Yeah, seems like everything is paywalled now. Used to be that you could view the chats for free, but that's changedOriginally Posted by John_Havok
Yeah, seems like everything is paywalled now. Used to be that you could view the chats for free, but that's changed
Only 1 Jay in the MLB.com Top 100 (Tiedemann).
Not a big deal. Manoah has never been a MLB.com top 100 prospect. Same with Kirk, Espinal, and Biggio. There are plenty of intriguing prospects worth following at every level in the Blue Jays system.
Came here to post this.
Obligatory fanboy post.
Karl of Delaware (Georgetown, Delaware):
Of the top 30 Blue Jay prospects in the 2022 Handbook - which player do you think will move up the most slots when the 23 book comes out?
Geoff Pontes: Hi Karl and thanks for the question. Outside of Barger and Zulueta who both ranked 38 and 39 respectively, it's Gabriel Martinez who was on the cusp of the Top 10. He's a bat-first corner outfielder with contact and power but a somewhat aggressive approach.
Matthew (Toronto):
Who is an arrow-up guy outside the Top 10 who you think will end up on the Top 10 by mid-2023? Thanks in advance for your answer.
Geoff Pontes: Hi Matthew, thanks for the joining. Dahian Santos to me has a chance to push into the top 10 with a good season and some added power on his four-seamer. He already has a wicker slider, it's a low-80s sweeper with spin rates north of 2700 rpm. feel for a mid-80s changeup too. Blue Jays have had some wins on the pitching side of late, so I'd place my bets on it being a pitcher.
Nolan (Toronto):
Last year we saw guys like Barger, Gabriel Martinez, Tiedemann break out, who are some of the guys that can do that next year?
Geoff Pontes: I think there's maybe some more obvious guys from the recent draft class, one being Tucker Toman and another being Josh Kasevich, who's just outside the top 10. If Kasevich hits for a little more impact and Toman shows consistency against full season competition they could both breakout. Another name is Devonte Brown who was a NDFA out of NC State this summer who showed well in a small sample. Pitching wise it's like more obvious with someone like Barriera or Santos.
Lee (Seoul):
I'm surprised Gabriel Martinez didn't make the top 10. I thought he did well in High-A at a young age, but what is lacking?
Geoff Pontes: Hi Lee, thanks for the question. He was in the Top Ten at points, and he's certainly in the conversation with the last few players ranked. Evaluators are split on Martinez, some love the bat and think he's going to be a legitimate major league bat in a corner spot. Others think it's power and contact but not enough to carry a defensive profile at the edges of the spectrum now. So he's in the 11-13 range because of the downside. It was a big development season for Martinez and he's certainly one of the arrow up players for the Jays coming out of 2022.
Hudson (NY):
Any lower level guys in the minors (DSL, FSL) to look out for?
Geoff Pontes: Eliander Alcalde is a name that came up inn my conversations, he's an undersized 19 year old Venezuelan Righthander with an interesting four-pitch mix. He's 90-92 mph T94 mph on the fastball but he's got a nice slider at 82-83 mph, a harder cutter and a changeup.
Ryan (Ontario):
Orelvis has a hit tool of 30, which obviously isn’t good. Any chance he can bounce back and become at least a 40 hit tool guy?
Geoff Pontes: Hi Ryan, thanks for the question. Definitely, he needs to cut down on his swing heavy tendencies and learn to wait for his pitches. He has contact skills, his swing decisions just far too often betray him.
Geoff (Vancouver):
Bluejays top international signing last year, Luis Meza, had a tough debut last year in the DSL, any updates on him?
Geoff Pontes: The reports have been tough overall. Still young and things can go a lot of different directions. Doesn't seem like he's on par with some of the lofty comps.
Gerry (Toronto):
I thought Gabriel Martinez might have been in the top 10. What kept him out of the top ten?
Geoff Pontes: Hi Gerry, went into detail above but it's the pressure on his bat to preform as a fringy corner outfield defender. He has contact and power but the approach is aggressive.
Fred (Hamilton):
Manuel Beltre has long been a guy who has been seen as having a high baseball IQ but maybe not the best physical tools. He had an okay season in rookie ball but looked like he turned a page when he went to low A. What are your thoughts on him?
Geoff Pontes: He's a standout defender and does all the little things well. I've always felt like he has bat speed and that he might grow into more power. The exit data isn't great even for his age but he has contact skills, approach and takes good angles to the ball. Could be in for a breakout in 2023.
Brendan (Boston, MA):
How close is Ricky Tiedemann to the other top pitching prospects in baseball? Top tier? Second tier? Below that? How does his ceiling/floor compare to some other top names? Thanks in advance for all you do!
Geoff Pontes: Hi Brendan - I think he's arguably one of the best, if not the best lefthanded pitching prospect in the minor leagues. He's ranked behind Kyle Harrison of the Giants but I know there's many that prefer him to Harrison. It's a legit three-pitch mix, a power lefthander with command and a starter's frame.
Evan (New York):
Has the ship sailed on Miguel Hiraldo as a viable prospect? He's now struggled in back to back years and has only reached High A. Any idea on what went wrong when he looked so promising a few years ago?
Geoff Pontes: I think tools just didn't translate to game skills, and it it never clicked. It's a really tough adjustment from rookie ball to full season.
Moses (Topeka):
Adam Kloffenstein reached AA last year, but all reports I have seen on him say his stuff has backed up significantly. Do the Jays still view him as a potential reliever who could make an impact?
Geoff Pontes: He has the look of starter depth at the moment, it's not powerful and his execution hasn't been crisp.
Noah (LA):
If you knew for certain Moreno would be moved out from behind the plate, how much would that affect you opinion about his future value? Is he such a good hitter that he has All-Star upside even in, say, left field?
Geoff Pontes: I'm not sure the bat is quite there yet, if his raw power translates to game power, it's possible. That said his abilities behind the plate drive the profile a bit.
Noah (LA):
Having watched a good amount of Barriera, it seems he might have Berrios-type upside, but could be absolutely lights out in the bullpen. Is this a fair assessment?
Geoff Pontes: I think Berrios would be a great outcome, he's also lefthanded and power with a great slider. The stuff could definitely play out of the pen but you're very much looking for a starter.
Warren (New London):
Dasan Brown seemed to take a step forward this year. How close is he to the top 10? Could he eventually move George Springer to an outfield corner?
Geoff Pontes: Everyone likes Dasan and he's still very young, he's probably closer to the Top 10 than people realize. It's great CF defense, in fact he might be the best minor league centerfield defender I saw in 2022. He's a top of the scale athlete and the bat finally showed life this year. Lot of positive momentum heading into next spring. If he proves he's an average major league hitter he'll be playing centerfield everyday for someone.
Warren (New London):
Orelvis Martinez's splits are strange: 14 doubles and 14 home runs at home; 16 home runs but only 1 double on the road; .243 BA at home and .163 on the road. Is there something about the New Hampshire park that could explain this, or is it just something that happened? When he hits a home run in New Hampshire, do they say "Orelvis has left the building"?
Geoff Pontes: Maybe the depth a wall height in leftfield, I saw him hit probably half of his doubles this year there. It's really just about how often he swings. He approaches each at bat like he's playing arcade basketball, just trying to hit everything he sees.
Bill B (Glen Allen, VA):
Nate Pearson… big guy, great stuff… truly seemed a can’t miss number one starter a few years ago. Do you see the blue jays giving him one more chance to be a starter this Spring before making him a full time bullpen arm? Thanks
Geoff Pontes: I think the transition to the bullpen is complete and the plan is to develop him into a high leverage late inning option.
Richard (Mexico):
Any chance the bluejays lose someone in the rule 5 draft? Could a guy like Martinez interest clubs enough to take him?
Geoff Pontes: Yes, I think teams have been hot on Adrian Hernandez and his changeup-centric profile. He's likely to be taken IMO. I don't expect Martinez to get taken as he's not ready to face MLB pitching.
Dan (Leamington, Ontario):
Will Zulueta get a chance to be in the rotation in the Majors or is he destined for the bullpen?
Geoff Pontes: Hi Dan, a lot of opposing scouts feel he's a starter and think the mid-season move to the bullpen was to limit his innings. It's easy to forget Zulu hasn't pitched much over the last few years. The stuff is loud and there's three above-average or better pitches.
Ricardo (Toronto):
Where do you think Nick Frasso would have slotted in had he not been traded to the Dodgers?
Geoff Pontes: Probably in the 12-16 range, the stuff is very real just a matter of executing a little more, but he's in the mix with Pearson even. Both have big pen upside.
Trevor (New Brunswick):
Does Barriera have a chance to be a top 100 prospect at some point? Whether that be this season or next?
Geoff Pontes: Absolutely, look no further than Ricky Tiedemann's rise last season. Barriera has powerful stuff and the body and athleticism to hold his stuff as a starter.
Joe (Georgia):
I have a couple of shares of Ricky Tiedemann. While I see he is projected as Toronto's SP4, in terms of ability what do you see as his upside? SP2?
Geoff Pontes: Yeah the SP4 is more about who's in front of them and we tend to lean toward age and experience in those roles. He could be a number two starter, no question in my mind.
ksk315 (Las Vegas):
For Best Tools, I originally thought that the best hitter Gabriel Martinez was a typo and was meant to say Gabriel Moreno. However, I realized that thers is a Gabriel Martinez in the system and was #14 midseason. How cloase was he to making the top 10? Moreno's hit tool is near elite, I have hard time imagining that Martinez is above that.
Geoff Pontes: Opposing scouts and the organization itself votes on those, and the two names discussed were Moreno and Martinez. Both are strong contact hitters, Moreno has a better approach while Martinez has more power. Both good hitters for average.
Andrew (Alberta):
Who is an underappreciated prospect in the system we need to pay attention to in the 2023 season?
Geoff Pontes: Hagen Danner. That is real live MLB bullpen equipment. He sits high-90s with life and has a hammer curveball. I wouldn't be shocked if he's in the Jays pen by July or sooner, health permitting.
Yuli (New Hampshire):
Who do you think has a chance to be the jays “next tiedemann” guy who significantly boosts his stock one year after the draft?
Geoff Pontes: It's probably Barriera but I'm not sure he counts as a first rounder. Similar profile. He could pitch his way into the Top 100 or higher, that wouldn't be a surprise, he's also the most likely candidate.
Johnny (NY):
One of the more underrated guys in the system to me is Davis Schneider. Who are some underrated guys that maybe don’t get enough love because they don’t have a high ceiling but have a chance to one day be major leaguers or depth?
Geoff Pontes: I think he definitely is one of the more underrated players in the system. It's sort of s tweener profile defensively. I do like the bat, it's just a matter of how much impact is in there. Exit data is fringe-average but the contact and approach is legit. You might see him on the Top 30.
Terry (Halifax):
In the draft report cards it was said Tj Brock had the best secondary pitch (his slider) he can also run it up to 100mph on the fastball. Any chance he becomes a dominate piece out of the bullpen down the line?
Geoff Pontes: Hi Terry, it wouldn't shock me. I saw a lot of TJ on the Cape and he has some legit stuff. Late inning closer mentality too. He wants to pitch in the big spots.
Gerry (Toronto):
Jimmy Robbins had a breakout season. Do you think he will remain a starter?
Geoff Pontes: I think he can, how much upside, I'm not sure. He's eligible to go in the R5 this year and it's sort of solid average stuff for a starter. He needs to tighten up the command. Decent release traits on the fastball and he has a pair of good breaking balls.
Robert (Toronto):
Did Macko factor into the Top 10 list discussion? If not, what are your thoughts regarding Macko? Thanks.
Geoff Pontes: The top 10 went to print before the Teoscar trade. That said, he's going to rank just outside the top 10 in the handbook. I saw him in AFL and had a chance to chat with some scouts about him. He's good feel for a breaking ball and the fastball was up to 95 mph in my look. The curveball and slider are very different pitches but he'll show feel for both. Command really comes and goes and health has been an issue. He's intriguing.
Warren (New London):
There are a lot of 2B/3B types in the top 10: Barger, O. Martinez, Toman, Doughty. I don't suppose any of them might displace Bo Bichette? Could one or more end up in the outfield? If so, which one might be the best choice?
Geoff Pontes: Hi Warren! They have a lot of middle infielders. I think Barger is the most likely to be a good outfielder, but he's also the best defender of that gang. Orelvis could maybe end up there and it could work. Not sure how likely he is to take to it as he's not super twitchy. Toman and Doughty likely won't end up in the outfield.
Gerry (Toronto):
Sem Robberse pitched well but his strikeouts were low. Any concerns?
Geoff Pontes: I think that's who he is, limited upside as currently constituted but he knows how to pitch and continually executes. With all of these players a sudden change in an area of deficiency could change his outlook. With Robberse it's added power.
Jesús (Arrizona):
Estiven Machado was finally healthy, what did the Blue Jays find out about him.
Geoff Pontes: Hi Jesus, he's got contact skills and solid approach, not a lot of impact, a flat swing and a lot of groundball contact. He can play shortstop in a pinch but he's a better fit for second. Not so sure what the profile is, maybe a utility guy? He'll have to hit more.
Gerry (Toronto):
Zach Britton hit really well in the fall league after an average regular season. Was that a sign of poor pitching in the AFL or has he found something in his swing?
Geoff Pontes: Hi Gerry! Lots of Zach Britton questions, and I think it's more than poor quality of competition. He has plus plate discipline. He rarely chases and makes contact at an average level with average power. It's sort of the typical Jays hitter profile, guy who can hit and does a little bit of everything.
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1. Ricky Tiedemann | LHP
Ricky Tiedemann
Born: Aug 18, 2002
Bats: L Throws: L
Ht.: 6'4" Wt.: 220
Signed By: Joey Aversa.
Minors: 5-4 | 2.17 ERA | 117 SO | 29 BB | 79 IP
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Track Record: A popup prospect out of Lakewood High in California, Tiedemann rapidly became a top player in the 2020 draft class but went unpicked after teams didn't meet his bonus demands in the shortened five-round draft. He decommitted from San Diego State and enrolled at Golden West (Calif.) JC to make himself available for the 2021 draft. The Blue Jays drafted him in the third round and signed him for a below-slot $644,800. Tiedemann immediately turned heads with a velocity spike after signing and carried that through his first professional season. He climbed three levels of the minors to Double-A and led the organization with a 2.17 ERA.
Scouting Report: A tall, physical specimen whose frame balances strength and athleticism, Tiedemann sets up on the third base side of the rubber and delivers the ball from a low arm slot. This creates a difficult angle for both lefthanded and righthanded hitters and allows him to wear out the armside half of the plate. Tiedemann mixes three pitches, topped by a plus mid-90s four-seam fastball with heavy armside run. His sweepy slider sits 80-82 mph with a foot of horizontal break and is another plus pitch he mostly throws against lefthanded batters. His changeup is a plus-plus mid-80s offering with tumble and fade that plays off his fastball and annihilates righthanded hitters. Tiedemann is a good athlete who throws all three of his pitches for strikes with above-average control. All of his pitches drive swings and misses, and he has the ability to keep hitters off-balance with advanced sequencing.
The Future: Tiedemann's strong three-pitch mix, unique release characteristics and power from the left side give him the ingredients to develop into a front-of-the-rotation stalwart. He'll see Triple-A and possibly the majors in 2023.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Slider: 60. Changeup: 70. Control: 55
2. Yosver Zulueta | RHP
Yosver Zulueta
Born: Jan 23, 1998
Bats: R Throws: R
Ht.: 6'1" Wt.: 190
Drafted/Signed: Cuba, 2019.
Signed By: Sandy Rosario/Luis Natera.
Minors: 2-5 | 3.72 ERA | 84 SO | 32 BB | 56 IP
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Track Record: Zulueta signed with the Blue Jays out of Cuba for $1 million in 2019 but had a run of bad luck that kept him off the mound for nearly three years. He had Tommy John surgery shortly after signing, spent the 2020 pandemic rehabbing and faced only one batter in 2021 before he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee covering first base in his first game back for Low-A Dunedin. Finally healthy in 2022, Zulueta began the year in Low-A and rocketed up four levels to Triple-A in a breakout campaign. He earned a selection to the Futures Game and was frequently requested by opposing teams in trade negotiations.
Scouting Report: Zulueta is a high-powered righthander with a fastball that can reach triple-digits with ease. His fastball comfortably sits at 96-97 mph as a starter and repeatedly reaches 100 with heavy armside run, making it particularly effective against lefthanded hitters. His fastball can play down at times and be hittable, especially against righthanded batters, but he's able to offset that with a plus, mid-80s slider that features a foot of horizontal break. Zulueta throws his slider nearly as often as his fastball against righthanded hitters and commands his slider better, landing it for strikes more consistently. Zulueta's arsenal is built around his fastball and slider. He has a mid-80s changeup that will flash above-average, but he struggles to execute it consistently. His curveball is a softer variation of his slider with greater depth at 78-80 mph. Zulueta split 2022 between starting and relieving. He has below-average control and may profile best as a reliever, but the Blue Jays say they were just managing his innings.
The Future: Zulueta's power stuff and feel for sequencing give him a chance to start. His powerful fastball/slider combination gives him a fallback as a high-leverage reliever.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 40
3. Brandon Barriera | LHP
Brandon Barriera
Born: Mar 4, 2004
Bats: L Throws: L
Ht.: 6'2" Wt.: 180
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Track Record: The latest standout from national prep power American Heritage High in South Florida, Barriera pitched for USA Baseball's 12U and 15U national teams and emerged early as one of the top high school pitchers in the 2022 draft class. He entered his senior season with considerable hype and went 5-0, 2.27 over eight starts before deciding to sit out the remainder of the year to prepare for the draft. The Blue Jays drafted Barriera 23rd overall and signed him for a tick under $3.6 million—a bonus that trailed only Dylan Lesko and Brock Porter among prep pitchers drafted in 2022—to forgo a Vanderbilt commitment. In his first post-draft interview on MLB Network, Barriera vowed the 22 teams who passed him up were "going to regret this."
Scouting Report: Barriera is an athletic lefthander with a prototypical pitcher's build, whippy arm speed and lots of physical projection remaining. He mixes four pitches but primarily works off of his fastball and slider. His plus fastball sits 92-95 mph and touches 98-99 with cut and explosive late life. His nearly plus-plus slider is his most dominant pitch as a low-80s sweeper with late bite that elicits ugly swings. Barriera flashes a mid-70s curveball and mid-80s changeup which project to be average pitches, but his fastball and slider combination account for a majority of his usage. The development of Barriera's changeup in the coming years could dictate his ultimate role. It flashed above-average as an amateur, leading many to believe it can develop into a consistent weapon. He throws everything for strikes with average control.
The Future: Barriera has the stuff and physicality to blossom into a midrotation or better starter if everything clicks. He is set to make his pro debut in 2023.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 65. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
4. Addison Barger | SS/3B
Addison Barger
Born: Nov 12, 1999
Bats: L Throws: R
Ht.: 6'0" Wt.: 175
Minors: .308/.378/.555 | 26 HR | 9 SB | 467 AB
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Track Record: Barger impressed as one of the top all-around high school players in the 2018 draft class and signed with the Blue Jays for $271,100 as a sixth-round pick. He took time to gel as a professional and spent most of 2019 on the restricted list, but he emerged from the coronavirus shutdown stronger and with a more power-focused swing to begin his ascent. Barger enjoyed an encouraging campaign at Low-A Dunedin in 2021 and broke out loudly in 2022, rising three levels to finish the season at Triple-A Buffalo. He led the Blue Jays organization in hits (144), runs (80), RBIs (91), slugging percentage (.555), OPS (.933) and total bases (259) and earned an assignment to the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Barger transformed from a contact hitter to an overly aggressive power hitter before finding a good balance between the two approaches in 2022. Barger has an unorthodox setup at the plate with an upright, open stance and a pronounced leg kick he uses as a timing mechanism. He looks to do damage on the inner half and shoots balls to his pull side, with 24 of his 26 home runs in 2022 going to right field. After previously struggling to control his aggressiveness, Barger has become more subdued to cut down his chase swings and make more contact in the zone. He's still a fringy hitter who doesn't walk much, but he makes enough contact to get to his power. Barger can play multiple positions on the infield. His sound actions and plus arm strength should allow him to stick at shortstop as an average defender, and he can also capably play second base or third base.
The Future: Barger's power and defense give him a chance to be a regular in the middle infield. He is in position to make his major league debut in 2023.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Run: 50. Field: 50. Arm: 60
5. Orelvis Martinez | SS/3B
Orelvis Martinez
Born: Nov 19, 2001
Bats: R Throws: R
Ht.: 6'1" Wt.: 190
Drafted/Signed: Dominican Republic, 2018.
Signed By: Alexis de la Cruz/Sandy Rosario
Minors: .203/.286/.446 | 30 HR | 6 SB | 433 AB
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Track Record: Martinez signed with the Blue Jays out of the Dominican Republic for $3.51 million in 2018 and started his professional career hot. He ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2019 and led the Low-A Florida State League in home runs, slugging percentage and OPS in 2021 before receiving a late promotion to High-A Vancouver. Martinez impressed in big league camp in 2022 and received an aggressive assignment to Double-A New Hampshire, where the 20-year-old struggled for the first time in his career. He hit a career-high 30 home runs, but also had the sixth-lowest batting average (.203) and on-base percentage (.286) in the Eastern League.
Scouting Report: Martinez's game is driven by his tremendous bat speed and plus power. He has the ability to turn around premium velocity and feasts on fastballs, sending them out a long way to all fields with loud exit velocities. Martinez does immense damage on contact, but his hyper-aggressive approach was exposed by higher-level pitching at Double-A in 2022. He has an extreme tendency to chase and expand the strike zone, making him easy prey for pitchers who are happy to let him get himself out. Martinez makes contact on pitches in the zone with a knack for hard contact and steep launch angles, but he's a well below-average hitter who will have to vastly improve his strike-zone discipline and swing decisions to make enough contact at higher levels. Martinez is a fringy defender at both shortstop and third base. His plus arm and average athleticism give him a chance to be playable at third base.
The Future: A talented but enigmatic player, Martinez requires a lot of polish to make the jump from low minors standout to future major league regular. He'll likely repeat Double-A in 2023.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 30. Power: 60. Run: 45. Field: 45. Arm: 60
6. Tucker Toman | SS/3B
Tucker Toman
Born: Nov 12, 2003
Bats: S Throws: R
Ht.: 6'1" Wt.: 190
Minors: .289/.391/.368 | 0 HR | 0 SB | 38 AB
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Track Record: Toman grew up around the game as the son of longtime college coach Jim Toman, who most recently coached at Middle Tennessee State. Tucker established himself early as one of the top high school hitters for his age and was drafted by the Blue Jays in the supplemental second round with the 77th overall pick in 2022. He signed for an above-slot $2 million to forgo a Louisiana State commitment and made his professional debut with a strong, albeit abbreviated, showing in the Florida Complex League.
Scouting Report: Toman is a gifted switch-hitter with advanced plate discipline and a knack for contact. He's a pure hitter who displays plus bat speed and feel for the barrel from the left side and makes consistent hard contact. His righthanded swing lacks loft and doesn't have much power behind it, but his discerning eye and advanced command of the strike zone allow him to be a threat from both sides of the plate. He's at least an above-average hitter and could grow into average power with physical maturity. While views on Toman's long-term upside were split among amateur evaluators, few questioned Toman's ability to hit with wood in pro ball. The Blue Jays drafted Toman as a shortstop, but he projects to move to second base. He's a fringy runner with fringy arm strength that plays up with a quick release and solid accuracy. He has a chance to be an average defender at the keystone with more development.
The Future: Toman projects out to be a bat-first second baseman who hits for a high average with above-average power projection from the left side of the plate. Improvements to his righthanded swing could pay dividends and also hint at untapped upside. Toman will open his first full season at Low-A Dunedin in 2023.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 50. Run: 45. Field: 45. Arm: 45
7. Cade Doughty | 2B/3B
Cade Doughty
Born: Mar 26, 2001
Bats: R Throws: R
Ht.: 6'1" Wt.: 205
Minors: .272/.370/.495 | 6 HR | 3 SB | 103 AB
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Track Record: Doughty was one of the top prospects in the 2019 high school class but fell to the Tigers in the 39th round because of his strong commitment to Louisiana State. His father Richard and older brother Braden both played baseball at LSU, and Doughty joined the family legacy by spending three seasons as a starter in the middle of LSU's lineup. He hit .301 with 30 home runs, 124 RBIs and .921 OPS in a decorated college career and was drafted 78th overall in the second round by the Blue Jays in 2022, signing for slot value at $833,600. Doughty played primarily second base in college and split his time between second and third base in his pro debut.
Scouting Report: Doughty is an adept contact hitter who has progressively seen his power grow. He has above-average contact skills from the right side and gets the most out of his average raw power by aggressively attacking pitches throughout his at-bats. Those aggressive tendencies can get him in trouble. He's prone to expanding the strike zone, but his power production keeps increasing. He hit six homers in 26 games for Low-A Dunedin in his pro debut despite modest exit velocities and launch angle data. Doughty is a fringe-average defender at second base with an average arm. He's a fringy runner who isn't a threat to steal bases. Doughty's tools are all roughly average, but he is a savvy player with a high baseball IQ that helps everything play up. He takes advantage of defensive mishaps with smart baserunning and plays hard in all facets.
The Future: Doughty's contact skills and feel for the game give him a chance to play above his tools and become a solid, if unspectacular, everyday second baseman in the major leagues. He'll see High-A Vancouver during his first full season in 2023.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 50. Run: 45. Field: 45. Arm: 50
8. Hayden Juenger | RHP
Hayden Juenger
Born: Aug 9, 2000
Bats: R Throws: R
Ht.: 6'0" Wt.: 180
Minors: 3-7 | 3.76 ERA | 100 SO | 37 BB | 89 IP
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Track Record: Juenger spent three seasons pitching out of Missouri State's bullpen and was one of the top college relievers available when the Blue Jays selected him in the sixth round of the 2021 draft. He worked as a traditional reliever in his pro debut for High-A Vancouver after signing, but the Blue Jays aggressively pushed him to Double-A to begin his first full season in 2022. Juenger worked three to four innings as an opener for New Hampshire. He flourished with the new arrangement and received a midseason promotion to Triple-A Buffalo, where he worked as a more traditional multi-inning reliever in the second half of the season.
Scouting Report: A slight but athletic righthander, Juenger mixes three pitches that all play up with unique characteristics. His drop-and-drive delivery and three-quarters arm slot create an unusually low release height, giving his pitches an unfamiliar trajectory for hitters, which creates uncomfortable at-bats. Juenger's plus fastball ranges from 93-97 mph early in outings before dropping to 91-94 in subsequent innings, when he often loses the zone. His 83-84 mph slider with late horizontal break and mid-80s changeup with heavy armside run are both average pitches which give him effective weapons against hitters on both sides of the plate. Juenger leans on his fastball heavily and throws it nearly 60% of the time. His usage for each secondary pitch could be higher, but he often pockets them for long stretches while focusing on attacking with his fastball. Juenger throws all three of his pitches for strikes with average control.
The Future: Juenger projects best as a multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen, but he is capable of filling a variety of roles. He is in position to make his major league debut in 2023.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
9. Nate Pearson | RHP
Nate Pearson
Born: Aug 20, 1996
Bats: R Throws: R
Ht.: 6'6" Wt.: 250
Drafted/Signed: JC of Central Florida, 2017 (1st round).
Signed By: Matt Bishoff.
Minors: 2-1 | 3.52 ERA | 19 SO | 8 BB | 16 IP
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Track Record: Once considered the top prospect in the Blue Jays organization—he ranked No. 1 heading into 2020—Pearson has dealt with a litany of injuries in recent years that have delayed his path to getting established in the major leagues. A line drive fractured his right forearm in 2019. Then his MLB debut season was interrupted by a flexor strain in his elbow in 2020, and then he missed most of 2021 with groin injuries and a sports hernia. As a result, he has pitched a total of 61 innings the past two seasons. Expected to contribute to the Blue Jays in 2022, Pearson instead missed most of the season with a lat strain and remained in the Triple-A Buffalo bullpen after he returned from the injured list in September.
Scouting Report: Pearson is physically imposing at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds with broad shoulders and an extra-large build. His large frame and natural strength translate to easy 99-104 mph fastballs, and he pairs his fastball with an above-average, hard slider in the upper 80s with late horizontal bite. He also has an average power curveball in the mid 80s with 11-to-5 shape and two-plane break and a firm changeup that is a fringe-average pitch. His changeup used to be a bigger part of his arsenal but has backed up in recent years. Pearson has increasingly pitched in relief due to his injuries and fringy control and is likely to remain in the bullpen. He primarily focuses on his fastball and slider as a reliever, while mixing in an occasional curveball against lefthanded hitters.
The Future: At 26 years old and with a long list of injuries, Pearson appears destined for a bullpen role. His raw stuff could allow him to flourish as a high-leverage reliever if he can stay healthy. Pearson pitched for Licey of the Dominican League in the offseason as he prepared for 2023.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Curveball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 45
10. Adam Macko | LHP
Adam Macko
Born: Dec 30, 2000
Bats: L Throws: L
Ht.: 6'0" Wt.: 170
Drafted/Signed: HS--Vauxhall, Alberta, 2019 (7th round).
Signed By: Les McTavish/Alex Ross.
Minors: 0-2 | 3.99 ERA | 60 SO | 20 BB | 39 IP
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Track Record: Macko was born in Slovakia and was first introduced to baseball in first grade. He taught himself to pitch by watching YouTube videos of Justin Verlander and David Price and developed a unique talent for the game, which he honed after his family moved to Ireland and eventually Canada. Macko blossomed with formal baseball instruction and became Canada’s top prospect in the 2019 draft, leading the Mariners to draft him in the seventh round and sign him for $250,000. He became a hot trade commodity in 2021 and got off to a solid start at High-A Everett in 2022, but made only eight starts before having season-ending meniscus surgery in his right knee.
Scouting Report: Macko’s stuff was inconsistent in 2022 as he lowered his arm slot and dealt with injuries, but it’s still plenty potent. His fastball ranges from 91-96 mph out of a low slot and release point from the left side that creates a tough angle for lefthanded hitters. His signature pitch is a plus curveball with tight spin and late drop in the low 70s, but at times it devolves into a sweepy, soft offering in the upper 60s. Macko also has an average horizontal slider in the mid-80s that gives lefties trouble and a fringy, low-80s changeup that is improving. Macko is a good athlete, but overthrows at times and nibbles at others, resulting in below-average control. His biggest concern is health. Macko has pitched only 95 innings in three seasons after missing most of 2021 with shoulder tenderness and most of 2022 with his knee injury.
The Future: Macko has the arsenal to start, but his control and health point to a likely relief future. His primary goal will be to stay healthy in 2023.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 40
Captain Adama (01-26-2023),Deadpool (01-27-2023),Ray (01-26-2023),Spanky99 (01-27-2023)
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