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Blue Jays: Prospect pitchers who could crack the roster in 2021

By Tyson Shushkewich

Jul 19, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson (87) delivers a pitch during summer training camp batting practice at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 19, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson (87) delivers a pitch during summer training camp batting practice at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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BUFFALO, NY – SEPTEMBER 27: Patrick Murphy #66 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Sahlen Field on September 27, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Nicholas T. LoVerde/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – SEPTEMBER 27: Patrick Murphy #66 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Sahlen Field on September 27, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Nicholas T. LoVerde/Getty Images) /

Other Prospects to Watch

Joey Murray (not on the 40 man roster)

The Toronto Blue Jays 28th ranked prospect, Joey Murray pitched well in 2019 and will most likely be looking to jump to the MLB this season.

Finishing the 2019 season in AA, Murray would throw to a 2.75 ERA with 169 strikeouts over 137.1 innings and 25 starts (27 appearances). He also appeared in the Blue Jay’s first spring game of 2021, striking out one batter over an inning of work without allowing a hit or a walk.

While Murray will most likely begin the season in AAA as a starter, the right-hander with the ‘hidden fastball’ could make a jump to the Blue Jays bullpen later this season if the need arises.

Patrick Murphy (on 40 man roster)

Appearing in four games for the Blue Jays last season, Patrick Murphy had a strong 2020 campaign albeit a small sample size. Murphy would pitch to a 1.50 ERA over 6.0 innings of work, striking out five batters while allowing two walks and a 1.333 WHIP.

Murphy’s spring took an unfortunate turn as he currently finds himself on the 60-day injured list with a sprained a/c joint in his shoulder. It is unknown when Murphy will begin throwing again, but he should join the Bisons rotation later on this season. He could make another appearance in the Blue Jays bullpen later this year once he gets some innings under his belt, and after he returns from his injury.

Elvis Luciano (on 40 man roster)

A Rule 5 draft selection back in 2019, Elvis Luciano spent the 2019 season on the Blue Jays roster (part of the condition of the draft), appearing in 25 games and pitching to a 5.35 ERA while dealing with an elbow strain for a majority of the season. Luciano will most likely begin the season in the AA rotation and could make the jump to AAA this season, with a possible promotion to the Blue Jays bullpen if need be (highly unlikely as they appear to want to keep him as a starter, but the option is there).

Jackson Rees (not on 40 man roster)

Jackson Rees made a name for himself in 2019, pitching to a 0.73 ERA, 88 strikeouts, and a 0.892 WHIP over 61.2 innings and two leagues, earning numerous awards from MLB.com in the process.

Rees should see a promotion to AA this season and should finish the year in AAA with the Bisons, with the potential to see himself in a Blue Jays uniform by the end of the year if he can continue to pitch as he did in 2019.

Takeaways and analysis of the Blue Jays first spring game. dark. Next

Anthony Castro

Picked up from the Detroit Tigers off of waivers late last year, Anthony Castro enters the Blue Jays spring training as a non-roster invite. With one MLB game under his belt last year (one inning with one home run and one strikeout), Castro is currently ranked as the Blue Jays 19th prospect in the system. In his first spring training game with the Blue Jays against the Yankees last Sunday, the right-hander struck out one batter over 0.2 innings of work.

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