Inside The Blue Jays

Seven Blue Jays Crack Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects

The Toronto farm system is shaping up to be a gold mine of talent, as seven prospects made Baseball America's prestigious 'Top 100' list.

Ethan Diamandas

© Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

7 players in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system were included in the most recent update of Baseball America's 'Top 100 Prospects' list. 

This is potentially the most prospects the Blue Jays have ever had on the list at one time, according to Sportsnet radio personality Joey Vendetta. 

Let's look at where each prospect ranks. 

#15 Austin Martin - OF/SS - 22-years-old

As the fifth overall selection in the 2020 MLB draft, Martin is the freshest prospect on this list. 

Martin – who currently plays both centre field and shortstop –boasts more contact than power in his swing. He covers the plate very well, and has a good eye for the zone – over three years at Vanderbilt, he walked 85 times compared to just 82 strikeouts.

Some scouts pegged him as the top hitter in his draft class, giving the Blue Jays a steal at No. 5 overall. 

Through 37 Double-A appearances, Martin is hitting .172, with a .351 OBP and a .662 OPS. 

MLB ETA: 2022

#16 Nate Pearson - RHP - 24-years-old

Pearson has had a tough start to his major league career. Between a right elbow flexor strain last season, a groin injury in February and his most recent shoulder impingement, he's struggled to log consistent innings or build any kind of momentum in the majors. 

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The potential is there – Pearson averages around 96 miles-per-hour on his fastball and his slider projects to be an above average pitch – but Toronto has to be patient with its big right-hander who's pitched just 20 and one-third major-league innings. 

Pearson has excellent stuff, but he'll need to replicate his mechanics, limit walks allowed and keep his body healthy to kickstart his career trajectory. 

#27 Jordan Groshans - SS - 21-years-old

A 2018 first-round pick out of high school, Groshans is expected to be an above average hitter with plus-power. 

Groshans hit for a .909 OPS in 23 games of High-A ball in 2019, before a foot injury ended his season. In 2020, he led all Blue Jays hitters at the alternate training site in homeruns and is expected to add more power as he grows into his 6-foot-3 frame. 

Groshans is hitting .206, with a .577 OPS in 41 Double-A plate appearances. 

MLB ETA: 2022

#60 Simeon Woods Richardson - RHP - 20-years-old

Toronto's second-ranked pitching prospect behind Nate Pearson, Woods Richardson has developed quite nicely since coming to the Blue Jays as part of the Marcus Stroman trade in 2019.

Woods Richardson throws four quality pitches, including an excellent changeup that scouts believe is the best in Toronto's system. He doesn't blow it by guys, nor does he need to. His command is his calling card and Woods Richardson has shown off his skillset in the minors this year. 

He's been lights-out in two Double-A starts, striking out 16 hitters in just nine innings with a 2.00 ERA. 

MLB ETA: 2022

#61 Alejandro Kirk - C - 22-years-old

A fan-favourite already, Captain Kirk broke into the majors with a nine-game 2020 season that saw him slash .375/.400/.583, good for a .983 OPS. 

In 40 plates appearances in 2021, he flexed some serious power, including a two-homerun game against the Atlanta Braves on April 30. 

Kirk has thrown out only one of 12 baserunners in his MLB career, but with Toronto's lack of offence at the catcher spot, Kirk figures to take over starting duties when he returns from the 60-day injured list. 

#83 Orelvis Martinez - SS - 19-years-old

Martinez has quietly become one of Toronto's more valuable prospects. 

Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2018, Martinez boasts a powerful swing and a strong arm, drawing early comparisons to future hall-of-famer Adrian Beltre.

He slashed an impressive .275/.352/.549 as a 17-year-old in  2019 Rookie League play, and has put up a .703 OPS through 39 plate appearances at Low-A Dunedin this season. 

Martinez was a non-roster invitee to spring training this season, where he hit a home run, but is still a couple years away from major-league action. 

MLB ETA: 2023

#93 Alek Manoah - RHP - 23-years-old

Alek Manoah's performance has not only caught the eye of rabid Jays fans, but also Jays general manager Ross Atkins. 

At 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, Manoah is built more like an offensive lineman than a baseball player. That said, he's still shown the coveted combination of velocity and command in his two Triple-A starts this season. 

Manoah's made Triple-A opponents look like little-leaguers. In 12 innings he's allowed just three hits and struck out 17 batters. He took a no-hitter into seventh inning in his last start for Buffalo/Trenton.

The 23-year-old's fastball has been nearly unhittable, his slider has hitters jumping out of the way, and he's shown off a very slow heartbeat on the mound – an important quality in a young fireballer. 

As injuries pile up at the major-league level, a promotion to the Blue Jays seems more and more imminent.

MLB ETA: 2021

Honourable mention

Catcher Gabriel Moreno (21-years-old) is punishing baseballs in Double-A New Hampshire this season. In 29 plate appearances, he's slashing a ridiculous .500/.586/.750 with a 1.336 OPS. 

If Moreno continues anywhere near this torrid pace, he'll work his way up the Jays minor-league system and onto this list before season's end.  

Further Reading

Ryan Borucki placed on IL

Alek Manoah dominates Triple-A start with GM Atkins in attendance

Nate Pearson to miss Triple-A start with shoulder impingement

Published
Ethan Diamandas
ETHAN DIAMANDAS

Ethan Diamandas is a contributing writer who covers the Toronto Blue Jays for Sports Illustrated. He also writes for Yahoo Sports Canada and MLB.com. Follow Ethan on Twitter @EthanDiamandas

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