© Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
5 Under-The-Radar Blue Jays Prospects Off To Hot Starts
We're at the point in the minor-league season where we can evaluate who's hot and who's not. Pitchers have had a few outings to cook, and hitters should have their timing down by now.
The first half of the year hasn't produced particularly spectacular outcomes in the Blue Jays' minor-league system. Toronto's Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons, for instance, are last in the International League with a team OPS of .721. With a .690 team OPS, the New Hampshire Fishercats in Double-A aren't doing much better.
Offenses have been scuffling, but that's not to say there haven't been standout performers. Here are five under-the-radar Blue Jays prospects off to hot starts.
3B/1B Damiano Palmegiani (Double-A)
Palmegiani has been arguably the biggest standout in the Jays' minor-league system so far. The 2021 14th-round pick has carved out a repeatable approach at the dish, walking at a 20.9% clip and juicing his slash to .239/.417/.398.
The 23-year-old is a very athletic hitter, using a compact right-handed stroke to drive balls into the gap. He's already socked four homers in just 27 games while maintaining a 29:24 strikeout-to-walk ratio. If he continues to produce, Palmegiani could push for a promotion to Triple-A by season's end.
1B/LF Spencer Horwitz (Triple-A)
Since he keeps hitting in Triple-A, Horwitz has less of an under-the-radar prospect and more of a next-man-up option for the Blue Jays. Toronto is one Brandon Belt injury away from giving the 25-year-old his first taste of big-league baseball.
The 2019 24th-round pick has been by far the Bisons' best hitter this year, slashing .321/.455/.462 with one home run and 19 RBI through 30 games. Like Palmegiani, Horwitz's best tool is his on-base ability, though he can also pack a punch with his 5-foot-10 frame. As a left-handed hitter, he'd be inherently more valuable for platoons at the major-league level, too.
Keep an eye on Horwitz as the Jays' season progresses; he could get the call before the summer ends.
RHP Chad Dallas (High-A)
The 2021 fourth-round pick has plowed through his first five starts with the Vancouver Canadians, posting a 2.02 ERA while allowing just 13 hits and striking out 37 batters.
"Cheese," as he's so affectionately nicknamed, doesn't possess an overwhelming fastball (91-96 mph), but his looping slider is quite effective. Dallas isn't perfect, though. The right-hander's command flares up at times (4.9 BB/9 in pro ball), and, given his size and arsenal, he's likelier to end up as a future reliever than he is to crack an MLB rotation.
Either way, the 22-year-old is off to a fiery start that should see him touch Double-A before 2023 comes to a close.
RHP Adam Kloffenstein (Double-A)
It's been quite the journey for Kloffenstein, whom the Jays selected with their third-round pick and handed a $2.45-million signing bonus to back in 2018. Since then, it's been quite a battle for the 22-year-old.
Kloffenstein finally reached Double-A last year but wrapped his season with a 6.07 ERA in 86 innings. Despite the runs and hits allowed, the 6-foot-5 righty's stuff remained sharp, and he's begun anew in 2023. Kloffenstein has reached back for a little extra strikeout sizzle this year (11.1 K/9), netting him a 2.40 ERA through six starts.
It's nice to see the Texas native finally snag some traction in pro ball. He'll be worth watching in the minors all year.
1B Rainer Nunez (High-A)
Nunez is a monstrous human being, but his success as a hitter isn't entirely dependent on the longball. The 22-year-old hit 15 homers in 95 Low-A games last year, but he's done a better job getting on base in 2023, slashing .282/.378/.372.
The Dominican possesses the raw tools to grow into a major-league hitter. He's strong and owns a sound swing, which offsets any concerns about his defensive capabilities. Nunez turned heads in major-league spring camp, and he's only bound to get better as he harnesses his approach.
