2025 Minor League/Prospects Discussion Thread

[dagger]

Cade Doughty had two homers today including a solo walkoff. We effectively swapped Robbie Ray for Kevin Gausman in free agency and the comp pick for Ray was turned into Doughty. That’s pretty effective asset management.


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[Schad]

Cade Doughty had two homers today including a solo walkoff. We effectively swapped Robbie Ray for Kevin Gausman in free agency and the comp pick for Ray was turned into Doughty. That’s pretty effective asset management.

I'd expect him to be in NH start of next year. He's an advanced college bat in low-A, so it isn't surprising that he has hit the ground running, but the power has been eye-opening.

[polo007]

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[Schad]

Addison Barger with another HR. He definitely looks like a guy who has a chance; he doesn't merely hit HRs, he absolutely crushes them, including one that left the stadium outright a few nights ago. He actually seems to have pretty solid bat-to-ball skills, but chases a bit too much.

The one negative that stands out, in watching highlights, is that he has a big leg kick, and gets his leg down quite late. He also both strides and lands with a pretty open stance. It's quite reminiscent of Japan/early rookie Ohtani actually (though Ohtani started from a slightly more closed position); Ohtani ditched the leg kick for his toe tap/swivel and became far better against pitches down and away. Like Ohtani, he clearly has enough raw power that he doesn't need to sell out for pull side, either. The Jays are likely willing to let him just keep hitting for the moment, but I wonder whether the Jays will try to simplify his timing in a similar fashion.

[dagger]

Addison Barger with another HR. He definitely looks like a guy who has a chance; he doesn't merely hit HRs, he absolutely crushes them, including one that left the stadium outright a few nights ago. He actually seems to have pretty solid bat-to-ball skills, but chases a bit too much.

The one negative that stands out, in watching highlights, is that he has a big leg kick, and gets his leg down quite late. He also both strides and lands with a pretty open stance. It's quite reminiscent of Japan/early rookie Ohtani actually (though Ohtani started from a slightly more closed position); Ohtani ditched the leg kick for his toe tap/swivel and became far better against pitches down and away. Like Ohtani, he clearly has enough raw power that he doesn't need to sell out for pull side, either. The Jays are likely willing to let him just keep hitting for the moment, but I wonder whether the Jays will try to simplify his timing in a similar fashion.

The Jays will face several interesting situations on whom to protect from the Rule 5 draft. You'd think Barger is automatic, playing a premium position. Some crappy team would probably take a fling at him if he were exposed. Spencer Horwitz doesn't play a premium position, so he's one on the edge. Gabriel Martinez may be too low in the system for a team to risk picking him, and he's a corner outfielder, but he is the Jays #9 prospect on MLB Pipeline and he's having a very nice season. There are a number of pitchers on the 40 man roster who are probably easily dropped. Then there is Hagen Danner, whom they obviously thought enough of to put on the 40 man roster but who has been injured almost the entire season, so is probably too high risk for another team to put on their MLB roster next season.

[polo007]

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[dagger]

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Tiedemann continues to be handled like a Ming vase. They are limiting him to three inning starts which means he may need all of 2023 to build him up for starting in the majors. 39 pitches last night.


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[polo007]

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[Cyrus]

20. Toronto Blue Jays
2022 preseason rank: 21
2021 midseason rank: 14
2021 preseason rank: 7
2020 midseason rank: 7
Top 100 prospects: Gabriel Moreno, C (No. 7); Ricky Tiedemann, LHP (No. 34); Orelvis Martinez, SS/3B (No. 73)

If Moreno had graduated as many expected him to by this point, the Jays would have likely slipped a few places. Instead, they actually rise one from their preseason standing. Moreno, who is blocked by Toronto at present, continues to show a plus hit tool and special athleticism behind the plate, while on the other end of the battery, Tiedemann has been one of the Minors’ best breakout pitchers in his first full season, rising from the 2021 third round to comfortably within the Top 100. Brandon Barriera and Tucker Toman were solid Draft additions, and Yosver Zulueta (when healthy) flashes plus stuff across the board. What once looked like a deep group of Toronto infielders has taken a step back, affecting the overall health of the system, and outside of the big three, there are questions about how much pitching this group can provide future Toronto staffs.

https://www.mlb.com/news/farm-system-rankings-2022-midseason

Its probably why we were in on deals, and really couldn't get anything done. WE've really fallen off since 2020 from a top 10 farm, to #20 farm.

[vaff87]

20. Toronto Blue Jays
2022 preseason rank: 21
2021 midseason rank: 14
2021 preseason rank: 7
2020 midseason rank: 7
Top 100 prospects: Gabriel Moreno, C (No. 7); Ricky Tiedemann, LHP (No. 34); Orelvis Martinez, SS/3B (No. 73)

If Moreno had graduated as many expected him to by this point, the Jays would have likely slipped a few places. Instead, they actually rise one from their preseason standing. Moreno, who is blocked by Toronto at present, continues to show a plus hit tool and special athleticism behind the plate, while on the other end of the battery, Tiedemann has been one of the Minors’ best breakout pitchers in his first full season, rising from the 2021 third round to comfortably within the Top 100. Brandon Barriera and Tucker Toman were solid Draft additions, and Yosver Zulueta (when healthy) flashes plus stuff across the board. What once looked like a deep group of Toronto infielders has taken a step back, affecting the overall health of the system, and outside of the big three, there are questions about how much pitching this group can provide future Toronto staffs.

https://www.mlb.com/news/farm-system-rankings-2022-midseason

Its probably why we were in on deals, and really couldn't get anything done. WE've really fallen off since 2020 from a top 10 farm, to #20 farm.

Yeah, that tends to be how it is with minor league systems. Through graduations, trades, flameouts, guys coming out of nowhere, etc they tend to ebb and flow.

[Cyrus]

20. Toronto Blue Jays
2022 preseason rank: 21
2021 midseason rank: 14
2021 preseason rank: 7
2020 midseason rank: 7
Top 100 prospects: Gabriel Moreno, C (No. 7); Ricky Tiedemann, LHP (No. 34); Orelvis Martinez, SS/3B (No. 73)

If Moreno had graduated as many expected him to by this point, the Jays would have likely slipped a few places. Instead, they actually rise one from their preseason standing. Moreno, who is blocked by Toronto at present, continues to show a plus hit tool and special athleticism behind the plate, while on the other end of the battery, Tiedemann has been one of the Minors’ best breakout pitchers in his first full season, rising from the 2021 third round to comfortably within the Top 100. Brandon Barriera and Tucker Toman were solid Draft additions, and Yosver Zulueta (when healthy) flashes plus stuff across the board. What once looked like a deep group of Toronto infielders has taken a step back, affecting the overall health of the system, and outside of the big three, there are questions about how much pitching this group can provide future Toronto staffs.

https://www.mlb.com/news/farm-system-rankings-2022-midseason

Its probably why we were in on deals, and really couldn't get anything done. WE've really fallen off since 2020 from a top 10 farm, to #20 farm.

Yeah, that tends to be how it is with minor league systems. Through graduations, trades, flameouts, guys coming out of nowhere, etc they tend to ebb and flow.

Like we are top heavy, and don't have much coming through yet, and some just have flamed out like Nate Pearson who I guess is considered prospect but can't stay healthy.

[polo007]

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[tb40]

https://www.milb.com/player/rainer-nunez-678742

A guy flying under the radar, not in the top 30. Plays the same position as Vlad unfortunatly, but.... you never know.

19 homers between A and high A, and batting .321 at Vancouver.

6'3" righty and 21yrs old til December.

[Schad]

https://www.milb.com/player/rainer-nunez-678742

A guy flying under the radar, not in the top 30. Plays the same position as Vlad unfortunatly, but.... you never know.

19 homers between A and high A, and batting .321 at Vancouver.

6'3" righty and 21yrs old til December.

There are good signs in his Vancouver numbers, in that his K rate has fallen while his BB rate is sharply up.

As you say though, it's tough because the bar for offensive production as a 1B is really, really high. He needs to either hit for massive power or get on base consistently, and his OBP is currently inflated quite a bit by his BABIP.

[SharoneWright]

I'm officially on the "make it Rain!" bandwagon!

[Schad]

Zulueta has returned from the DL, and is being used in relief in NH, as he was in his last couple appearances pre-injury. I'd expect that he'll be up before the end of the year, and on the playoff roster if all goes to plan.