The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays closed an intradivision trade that sends bullpen pitcher Seranthony Domínguez north of the border. In exchange for the bullpen asset, the Blue Jays sent pitching prospect Juaron Watts-Brown to Baltimore. The trade marks the second pitcher from the bullpen that the Orioles have traded away before the deadline this year.
Earlier in July, the Orioles made their priorities known by trading Gregory Soto for two pitching prospects to the New York Mets. The team again makes a similar trade here to invest in a future rotation piece.
OFFICIAL: We’ve acquired RHP Seranthony Domínguez and cash considerations from the Orioles in exchange for RHP Juaron Watts-Brown.
Welcome to the Blue Jays, Seranthony! pic.twitter.com/7dSIsJm6xw
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 29, 2025
Juaron Watts-Brown’s Pitching Stats
Following the trade to the Orioles, Watts-Brown becomes the team’s number eight prospect in their farm system and the fourth-highest pitching prospect. The Blue Jays selected the 23-year-old in the third round of the 2023 MLB draft despite posting a 5.03 ERA and a 1.409 WHIP at Oklahoma State.
Watts-Brown is currently in the middle of what appears to be a breakout year. Between 2024 and 2025, his ERA has dropped to 3.54 while his WHIP sits at 1.213, down from 4.72 and 1.427, respectively. At the same time, his walk rate and strikeout rates moved in the right directions as well, marking a gradual improvement across the board.
The Orioles got back Juaron Watts-Brown, a 23-year-old RHP, in the Seranthony Domínguez trade.
He has a low-mid 90s fastball, a plus slider (best pitch), a slow curveball and a changeup.
JWB has a 30.5% K rate and 3.54 ERA this season between A+ and AA. pic.twitter.com/E1o7etmXY0
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) July 29, 2025
In 89 innings this year, Watts-Brown has cut his home run rate in half while maintaining his command and control. His stuff is also still as good as ever, striking out 11 per nine innings. Overall, he seems to be in a good spot to succeed as a bullpen piece or a number five starter in a rotation.
The jump from High-A to Double-A for Watts-Brown has been successful to a degree. While he has seen some regression in his walk rate and strikeout rate, they’re still at manageable levels. He has a tool set that could benefit the team if they develop him properly for Triple-A and beyond.
New Prospect’s Arsenal
Per Prospect Savant, Watts-Brown holds a five-pitch arsenal that features a plus-grade slider-changeup combo and a developing four-seamer. The 23-year-old garners a whiff rate of 37.4%, ranking in the 91st percentile, while holding a 30% strikeout rate, ranking in the 71st percentile.
The Orioles acquire pitching prospect Juaron Watts-Brown. No statcast data on him from this year, but he spent some time in @FloridaStateLg last year – here’s how he performed in Class A. https://t.co/0wXCld7NyP pic.twitter.com/R83ge2bhL2
— Prospect Savant (@ProspectSavant) July 29, 2025
He has advanced metrics for someone who is in Double-A this year, showcasing an ability to make bats miss and keep contact soft. He’s only surrendered 19 extra base hits in 57 2/3 innings pitched at Class A, according to Prospect Savant. This is a player that could become their next-best prospect if the farm system continues to develop him properly.
According to MLB Pipeline, Watts-Brown’s slider grades at a 60, while his other three pitches grade around average. The only downside he has is a lack of velocity on his fastball, which sits around the low-90s. If he can bring it up to 94 or 95 miles per hour at least and add some spin, he has the definitive makings of a starter.
Main Photo Credit: © NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK
