2025 Minor League/Prospects Discussion Thread

[Fairview4Life]

[dagger]

MLB Pipeline;s new top 100 has two Jays - Arjun Nimala at 87 and Trey Yesavage at 88.

On Nimmala

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

Only 17 heading into the 2023 Draft, Nimmala drew tons of intrigue for his future projection and slotted in as No. 11 in MLB Pipeline’s rankings for the class. The Blue Jays selected him 20th overall, making him the highest first-generation Indian-American ever drafted in the four major sports, and signed him for $3 million. With short-season ball limited to the complex, Toronto faced a decision on where to open the shortstop in 2024 and chose Single-A Dunedin after his strong spring. Nimmala hit just .167 with a 34.4 percent strikeout rate through 29 games, and the organization did an in-season reset in mid-May. After he returned to the Florida State League on June 27, he took off with a .265/.331/.564 line and 13 homers in his final 53 games.

Nimmala’s 17 homers total led all players aged 18 or younger in 2024, and his FSL exit velocity data was solid for the level regardless of age, underlining that he could get to plus power at maturity. Blue Jays coaches noted that he wasn’t always putting himself in the best posture to make the most of that strength in the season’s first half and worked to correct it, leading to much better numbers on pitches inside the zone after his in-season break. Nimmala can still be vulnerable to soft stuff as he grows more accustomed to pro pitching.

The Florida native can be a solid runner but may slow down as he grows into his large frame. He made gains with his defensive instincts and range at shortstop, and while he isn’t always smooth there, his plus arm strength can help paper over issues. Nimmala will still only be 19 for the entire 2025 season and could launch further into prominence with a repeat of his second half.

On Yesavage

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Splitter: 60 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

Yesavage began his career at East Carolina as a reliever but worked his way into a starting role to great effect in 2023, earning second-team All-American honors. As a junior last spring, he finished among the Division I top five in ERA (2.03, fourth), strikeouts (145, fifth), average-against (.154, second) and wins (11, t-fourth). But he suffered a collapsed lung during what was believed to be dry needling treatment before the AAC Conference Tournament. He returned in time to throw 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball against Wake Forest and fellow top 2024 Draft talent Chase Burns in the NCAA Greenville Regional. While some teams had medical concerns about Yesavage, the Blue Jays selected the hurler 20th overall in July and signed him for $4,177,500.

Yesavage traveled to the Blue Jays’ facility in Dunedin, Fla., for baseline work with Toronto staff but didn’t appear in games after the Draft. On stuff alone, he was one of the best arms in the class. His 93-95 mph fastball has great carry from a high, near-over-the-top release point (almost 7 feet), and that steepness plays to his advantage. A mid-80s slider shows good depth to generate heavy whiffs and a low-80s splitter can be another plus pitch, especially coming off the heater. A low-80s spike curveball provides another option but wasn't used as much last year.

Yesavage has a bulldog mentality on the bump and brings a physical presence at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. He showed improved fastball command during his days in college that helped fuel his rise to prominence. Toronto officials will monitor him in his first taste of the pros, especially given some of the injury concerns to other arms in the system.

[JaysRule15]

Wow that's a really intriguing report on Yesavage. Grade A baseball name aside, it's rare to see scouting reports for a pitcher recently drafted to have 3 above average pitches and average control.

[bartron_44]

Yesavage looks like someone who could be ready really fast.

[polo007]

Top 50 Toronto Blue Jays prospects of 2025 | TSN.ca

One of the greatest failures of the Mark Shapiro/Ross Atkins regime to this point is their inability to consistently develop the pitching needed to win year in and year out.

This past year has seen a new storyline develop, as the organization had nine pitchers succumb to Tommy John surgery.

From the very top of the prospect list with Ricky Tiedemann, Brandon Barriera and Landen Maroudis, to the mid-tier with Chad Dallas and Nolan Perry, Carson Pierce and trade acquisition Chris McElvain, to most recently bullpen arms like T.J. Brock and Connor Cooke, there were a concerning number of arm injuries throughout the minor league ranks.

Bad luck or something else?

While the organization investigated their training methods and also made staff changes in hopes of rectifying the problem, many of the aforementioned names will be sidelined for most if not all of the 2025 season, stalling the development of a number of key prospects.

As you read these player profiles, you’re likely to notice one common theme — it’s a big year for a lot of these prospects.

There’s no doubt this farm system isn’t great, and that’s the general consensus amongst most evaluators.

But a handful of breakouts can change things in an instant, and this is a system that heads into 2025 with a handful of players who could do just that.

For the seventh year in a row, enjoy the 2025 look at the top 50 Blue Jays prospects.

[dagger]

Keith Law is out with his two 20 Blue Jays prospects. As The Athletic is a subscription based product, I ill just do a summary. with a few excerpts.

His top 20

1. Arjun Nimmala
2. Trey Yesavage
3. Orelvis Martinez
4. Josh Kasevich
5. Alan Roden
6. Jake Bloss
7. Ricky Tiedemann
8. Fernando Perez
9. Khal Stephen
10. Kendry Rojas
11. Adam Macko
12. Eddison Paulino
13. Adrian Pinto
14. Brandon Barriera
15. Juaron Watts-Brown
16. Sean Keys
17. Charles McAdoo
18. Johnny King
19. Will Wagner
20. Sam Shaw

Law's general commentary:

The Blue Jays’ system is at a low right now, as their 2022 draft class, which included four picks on Day 1, hasn’t panned out, their first-rounders from 2020 and 2021 are long gone, and previous top prospect Ricky Tiedemann got hurt yet again, this time requiring surgery. They haven’t had a big success on the international front recently, bringing in a lot of very talented teenagers who haven’t progressed once they’ve gotten into the system. The result is that their top 20, especially their top 10, is relatively old, with a lot of guys who offer proximity to the majors but lower ceilings than the typical 19-year-old upside prospect.

He sees Nimmala as a possible 30-HR SS who can hold that position. Yesavage a Number 3 starter with good stuff but not much more projection, and the Jays ought to get him to the majors by the end of this coming season.Of Orelvis, he says:

When he was a potentially above-average defensive third baseman as a 20-year-old, it was easier to see different scenarios where he could be a 4-win player in the majors. He still has major-league value, and could end up a regular in a corner, but those paths are a little narrower now.

Of Kasevich, he sees plus defence and high contact - as does every other evaluation – with good exit velocity but a tendency to drive the ball into the ground - as does every other evaluation. If he can elevate a little more, he can be a 15-HR guy, an above average starter given high contact skills, plate discipline and plus D.

Of Roden, he says that he's limited to corner OF, "probably a solid regular if he improves against southpaws or converts more of that hard contact into over the fence power".

Bloss looks like a quality fourth stater if his shoulder issue is behind him, Tiedemann now looks like a reliever only because of his inability to stay healthy. Same for Adam Macko.

He like Khal Stephen as a potential back end starter who ought to move quickly through the system.

I'm surprised he thinks so little of Will Wagner, as fans and media here have practically penciled him into the starting lineup. No projectabilty and pretty much just a utility guy.

[polo007]

Read on Twitter

[COY0607]

Keith Law is out with his two 20 Blue Jays prospects. As The Athletic is a subscription based product, I ill just do a summary. with a few excerpts.

His top 20

1. Arjun Nimmala
2. Trey Yesavage
3. Orelvis Martinez
4. Josh Kasevich
5. Alan Roden
6. Jake Bloss
7. Ricky Tiedemann
8. Fernando Perez
9. Khal Stephen
10. Kendry Rojas
11. Adam Macko
12. Eddison Paulino
13. Adrian Pinto
14. Brandon Barriera
15. Juaron Watts-Brown
16. Sean Keys
17. Charles McAdoo
18. Johnny King
19. Will Wagner
20. Sam Shaw

Law's general commentary:

The Blue Jays’ system is at a low right now, as their 2022 draft class, which included four picks on Day 1, hasn’t panned out, their first-rounders from 2020 and 2021 are long gone, and previous top prospect Ricky Tiedemann got hurt yet again, this time requiring surgery. They haven’t had a big success on the international front recently, bringing in a lot of very talented teenagers who haven’t progressed once they’ve gotten into the system. The result is that their top 20, especially their top 10, is relatively old, with a lot of guys who offer proximity to the majors but lower ceilings than the typical 19-year-old upside prospect.

He sees Nimmala as a possible 30-HR SS who can hold that position. Yesavage a Number 3 starter with good stuff but not much more projection, and the Jays ought to get him to the majors by the end of this coming season.Of Orelvis, he says:

When he was a potentially above-average defensive third baseman as a 20-year-old, it was easier to see different scenarios where he could be a 4-win player in the majors. He still has major-league value, and could end up a regular in a corner, but those paths are a little narrower now.

Of Kasevich, he sees plus defence and high contact - as does every other evaluation – with good exit velocity but a tendency to drive the ball into the ground - as does every other evaluation. If he can elevate a little more, he can be a 15-HR guy, an above average starter given high contact skills, plate discipline and plus D.

Of Roden, he says that he's limited to corner OF, "probably a solid regular if he improves against southpaws or converts more of that hard contact into over the fence power".

Bloss looks like a quality fourth stater if his shoulder issue is behind him, Tiedemann now looks like a reliever only because of his inability to stay healthy. Same for Adam Macko.

He like Khal Stephen as a potential back end starter who ought to move quickly through the system.

I'm surprised he thinks so little of Will Wagner, as fans and media here have practically penciled him into the starting lineup. No projectabilty and pretty much just a utility guy.

Solid analysis, thanks for sharing!

A little surprised that he thinks Yesavage can be in the majors this year, I wasn’t thinking of his as a starting option so soon (unless season goes poorly and you trade away starters).

Of Wagner, may be a case of older guy (he’ll be 27 this season!) with low risk and low ceiling. After close to 100 ABs we have a pretty good idea of who he is.

[JTT]

A little ray of sunshine for a dark day. The fan graph zips top 100 prospects are out and the Jays have 5: Orelvis, Nimala, Bloss, Tiedemann, and Will Wagner. As a reminder, these aren’t scouting reports but quantitative projections.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/zips-2025-top-100-prospects/

[JaysRule15]

MLB Pipeline ranks our farm 27th with two in the Top 100. Nimmala at 86 and Yeasavage at 87.

https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/farm-system-rankings-2025-preseason?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

Really hoping its a decent season in the minor leagues and we see a few prospects emerge.

[bartron_44]

Keith Law is out with his two 20 Blue Jays prospects. As The Athletic is a subscription based product, I ill just do a summary. with a few excerpts.

His top 20

1. Arjun Nimmala
2. Trey Yesavage
3. Orelvis Martinez
4. Josh Kasevich
5. Alan Roden
6. Jake Bloss
7. Ricky Tiedemann
8. Fernando Perez
9. Khal Stephen
10. Kendry Rojas
11. Adam Macko
12. Eddison Paulino
13. Adrian Pinto
14. Brandon Barriera
15. Juaron Watts-Brown
16. Sean Keys
17. Charles McAdoo
18. Johnny King
19. Will Wagner
20. Sam Shaw

Law's general commentary:

The Blue Jays’ system is at a low right now, as their 2022 draft class, which included four picks on Day 1, hasn’t panned out, their first-rounders from 2020 and 2021 are long gone, and previous top prospect Ricky Tiedemann got hurt yet again, this time requiring surgery. They haven’t had a big success on the international front recently, bringing in a lot of very talented teenagers who haven’t progressed once they’ve gotten into the system. The result is that their top 20, especially their top 10, is relatively old, with a lot of guys who offer proximity to the majors but lower ceilings than the typical 19-year-old upside prospect.

He sees Nimmala as a possible 30-HR SS who can hold that position. Yesavage a Number 3 starter with good stuff but not much more projection, and the Jays ought to get him to the majors by the end of this coming season.Of Orelvis, he says:

When he was a potentially above-average defensive third baseman as a 20-year-old, it was easier to see different scenarios where he could be a 4-win player in the majors. He still has major-league value, and could end up a regular in a corner, but those paths are a little narrower now.

Of Kasevich, he sees plus defence and high contact - as does every other evaluation – with good exit velocity but a tendency to drive the ball into the ground - as does every other evaluation. If he can elevate a little more, he can be a 15-HR guy, an above average starter given high contact skills, plate discipline and plus D.

Of Roden, he says that he's limited to corner OF, "probably a solid regular if he improves against southpaws or converts more of that hard contact into over the fence power".

Bloss looks like a quality fourth stater if his shoulder issue is behind him, Tiedemann now looks like a reliever only because of his inability to stay healthy. Same for Adam Macko.

He like Khal Stephen as a potential back end starter who ought to move quickly through the system.

I'm surprised he thinks so little of Will Wagner, as fans and media here have practically penciled him into the starting lineup. No projectabilty and pretty much just a utility guy.

Solid analysis, thanks for sharing!

A little surprised that he thinks Yesavage can be in the majors this year, I wasn’t thinking of his as a starting option so soon (unless season goes poorly and you trade away starters).

Of Wagner, may be a case of older guy (he’ll be 27 this season!) with low risk and low ceiling. After close to 100 ABs we have a pretty good idea of who he is.

Is that a joke, or do you really believe you know who someone is after 100 ABs …..at any level? Its more like 1000 ABs… maybe even more at the big league level when hitters are making the biggest leap in competition that they have ever done before. Its a game of adjustments, and until you find who can and who cant successfully make adjustments to combat the various ways opposing team try to get them out during the course of a season, you dont know if you have the real deal or just a flash in the pan. Even if they mash out of the gate for 1 or 2 hundred ABs. MLB pitching and analytics is going to figure out a way to expose you somewhere eventually.

Whats your bar for pitchers, 3 or 4 appearances?

Why do you think contending teams go out and pay veteran pitchers and hitters instead of relying on young arms to carry them? They do it because those guys are proven at the big league level, and not someone you have to live through some growing pains with. They are players you expect to perform, not just hope they perform.

As far as Will Wagner is concerned, he is ranked so low because :

1)His age
2)His lack of in game power
3)His lack of defensive upside at any position on defense

Even most Blue Jays prospects top 30 lists have him closer to the bottom than the top in their own organization.

If they are bringing up someone to lead off and DH, personally I’d rather take Lukes. All that guy does is put up great springs and then solid numbers in AAA. (Not to mention posting an OPS or .818 over 91PAs ) I think he deserves a shot at either DH/CF or LF to begin the season.

[bluerap23]

These guys that run the org have excelled at finding #8 and #9 type hitters. in the draft and in trade.

[JaysRule15]

These guys that run the org have excelled at finding #8 and #9 type hitters. in the draft and in trade.

What sucks is that when I look at the prospect profiles of some of these hitters we acquire, there are some good tools there. It's just unfortunate that none of them are able to put it together and take that next step which allows them to excel in the majors. So it just feels like we're stuck with these AAAA types.

[bartron_44]

To succeed, you need to be given a real shot. Not just fill in for an injury or as a September call up. The problem with “developing players” is its next to impossible to do while trying to win. Not unless the franchise is forced into that situation due to injuries m. To bust through you need instant (and sustained) success at the plate …. Or you need to be of the rare breed of elite defenders somewhere up the middle where you can still be valuable without raking.

I think guys like Barger, Schneider and Leo Jimenez could all be ready to break out after learning the holes in their swing and getting the chance to make the mechanical adjustments required to hit 97-100 mph AND off speed pitches.

Until recently they had an mlb lineup full of highly paid veterans and home grown players.So most of the top talent was used in trades.

Now instead of all jays draft picks coming up, they have the players other teams were willing to trade away ( for one reason or another). The last “untouchable” position player they really had was Moreno, and they traded him away for an area of need (a left handed power hitting OF)…A role that Varsho has yet to truly fill. Instead they got the second coming of KK.

Now they paid big money to Santander to play that role…but he would be much better suited as their DH. Hopefully either Barger and/or Roden can grow to be that player….. this season.

[bartron_44]

Carter Cunningham didnt waste any time making a name for himself once he got the chance. He’s now 1 for 1 with 2 walks and a walk off homer to beat the Yankees. Pretty crazy for a kid drafted in the 10th round just last year to even be invited to ST, but I love his swing and way he carries himself in the box. So im not surprised they did.

He’s a big 6’4 athletic left handed hitter that played all three OF positions along with 1B in college, and was too good for D1 last year slashing .367/.464/.653 with 17 HRs, 2 3B,17 2Bs, 77 runs scored and 66 RBIs in 63 games. He also walked as much as he struck out with 38 BBs and 38 SOs.

I will be following him this year for sure.

[dagger]

Sam Dykstra of MLB.com with some training cap stuff on our prospects

https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/toronto-blue-jays-spring-training-report-2025?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

[JaysRule15]

I know the system isn't ranked too well, but if we can hit on a couple of guys like Yesavage, Tiedemann, Barriera, Rojas and Bloss in the next couple of years, that's a decent wave of starting pitching.

[dagger]

I know the system isn't ranked too well, but if we can hit on a couple of guys like Yesavage, Tiedemann, Barriera, Rojas and Bloss in the next couple of years, that's a decent wave of starting pitching.

Maroudis is another one who ought to be on that list. He and Barriera will be pitching in real games by mid-June.

A reminder of his potential, he's still just 20.


8

Landen Maroudis
RHP, Dunedin Blue Jays, A
Toronto Blue Jays
B
DOB
12/16/2004

DRAFTED
2023, 4th (121) - TOR

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

Maroudis played shortstop at Calvary Christian HS in Florida when he wasn’t pitching and shot up Draft boards with evaluators enamored by how his physical upside could take off while focusing full time on pitching. Toronto selected the 6-foot-3 Maroudis in the fourth round of the 2023 Draft and signed him away from an NC State commitment with a $1.5 million bonus. Maroudis was off to a strong start in 2024 with Single-A Dunedin but needed surgery to address his right UCL with an internal brace in late May.

Until that surgery, Maroudis had as much upward momentum as any pitcher in this system. It wasn’t quite to the level of Ricky Tiedemann a couple of years ago when he made his big jump, but it was getting there. Maroudis’ fastball sits 93-94 mph, touching 96, and the Blue Jays believe there’s room for more. Combine that with his mid-80s slider, a curveball that lives near 80 mph and a changeup he was already starting to get a feel for, and the Blue Jays have an exciting package with which to work. The surgery was a setback, yes, but Maroudis is still just 20 years old with plenty of development time ahead of him.

Health is the biggest factor for Maroudis, much like Tiedemann, but the upside here is significant. He could be back in game action early in 2025, which is exciting for the organization after he’s nailed his rehab process and spent a ton of time at the complex in Dunedin. Maroudis has the potential to catapult himself towards the top of this farm system if all goes well.

[polo007]

Read on Twitter

[dagger]

As of yesterday, all the Jays' minor league teams are into their seasons. None won yesterday, but a few performances caught my eye.

Khal Stephen, the Jays second round pick last July and 11th overall prospect in MLB Pipeline, threw five scoreless innings for Dunedin (two hits, 1 walk 6K). And in New Hampshire, Ryan Jennings (#22 in the top 30) threw two scoreless innings in relief (0H, 0BB, 4K). Also at Dunedin, 20 year old 2B Sam Shaw, the Jays 9th round pick in 2023, went 2-4 with a homer.

Update: Arjun Nimmala was 3-5 yesterday - all singles - in Vancouver's win over Tri-Cities.