him to a deal worth an even $3 million. Nimmala appeared in nine Florida Complex League games during his debut, hitting .200/.500/.320 in 40 plate appearances.
Scouting Report: Pre-draft write-up:
“One of the youngest players in the draft class, Arjun, who [was] only 17-years-old, owns above-average bat speed, a smooth swing, and impressive power for a wiry middle infielder. There’s plenty of room on his 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame to add bulk and muscle. There’s some risk due to Nimmala’s pitch selection and his chase rates won’t be optimal in the professional ranks. Very solid, mid-tier first round prospect. Similar ceiling / production as Washington’s Brady House.”
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2027
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3. Orelvis Martinez, IF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 40 | 60 | 35 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Background: Considered as one of the system’s crown jewels since joining the organization as a high profile, high priced free agent off the international market in 2018. After signing on the dotted line for a massive $3.5 million deal, Martinez began to showcase his tools and the potential to be an impact player at the game’s ultimate level. The stocky infielder slugged .275/.352/.549 with eight doubles, five triples, and seven long balls as a 17-year-old in the Complex League in 2019. And he continued along a similar production trajectory as he moved up to Low-A in a post-pandemic performance, batting .279/.369/.572 with 41 extra-base hits in only 71 games. His stats declined precipitously, though, following a late-season promotion up to High-A. But, unfortunately, that proved to be a harbinger of things to come. Martinez spent the entirety of 2022 at the game’s most challenging minor league level, Double-A, mostly looking overmatched and often outclassed by less prospects. The Santo Domingo native hit – a term used in the loosest of senses – .203/.286/.446 with 15 doubles and 30 homeruns in 118 games with New Hampshire. Last season, the front office sent the once-promising infielder back to New Hampshire for a refresher course, hoping that Martinez would regain his stroke and established his lost luster. He promptly got off to a horrendous start to the year, hitting .089/.169/.266 over his first 22 games. After that, though, Martinez slugged .294/.419/.594 over his next 49 games before the front office relented and bumped him up to Triple-A in mid-July. He continued to perform, batting .263/.340/.507 with Buffalo. Overall, Martinez hit .243/.340/.496 with 25 doubles, two triples, 28 homeruns, and a pair of stolen bases. His production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average line by a solid 14%.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: The problem, of course, is the Cadillac-sized hole in his ferocious swing. Fastballs, even 80-grade heaters, aren’t the problem. Badly hung breakings balls aren’t an issue too. Martinez can’t hit low soft-stuff, particularly changeups and sliders that bend / fade just below the zone.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only two 21-year-old bats posted a 100 to 110 wRC+ with a strikeout rate between 25% and 28% with one club in any Triple-A league (min. 225 PA): Franklin Barreto, the former Blue Jays top prospect that never panned out, and – of course – Orelvis Martinez.
On one hand, Martinez looks like one of the game’s preeminent prospects, owning some of the best infield power from a non-first baseman. On the other hand, the hit tool continues to be concerning. His chase rate in Triple-A, 31%, would be below the MLB average (28.5%). But even more damning is his OOZ (Outside of Zone) whiff rate, coming in at a massive 67%, tied for 6th highest among Triple-A hitters that saw at least 100 pitches. That rate at the MLB level would put him in the same territory as Joey Gallo, Avisail Garcia, Ryan McKenna, and Darin Ruf, among others. Defensively, the organization continues to bounce Martinez around the infield; he spent time at second and third bases, as well as shortstop. He’s historically been stretched at shortstop, so he’s likely looking at a permanent shift to the hot corner or keystone. Martinez is a boom-bust type of prospect and his pitch recognition – as it currently stands – is going to make it awfully difficult for him to go BOOM. In terms of big league ceiling, think .230/.310/.440.
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2024
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4. Addison Barger, IF/RF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45 | 55 | 40 | 50 | 50/60 | 50 |
Background: One of the more pleasant surprises in the Jays’ system in 2022. The emergence of Barger that summer helped buoy the disappointment that Orelvis Martinez’s bat brought about. Taken in the sixth round out of C. Leon King High School in 2018, his performance in Low-A three years ago was quietly solid as he batted .249/.334/.492 with 41 extra-base hits in 2021. But he rode that wave into a career best showing in 2022 as he slugged .308/.378/.555 with 33 doubles, two triples, and 26 stolen bases in 124 games with Vancouver, New Hampshire, and Buffalo. Last season, Barger’s performance fell back in line with his previous career norms: he hit .250/.353/.403 with 25 doubles, nine homeruns, and five stolen bases (in eight attempts) in 88 games with Dunedin. His overall production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, was 8% below the league average threshold. A right elbow injury kept him sidelined for about six weeks early in the season.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: He’s got to repeat the production against lefties and keep his strikeout rate in check.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only two 23-year-old hitters met the following criteria with one club in any Triple-A league (min. 350 PA): 87 to 97 wRC+, a 20.5% to 22.5% strikeout rate, and a double-digit walk rate. Those two bats: Logan Watkins and – of course – Addison Barger.
Barger continues to be a bit of an enigma and nothing epitomizes that more than his 2023 campaign, some of which may or may not be contributed to his lingering elbow issue. The batted ball data, based on Triple-A’s Statcast, is average – at best. His average Exit Velocity was about 89 mph, though he did have a max EV of nearly 114 mph. Primarily a shortstop / second baseman prior to 2023, the front office pushed the former sixth round pick to rightfield for quite bit last season. The results in the outfield, albeit in an incredibly small sample size, were borderline elite. If the glove work continues to perform at an above-average rate, there’s a chance for a quietly solid league average starter. There’s the potential to be a .245/.315/.400. He has some late blooming feel to him.
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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5. Brandon Barriera, LHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 55 | 55 | 55 | 60 | 45 | 50 |
Background: Even before Toronto added Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins into the fold, the franchise had an extreme fondness for pitching in the first round of the MLB draft. Since 2009, the Jays have owned 29 total first round picks. They’ve used 20 of those selections on hurlers. One of the most recent being Brandon Barriera, the 23rd overall pick two years ago. A product of American Heritage High School, Barriera famously – or, perhaps, infamously – prematurely ended his final amateur campaign in hopes of avoiding any injury. And it worked; Toronto signed the big lefty to a deal worth nearly $3.6 million. The franchise kept their prized first rounder out of affiliated action until last season, but – unfortunately – Barriera’s debut campaign was plagued by injury. Dealing with an elbow issue and later a bicep concern, Barriera made seven starts (one in the Complex League and six with Dunedin), throwing 20.1 innings with 25 strikeouts and nine free passes to go along with a 3.98 ERA. He averaged 11.1 strikeouts and 4.0 walks per nine innings.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: He’s battled command issues – which is nothing new for a southpaw – but there’s some Cole Hamels-type potential here. He could be special, if he avoids the injury nexus.
Scouting Report: Similar low three-quarter arm slot as fellow Blue Jay lefty prospect Ricky Tiedemann. The eyeball test, based on limited game tape, looked like Barriera had lost a few ticks on his fastball. Prior to turning pro, Barriera’s fastball was touching in the upper 90s. As expected, his command was a 45. There’s not too much in terms of game tape or data, hopefully 2024 provides a better look at him and his potential.
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: High
MLB ETA: 2026/2027
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6. Alan Roden, 1B/LF/RF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 55/60 | 40/50 | 50/40 | 55 | 50 | 45 |
Background: It only makes sense that the two highest draft picks from the Creighton Blue Jays program since the year 2000 happened to come from the Toronto Blue Jays. That’s just one of life’s happy coincidences. Five years ago Toronto selected outfielder Will Robertson in the fourth round. Three years later, in 2022, the AL East contender grabbed first baseman / corner outfielder Alan Roden in the third round, 98th overall, making him the highest drafted player from the school in nearly 30 years. After joining the organization, Roden turned in a miserable debut with Dunedin, batting .233/.374/.311 with just four doubles and a dinger in 25 games. Unconcerned about the initial struggles, the front office sent him up to Vancouver to start the 2023 campaign. And he was brilliant. He slugged .321/.437/.459 with 28 extra-base knocks in only 69 games. Toronto deemed him ready to take on the minors’ toughest challenge, Double-A, and sent him up to New Hampshire in mid-July. And, once again, he proved himself as he batted .310/.421/.460. Roden would finish his first full year in the minor leagues with an aggregate .317/.431/.459 slash line with 29 doubles, two triples, 10 homeruns, and 24 stolen bases (in only 28 total attempts). His production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average threshold by 49%.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: Roden is broad-shouldered with a surprisingly short, quick swing that doesn’t project for much power, but allows him to consistently make contact. He posted an almost impossible 6.5% strikeout rate in college, and that number was just 11.3% during his limited debut. There may be more thump lurking in the bat, but a swing-rework may need to happen.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only three 23-year-old hitters posted a 145 to 155 wRC+ with a strikeout rate below 12% with one club in any High-A league (min. 300 PA): Brandon Guyer, Tyler Bortnick, and Alan Roden.
Roden has an interesting (read: odd) setup at the plate: hands held high, way over his head, with the bat parallel to the ground. He gets into hitting position with a big leg kick. Roden shows a very patient approach at the plate. The swing is short, compact, and he combines that with a good feel for the barrel. Despite the spectacular production line, even at Double-A, Roden’s going to be limited to part-time duty. He’s a candidate to develop a touch more power as he gets into his mid- to later-20s. Mark Cahna-type performer. He looked very good defensively.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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7. Kendry Rojas, LHP
| FB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 50/55 | 55 | 55 | 50 | 45 |
Background: The Blue Jays have quietly established a pipeline to Cuba in recent years, adding the likes of Yosver Zulueta, Kendry Rojas, and – most – recently outfielder Daniel Perez. Rojas joined the organization for slightly more than $200,000 four years ago. Two years later the 6-foot-2, 190-pound lefty would make his anticipated debut in the Complex League, making eight brief appearances, posting an absurdly dominant 39-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in only 23.2 innings of work. Rojas’s 2022 campaign was interrupted due to an undisclosed injury, though he was able to squeeze in 12 appearances with Dunedin, averaging 9.8 strikeouts and 4.3 walks per nine innings. Last season, the wiry southpaw was able to avoid the disabled list in his return to the Florida State League. He would make 15 starts and five relief appearances, striking out 82 and walking 33. He tallied a 3.75 ERA, 4.34 FIP, and 4.40 xFIP.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: Textbook definition of projection. Rojas owns one of the loosest, easiest throwing arms in the minor leagues. Really, really like this lottery ticket. And I think it’s one worth betting big one.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, eleven 20-year-old hurlers posted a 22.5% to 24.5% strikeout percentage with an 8.5% to 10.5% walk percentage with one club in any Low-A league (min. 75 IP): Edwin Diaz, Emilio Vargas, Anthony Banda, Devin Williams, Charlie Neuweiler, Alex Burgos, Mason Thompson, Nate Adcock, Case Williams, Dylan MacLean, Michael Morales, Layonel Ovalles, and – of course – Kendry Rojas.
Rojas is like a simmering pot of water. With each passing season he’s taking incremental improvement steps. Last season, he honed in the strike zone with more frequency, showed a little more oomph on his fastball, and more than doubled his previous high for yearly workload. The Cuban import still shows that incredibly fluid, loose arm and I’m still betting on him finding a way to get to the mid-90s on his fastball. His slider is a bit inconsistent, but will be a 55-grade pitch in time. And he has no qualms about mixing in his changeup. There’s backend starting material developing in Rojas’s wiry left arm with the floor of a solid relief option. When you catch him on the right day there are glimpses of three separate above-average pitches with a solid feel for the strike zone.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2025/2026
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8. Adam Macko, LHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 55 | 55 | 50 | 50 | 40/45 | 45 |
Background: Toronto’s brass acquired Macko, a former seventh round pick out of Vauxhall High School, and reliable veteran reliever Erik Swanson from the Mariners in exchange for All-Star Teoscar Hernández following the 2022 season. For his part, Swanson was a solid contributor for the Jays in 2023, posting a 2.97 ERA while averaging 10.1 strikeouts and just 2.8 walks per nine innings across 69 appearances. As for Macko, the former mid round draft selection spent the entirety of 2023 season with the Vancouver Canadians. The 6-foot, 170-pound lefty made a career best 20 starts with the club’s High-A affiliate, throwing 86.0 innings with 106 punch outs, 40 free passes, and a 4.81 ERA.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: Toronto might catch lightning in a bottle and can sprinkle some of the Ricky Tiedemann dust on Macko.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, twelve hurlers met the following criteria with one club in any High-A league during their age-21 season (min. 75 IP): 27.5% to 29.5% strikeout percentage with a 10% to 12% walk percentage. Those twelve arms: Mick Abel, Sean Manaea, Brandon Bailey, Angel Perdomo, Andrew Politi, CJ Van Eyk, Scott Elbert, Travis Ott, Nick Swiney, Joander Suarez, Mason Barnett, and Adam Macko.
Ignoring the actual results, at least momentarily, the 2023 season was a smashing success for the well-built lefty. Macko had thrown just 71.2 innings of work between his 2021-22 seasons. Last season, he was able to stay healthy and hurl 86 innings, which nearly matched his entire career workload heading into 2023. Arsenal-wise, his entire repertoire looked intact: solid-average fastball sitting in the low 90s, a plus curveball / sweeper with tremendous horizontal movement, a tightly-spun slider that moves just enough to avoid the barrel of the bat, and a plus, swing-and-miss changeup. He’s never been a consistent strike-thrower, though 2023 was his best showing to date. Physically, he’s definitely maxed out with a thick, running back-like lower half. Macko has the potential – if he can stay healthy – to fill in a back spot in a big league club’s rotation.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2025
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9. Enmanuel Bonilla, CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 35/45 | 50/60 | 50/30 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Background: LastJanuary the Blue Jays announced the addition of five free agents signed off the international market, headlined by toolsy center-fielder Enmanuel Bonilla. The remaining prospects, include: Andersson Barvosa, Jarold Montealto, Daniel Perez, and Juan Diego Rosas. But make no mistake about it: the key addition was Bonilla. A native of Sabaneta de Yasica, Dominican Republic, Toronto opened up their piggy bank and handed the 6-foot-1, 180-pound teenager a massive $4.1 million deal. A few months later Bonilla would pop up in the Dominican Summer League. He would slug .307/.407/.429 across 50 games, belting out eight doubles, three triples, and three homeruns to go along with five stolen bases (in 10 attempts). According to Weighted Runs Created Plus, his overall production surpassed the league average mark by a rock solid 27%.
Scouting Report: Big, big time raw power from an incredibly easy, fluid right-handed swing. Quick bat. The question will come down to Bonilla’s pitch recognition and hit tool. I think the former won’t be an issue, but he showed some borderline red flag issues with his K-rate last summer. He also had a 35.0% Swing Strike % last year, which ranked as the 34th worst total among all qualified 17-year-old hitters in the DSL in 2023 (note: there were 144 qualified 17-year-olds). He’s big enough as a 17-year-old to assume that he’ll eventually move away from centerfield. There’s impact tool, particularly the power, but he’s going to have to prove the hit tool is solid enough.
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: High
MLB ETA: 2027
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10. Leo Jimenez, 2B/SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 40 | 40 | 50 | 50 | 40 |
Background: A smooth swinging, elite bat-to-ball middle infielder out of Chitre, Panama, Toronto signed Jimenez to a deal worth slightly more than $800,000 during the summer of 2017. And, almost immediately, the front office placed him on the fast developmental track to the big leagues. He made his affiliated debut in the old Gulf Coast League in 2018 and reached Low-A the following year as an 18-year-old. After sitting out the 2020 season due to COVID, Jimenez batted an OBP-driven .316/.517/.381 in 54 games with Dunedin. It was an impossible task to repeat that type of performance, but his production completely cratered in another shortened campaign in 2022. This time it came in High-A. He batted .230/.340/.385 with just 14 doubles, three triples, six homeruns, and seven stolen bases in 69 games with Vancouver. Last season, Jimenez righted the ship as he moved up to the fires of Double-A. Appearing in 76 games with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the 5-foot-10, 215-pound second baseman / shortstop hit .287/.372/.436 with 15 doubles, two triples, eight homeruns, and eight stolen bases (in 10 total attempts). His production with the club, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by 25%. Jimenez spent the last month of the year mostly struggling with the Buffalo Bisons in the International League (.191/.338/.238).
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only two 22-year-old bats met the following criteria with one club in any Double-A league (min. 300 PA): 120 to 130 wRC+, an 8% to 11% walk rate, and a 15% to 17% strikeout rate. Those two sticks: Owen Miller and Leo Jimenez.
An average defender on either side of the keystone, Jimenez has always felt like a utility player in waiting. The hit tool is good, not great, below average power, a little bit of speed, and – of course – defensive versatility. Jimenez is listed at 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds, but it’s good weight, not bad. His flaw is the lack of impact tools, but he has a high floor and should spend at least a few seasons on a big league bench.
Ceiling: 1.0-win player
Risk: Low toModerate
MLB ETA: 2024
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All statistics were provided via the following website: Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, TheBaseballCube, BaseballProspectus, ClayDavenport.com, Baseball America, and X-user @mk237700 (for compiling Statcast Data)
