Toronto Blue Jays: Top Five Rookies of 2020

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 18: Nate Pearson #24 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on August 18, 2020 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 18: Nate Pearson #24 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on August 18, 2020 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
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TORONTO, ON – JULY 09: Toronto Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo and pitching coach Pete Walker wear masks during an intrasquad game at Rogers Centre on July 9, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JULY 09: Toronto Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo and pitching coach Pete Walker wear masks during an intrasquad game at Rogers Centre on July 9, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /

Going into 2020 season there was not much of an expectation for the Blue Jays to make the playoffs, but they pulled it off.  Despite finishing the 2019 season by posting a 67-95 record, there was a lot of positivity as the team was building a strong foundation.

This past summer was supposed to be another year of development with opportunity for rookies to come and showcase their talents at the highest level. It ended up being just that, and there were a lot success stories from this young group.

We already know the Blue Jays’ roster has a lot of youthful talent, but there’s a lot more where the likes of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and company have come from. In 2020 we saw the much-anticipated debut from Nate Pearson, and while injuries kept him from making the most of his first taste in the big leagues, he still gave us plenty to dream on over the winter.

As for the top five Blue Jays rookies from 2020, Pearson didn’t make this list, which should give you some indication of the depth of young talent, and the encouraging signs from each of them this season. And when you combine this year’s crop with the sophomores who debuted in 2019, it’s easy to understand why the Blue Jays are feeling pretty good about the future of their club right now. The future appears to be very bright.

In this article, I’ll take a look at the top five rookies for the Blue Jays.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 17: Julian Merryweather #67 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 17, 2020 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 17: Julian Merryweather #67 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 17, 2020 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Patience paying off?

5. Julian Merryweather
The player to be named later in the Josh Donaldson trade from two years ago, Julian Merryweather, showed why Ross Atkins was so high on him.  The 28-year old prospect made his major league debut in 2020 after fighting through injuries over the last couple of years.  Merryweather made his MLB debut on August 20 and looked very impressive mixing his 98 mph fastball with an 85 mph curveball.  He struck out three of the five batters he faced and showed off some good defensive skills throwing out Bryce Harper on an attempted bunt single.

In Merryweather’s next three appearances he pitched two innings and struck out three batters in each of those games.  He was also used as an opener in two of those games, as well as in his final appearance of the year on September 17 against the Yankees.  Injuries arose again after his final game and he was sat down for the remainder of the season.

One of the many positives for Merryweather during his short sample size was he was never hit very hard, as he gave up just three extra-base hits and none were for home runs over the season.  He did walk six over 13 innings and allowed multiple runs in two of his eight appearances.

Merryweather finished tied for fourth in Wins Against Replacement (WAR) among Blue Jays rookies with 0.3, which he recorded over eight appearances.  His late season injury does not look to be too serious and it appears as though the team may push to have him as a full-time starting pitcher next year.  Merryweather should be saving the Blue Jays time and money going after a back of the rotation pitcher.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 15: Alejandro Kirk #85 of the Toronto Blue Jays follows through on a swing during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 15, 2020 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees won 20-6. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 15: Alejandro Kirk #85 of the Toronto Blue Jays follows through on a swing during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 15, 2020 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees won 20-6. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Good things come in small packages

4. Alejandro Kirk
The Blue Jays tiny big man, Alejandro Kirk got into just nine games and 25 plate appearances, but he is was very exciting in those at-bats.

Kirk was signed as an international free agent from Mexico when he was 18 years old, just months after the team drafted Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio.  The early scouting reports stated that the pudgy catcher could hit the ball through the lower levels of the Blue Jays organization.  In 2019, Jays Journal had the then 19-year old prospect #3 top catcher in the organization behind Danny Jansen and Gabriel Moreno.

Ha made his first appearance on September 12 against the New York Mets where he would hit 1-3 with a walk.  Days later he would make his first appearance at Yankee Stadium where he collected another hit.  Kirk impressed the coaching staff so much that he would go through a stretch of playing in four games in five days.

Kirk’s big performance came on September 21 during a game against the New York Yankees when he would go 4-4 with a home run, double and three runs scored.  On one of his singles he came inches away from having a two home run game as he put the ball off the top of the right field fence.  Kirk would finish the regular season off going 7-14 and earned a spot on the playoff roster.

In his only appearance in the Wild Card Series he was put in as the designated hitter in Game 1 and was the player that broke up Blake Snell’s no hitter in the sixth inning with a single to right field.

There are now a lot of questions about what Kirk brings to the team.  He is known as a pure hitter but lacks a strong arm behind the plate.  He doesn’t have much height or mobility to play the corner positions so he could turn into a full time designated hitter.  When a team has someone that has the amount of hitting potential that Kirk has, management tend to find a spot for him.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 21: T.J. Zeuch #71 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2019 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 7-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 21: T.J. Zeuch #71 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2019 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 7-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Slipping under the radar

3. T.J. Zeuch
I know this selection may throw a few readers for a loop as you may not have thought of T.J. Zeuch on the team much this year.  The forgotten prospect in the Blue Jays organization has steadily done well over the last couple years.  When you think of top young guys, you think of Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio and many others.  Would it surprise you to know Bichette was taken in the second round of the 2016 draft and Biggio in the fifth round?  Would it surprise you even more to know that their first round pick was Zeuch?

From 2017-2019, Zeuch never had an ERA higher than 3.74 in the minors, which was 2019 when he also a season that he threw a no-hitter for the Buffalo Bisons.

Zeuch doesn’t have the power fastball that many of the Blue Jays pitching prospects have, but what he does have is a sinking fastball that causes a lot of grounds balls and makes for quick innings.  Zeuch was another player that did not appear until September, as he made his debut on the 17th when he threw three innings allowing just one run.  He would be used four days later in relief after Matt Shoemaker’s first appearance off the injured list.  Zeuch would throw 3.1 innings allowing just one run on a walk and a hit as he picked up the win.

Zeuch got his only start of the year during the second last game of the regular season.  He went five shut innings on five hits against the Baltimore Orioles.  He finished the regular season with a 0.5 WAR, a 1.59 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 11.1 innings.  He doesn’t strike out very many, as he averaged just 2.38 over nine innings, but induces a lot of ground balls.  For a team that saw a lot of pitchers rack up the pitch count and short outings, it is refreshing to have someone have some quick innings.

Over parts of his first two seasons, Zeuch holds a 3.71 ERA through 34 innings, which shows he needs to be given a lot longer look next season.  Zeuch could be an ideal fifth starter that can eat up innings and give the team a chance to win, which is something they weren’t getting from the back of the rotation this year.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 20: Thomas Hatch #31 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 20, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Blue Jays defeated the Phillies 6-3. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 20: Thomas Hatch #31 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 20, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Blue Jays defeated the Phillies 6-3. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

A trade that’s really paid off already

2. Tom Hatch
Whenever there are blockbuster deals you see some big name prospects get dealt around, however, many of those prospects don’t develop into major league players.  (Have a look at what the Blue Jays gave up for Josh Donaldson, David Price and Troy Tulowitzki). However, there are smaller trades that happen that you don’t think much of at the time and all of a sudden a year after the trade you have a contributing player on the team.  This was done at the 2019 Trade Deadline, as the Blue Jays traded soon to be free agent relief pitcher David Phelps for unknown prospect named Tom Hatch from the Chicago Cubs.

Prior to the season I wrote an article that stated I believed that, although not flashy, I thought Hatch would make his debut this season.  Hatch broke the summer camp with the big club and made his debut at the Blue Jays third game of the season during a bullpen game.  Hatch was very impressive as he showed no signs of nerves pitching 2.1 innings on 47 pitches and failing to surrender a hit or run while striking out three.  This came to be the norm for Hatch.

Hatch was used as a relief pitcher that was needed for multiple innings and was counted on heavily.  Hatch went through a stretch in mid-August to early-September where he did not allow an earned run over eight appearances (12.3 IP).  Hatch would lead all Blue Jays relief pitchers in innings pitched at 26.1 and showed his durability and consistency.

At this time the Blue Jays are saying that Hatch is likely going to be a starting pitcher next year.  Hatch is among several young starting pitchers that can be used in the rotation or for multiple innings out of the bullpen.  Hatch showed he belonged as he finished tenth on the entire team in WAR with 0.7.

WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 27: Jordan Romano #68 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 27: Jordan Romano #68 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on July 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

Closer of the future?

1. Jordan Romano
Who would have thought that a player the Blue Jays lost during the 2018 Rule 5 Player Draft would become the teams’ top rookie in 2020?  At the end of the 2018 season the Blue Jays left Jordan Romano off their 40-man roster which exposed him for the Rule 5 draft.  The Chicago White Sox selected Romano, however, traded him later that day to the Texas Rangers for cash considerations.

Thankfully the Rangers eventually found they had no use for him on their 25-man roster and he was returned to the Blue Jays.  Romano had an underwhelming season at AAA for the Blue Jays in 2019 as he posted an ERA at 5.59, however there was enough raw talent there that they gave him a September call-up.  Romano struggled with most aspects on the mound except striking out batters when he joined the Blue Jays. He surrendered 14 runs on nine walks and 17 hits including four home runs in just over 15 innings.  However, he did record 21 strikeouts and showed a lightning type fastball.

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At the start of the 2020 season, Romano was the first pitcher out of the bullpen in Game 1 of the season when Hyun Jin Ryu failed to get through five innings.  Romano threw one shutout inning striking out two batters and eventually picked up the win in the game, which was the first of his career.  After that appearance Romano continued to show his dominance as he did not allow a hit until his ninth outing of the year while striking out 13 batters over that time.

Romano quickly became one of, if not the most important member of the bullpen and made 15 appearances on the season for 14.2 innings and allowed just two earned runs with a WHIP of 0.89.  The Canadian pitcher from Markham, Ontario also led the team averaging 12.9 strikeouts over nine innings, and until a late-season injury he appeared to be taking the closer’s role.  Romano was used on August 21 and August 24 in the closer’s role and picked up saves.  He was used again on August 28, however blew the save, but it was quickly known he had an injury and would miss the remainder of the 2020 regular season and playoffs.

Romano will be turning 28 at the beginning of the next season and could be in a position to be the closing pitcher on the team and if not that, he will be a very valuable weapon in the bullpen.

Next. Nate Pearson a Starter, Opener or Reliever?. dark

Who did I miss, is there someone else who you thought shined more than these five?

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