2025 Minor League/Prospects Discussion Thread

[polo007]

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Yesavage and his wingman, Gage Stanifer, had another excellent night - 17 strikeouts between them. It stands to reason that when Yesavage is promoted to Vancouver, Stanifer will take his place as a starter at Dunedin, and if can replicate the success he has ben having in late innings, move on to Vancouver by midseason. That Dunedin team is the best in the system right now with a 21-13 record.

There is good pitching talent in the system. Last year's TJ surgery guys, Landon Maroudis, Brandan Barriera and Alex Manoah, will all be pitching in games soon, Yesavage and Khal Stephen are both on an upward track, Stanifer is turning himself into a prospect, Adam Macko is in a rehab stint in the FCL, soon will move up to Dunedin, Jauron Watts-Brown will be ready for New Hampshire if he can come close to his last Vancouver start. Where the system is weak, both in starters and relievers, is Buffalo in particular. On a night when the Blue Jays pen blew a lead in the ninth inning, Buffalo did just as badly, giving up 9 runs in the eighth and ninth as Atkins' scrap heap pickups, Barnes and Nance, were awful. Now Bloss is out, so while the Buffalo lineup can generate a lot of offence, its pitching staff is terribly thin.

[dagger]

Savage, Stephen and Stanifer have been promoted to Vancouver and Ryan Jennings to Buffalo

[polo007]

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While the prospect focus of fans now shifts to Vancouver, there are a few other prospects I haven't mentioned who ought to be watched. Besides reliever Colby Martin, who doesn't; get too many high leverage opportunities in Dunedin because the team often wins by several runs, the best run producer is 20-year-old catcher Edward Duran. Duran might be the Jays' best C prospect since Gaby Moreno.

https://www.milb.com/player/edward-duran-698927

He's strong at the plate and according to prospect watchers, just as strong behind the plate. Don't look at that face and think he's another chunky guy who can't run like Kirk. Duran has three triples already.

Manuel Beltre, 20, might be "getting it", at least at this level, after floundering in A ball for multiple seasons. He's still young enough to climb the ladder.

https://www.milb.com/player/manuel-beltre-694202

And at New Hampshire, we have Yohendrick Pinango, 23, who was one of the prospects acquired from the Cubs at the deadline for Nate Pearson, and probably the lesser of the two prospects in that deal because his potential seemed to be cresting. But you can't argue with these numbers, so if he sustains this a while longer, he might well make it to Buffalo. I asked a prospect blogger what he thinks of Pinango and was told "whiffs of Melky Cabrera", while he reminds me of Harold Ramirez.

https://www.milb.com/player/yohendrick-pinango-682818

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Pinango made MLB Pipeline's prospect team of the week.
https://www.mlb.com/stories/prospect-team-of-the-week-2025-05-19

He had a very nice April, but his May line so far is eye-popping

.400 .518 .756 1.274

He's still kind of a long shot

This is his scouting report from MLB

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40

Pinango signed with the Cubs for $400,000 out of Venezuela in 2018 and led the Dominican Summer League with 86 hits a year later. He skipped over stateside complex ball after the pandemic but appeared at High-A for four straight seasons until breaking out in 2024. After finally breaking through to Double-A in May of that year, he was traded to the Blue Jays two months later in the Nate Pearson deal and struggled in his introduction to the Toronto system. He returned to New Hampshire to begin his age-23 season in 2025 and took off once again, reestablishing himself as one of the best outfield prospects in his second organization.

A left-handed hitter, Pinango displayed good bat-to-ball skills early in his career but would expand the zone too much in pursuit of contact, leading to rough power. His walk and chase rates have improved in recent years, and by adjusting the base in his stance, he’s been able to keep the bat in the zone longer. His bat speed has impressed Jays officials early in 2025, and he uses it to turn on inside fastballs and better tap into his solid raw power, though he still needs to prove that pop can regularly hold at the upper levels. One of his biggest improvements early this summer has been cutting down on harmless infield popups, thus giving himself a better shot at hits.

A below-average runner, Pinango is limited to the corner outfield spots, and with average arm strength, he’s a better fit in left. That puts a larger emphasis on his bat. Pinango, who was first Rule 5-eligible in 2022, is trending toward being a hit-first fourth outfielder.

[dagger]

Promotions, we've got promotions

Watts-Brown and Rogers from Vancouver to New Hampshire

https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-prospect-juaron-watts-brown-called-new-hampshire-2025-breakout

[polo007]

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[bartron_44]

I know people have been writing off Orelvis Martinez as a possible call up, but after a slow start in April, he is slashing .279/.364/.544 in May with 3 HRs and 7 2Bs. The bat is back. Just not sure he can play adequate defense anywhere.

In NH, it isnt only Pinango that is hot now. After a slow April like Martinez , RJ Schreck has joined him and is now slashing .348/.427/.803 in May with 8 HRs, 4 2Bs and a triple. He is raking like he did back in college.

Thats 2 more potential left handed power hitting outfielders that should be in Buffalo sooner than later.

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[bluerap23]

Roden was very good since being demoted. Looking forward to seeing what he can do this time around.

[bartron_44]

Schreck with his 9th HR of the month! Kid is on fire!

[JaysRule15]

Yesavage is on fire. Hitting 98-99mph too. At this rate he could be in the mix to be in the rotation next season.

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Yesavage is on fire. Hitting 98-99mph too. At this rate he could be in the mix to be in the rotation next season.

It's intriguing that the trio of guys - Yesavage, Stephen and Stanifer - promoted a few weeks ago from Dunedin are pitching just as effectively at Vancouver and ought to get another in-season promotion at this rate. Also, Jauron Watts-Brown is pitching just as effectively at New Hampshire as he did at Vancouver earlier in the season, and I'd bet he sees a promotion to AAA before too long. Not all of these four will end up as starters down the line, but they might all make it as major leaguers. We're going to see a bunch of rehabbers filling in behind them. Barriera, Maroudis, Macko and Manoah are all facing live fire at the Complex or in the FCL, ramping up their pitch counts and innings. Also, last year's third rounder, Jimmy King, has been very effective in the FCL. The pitching in the system below AAA is looking pretty decent, and since the Buffalo staff is laden with ineffective older non-prospects, it's easy to see room being made for prospects when they are deemed ready for a bigger challenge.

[JaysRule15]

Yea I have a feeling if this team makes a push at the deadline, other teams will definitely want some of our minor league pitching. Hopefully the front office is careful in who they decide to trade.

[dagger]

Yea I have a feeling if this team makes a push at the deadline, other teams will definitely want some of our minor league pitching. Hopefully the front office is careful in who they decide to trade.

For sure, although we do have some surplus position talent that might attract offers. Orelvis Martinez is really heating up, and despite the suspension, he's still a young (23) power hitter. I think of our lineup and where you can fit in a right hand hitting, weak defending 2B/3B, and it's not easy. Can't put him at first, Barger is locking up 3B, Gimenez has 2B for better or worse, Bo is still here until he isn't, and if you view Martinez as a reserve, his glove is not good enough yet, nor is he versatile. Santander, for better or worse, is the most likely DH most days. So Martinez could become the key figure on our side to get another pitcher but if he's too good for a rental, Riley Tirotta is having an A-plus season, and the recently promoted Schreck and Pinango have improved their prospect stock. A nice complementary piece in a trade would be 1B/LF Jackson Hornung who has a .342/.430/.940 line right now at Vancouver. It really depends if buying means rentals or seeking players with a bit of control, at least to cover off next season.

Complicating the picture is the possible return of Scherzer and by August, Manoah. Scherzer might not be around next season but Manoah, if he is reasonably effective, certainly would be. Yesavage might hit the majors at some point next season... So, does the team want to hunt for a pitcher at the deadline who has control? Or will it consider a rental as the longest they need to invest in. I'd imagine the bullpen is the same, almost certainly just looking for a rental.

[polo007]

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