The door is open to the Blue Jays’ young talent. Since 2023, we’ve identified young Blue Jays talent as their gateway to success. We have witnessed many minor leaguers who have had the opportunity to play in Spring Training this season. These minor leaguers have left a lasting impression, and it will be intriguing to see them get call-ups when the time is right. They have made some noise at the plate and showcased that they can help the Blue Jays score runs. The Blue Jays, in their last 10 games in Spring Training, have gone 6-3.
Spring Training: Blue Jays Prospects That Have Stood Out
Rafael Lantigua
Justin Turner and the Toronto Blue Jays dominated the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 10-3 win in preseason action. Eduardo Escobar and Rafael Lantigua also contributed with big hits. Chris Bassitt had a strong performance on the mound for… https://t.co/kK3BkLYYL7
— MLB Digest (@mlbpressdigest) March 13, 2024
This season, Lantigua was signed to a Minor League deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. He’s been productive more consistently in the latter half of Spring Training. Lantigua has scored 4 RBIs for the Blue Jays in his last three games. He is 25 years old and is from the Dominican Republic. He spent 2023 in AAA Buffalo and recorded 142 hits, 12 home runs, 85 RBI, and 28 stolen bases.
Steward Berroa
Steward Berroa puts us in front!
That's EIGHT unanswered runs 🤯 pic.twitter.com/IxZjFBdkgy
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 16, 2024
Berroa is another player signed to a minor league contract with the Blue Jays this season. He is 24 years old and is also from the Dominican Republic. Berroa is both a righty and a lefty as a hitter and has been productive in his last three games, recording four RBI, 3 runs, a walk, and a home run. In 2023, he spent time with AA New Hampshire and AAA Buffalo. He recorded 88 hits, 35 RBI, and 43 stolen bases in AA New Hampshire.
Addison Barger
Addison Barger's throw from right field to third base. That arm is so strong.pic.twitter.com/JK7FB91vmM
— Brennan Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) March 3, 2024
Barger was supposed to get a September call-up for the Blue Jays regular season in 2023 but just fell short. He is one of the Blue Jays’ top-ranked prospects, and in Spring Training this season, he has recorded three runs, five hits, four walks, and a stolen base. In 2023, he spent time with AAA Buffalo, A Dunedin, and the Flordia Complex League with the Blue Jays. With AAA Buffalo, he recorded 85 hits, nine home runs, 46 RBI, and five stolen bases. The 24-year-old shortstop is a lefty hitter and is a big guy weighing in at 210 pounds.
Will Robertson
Max EV this Spring 🌴:
112.0 — Bo Bichette
111.2 — Orelvis Martinez (‼️)
110.5 — Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
110.1 — Will Robertson
109.8 — Phil Clarke
108.3 — Danny Jansen
108.1 — Zach Britton
107.9 — Davis Schneider(Credit @TJStats for the data) pic.twitter.com/9yPiwCJlKk
— BlueJays Muse (@BlueJays_Muse) March 10, 2024
The 26-year-old outfielder Robertson had his most productive and impressive game on March 9th against the Phillies. He recorded a run, a home run, and 4 RBIs. In 2023, he recorded 89 hits, 19 home runs, 57 RBI, and 9 stolen bases. In his career in MiLB, he’s recorded 46 home runs, 167 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. Robertson also showed a strong exit velocity this spring at 110.1.
Max Mcdowell
OFFICIAL: We’ve signed the following players to Minor League deals with an invite to #SpringTraining
🔹 UTIL Rafael Lantigua
🔹 OF Steward Berroa
🔹 C Max McDowell pic.twitter.com/Cm6WNCk0Xu— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) November 30, 2023
McDowell, the 30-year-old catcher, was the third prospect to land a minor league deal with the Blue Jays this season. In 2023, with the Phillies, in 14 at-bats, he recorded four runs, two hits, and four walks. In Spring Training for the Blue Jays this season, he has recorded two runs, two hits, and two walks. McDowell is also a catcher and could be an option as a third catcher for the Blue Jays. Danny Jansen has unfortunately been dealing with wrist issues since the 2023 season and was recently placed on the IL with a fractured list. When McDowell played for the Phillies farmhand, he walked it off with a solo homer for Double-A Reading.
Since July of 2023, McDowell was assigned to the Reading Fightin Phils. Then, on 7 August, he was assigned to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, and on August 16th, was assigned back to the Reading Fightin Phils. Then, on September 16th, 2023, the Philadelphia Phillies traded McDowell to the Blue Jays for cash. McDowell then spent time in the minors with the New Hampshire Fishcats and the Bisons. And then, of course, the Blue Jays invited non-roster C Max McDowell to spring training. McDowell has also spent minimal time in the majors with the New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Brewers from 2017 to 2022.
Orelvis Martinez
https://t.co/ltZd6bRz5U's TOP 10 Blue Jays prospects going into 2024:
1. Ricky Tiedemann
2. Orelvis Martinez
3. Arjun Nimmala
4. Brandon Barriera
5. Leo Jimenez
6. Addison Barger
7. Alan Roden
8. Enmanuel Bonilla
9. Adam Macko
10. Kendrys Rojas pic.twitter.com/eOFOQmBZlg— BlueJays Muse (@BlueJays_Muse) March 4, 2024
The 22-year-old prospect from the Dominican Republic has recorded three hits, two RBIs, and three walks so far in Spring Training this season for the Blue Jays. In 2023, he spent time in AA and AAA and combined for 109 hits, 28 home runs, and 94 RBI. He is a diverse player who can play shortstop, third base, and second base. According to Baseball Prospectus, in Pre-2022, Martinez was ranked 38th in the prospect rankings, and in pre-2024, 89th.
The depth of the Blue Jays’ young talent is limitless. They have so many options with young players that they could turn to if one of their star players gets injured. In 2023, we saw how youngsters like Spencer Horwitz, Ernie Clement, and Davis Schneider excelled when they got the opportunity to play in the majors. As the years and seasons go on, we will continue to see more up-and-coming prospects get the opportunity to play in Spring Training, such as Arjun Nimmala.
Main Photo Credits: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
