Blue Jays: Prospects recap during the first week of Spring

With spring training underway and the Blue Jays have four games under their belt, there are quite a few prospects who are making their first appearance at a Toronto Blue Jays spring training camp. Some names on this list include Simeon Woods-Richardson, Austin Martin, and Yosver Zulueta, all of whom are creating quite a buzz with how they are performing early in camp.

With that being said, let’s take a look at how the prospects are faring so far in the first week of Blue Jays spring training in 2021.

Players

Logan Warmoth – Outfield

Drafted in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft, Logan Warmoth has spent the past few years trudging through the minors to mixed results. He made the jump to AA last year and would finish the season with a .235/.324/.333 with three home runs, 31 RBI, and a .658 OPS.

This spring, Warmoth is off to a hot start. In three games and four plate appearances, both of Warmoth’s hits have been for extra bases; a double and the Blue Jays first home run of the year. The right-hander has also made the position switch to the outfield after spending most of his minor league career as a middle infielder, and he looks comfortable in the position.

Forrest Wall – Outfield

Another outfield prospect off to a hot start for the Blue Jays, Forrest Wall rejoined the Blue Jays again this year after signing a minor league contract during the off-season. Six seasons in the minors have cumulated into a .274/.353/.419 slash line for the 25 year old with 40 home runs and 232 RBI to boot.

So far this Spring, Wall has a .500 batting average with three hits and one stolen base, and has played in four out of the five Blue Jays spring training games this year. Expect the Florida native to start in AAA this year and be in the waiting if a Blue Jays outfielder goes down with injury, although the path to the MLB is crowded with the likes of Josh Palacios and Jonathan Davis competing alongside him.

Jordan Groshans – Infield

The Blue Jays third ranked prospect, Jordan Groshans is known for his batting ability and his overall prowess at the plate. His minor league stats are very impressive at .309/.376/.457 with seven home runs and 56 RBI, however the slugger did miss considerable time in 2019 with a left foot injury.

The start of 2021 has not been kind to Groshans, as he currently has three strikeouts over four plate appearances in three games with the Blue Jays so far. The Texas native has been prone to strikeouts during his MiLB career, but the hits should start coming shortly for him as the spring is early and the bat is just a bit cold at the moment.

Chavez Young – Outfield

Drafted in the late rounds of the 2016 draft, Chavez Young has spent the past four years in the Blue Jays Rookie and A leagues, crafting a .271/.340/.414 line over 1358 plate appearances with 18 home runs and 136 RBI with 78 stolen bases.

This is Young’s third spring training with the Blue Jays and he is off to a slow start. He has a plate appearance in almost every Blue Jays spring game, but has three strikeouts over five plate appearances. While the Bahamas native might not be competing for a roster spot, a strong spring should shoot the switch hitter to AA with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Alejandro Kirk – Catcher

After a quick debut last year, Alejandro Kirk had never appeared past A ball before being called up to the Blue Jays roster last year. In nine games, Kirk slashed .375/.400/.583 with a .983 OPS, one home run, and RBI in 25 plate appearances. This spring, Kirk is fighting for a spot on the active roster competing against Reese McGuire for the backup role.

Kirk has played in two games this spring, mustering one hit and two RBI in three at-bats. Look for the burly backstop to get some opportunities this spring to try and secure a roster spot, with a competition with McGuire gaining steam to see who will secure the backup catcher role come late March.

Pitchers

Simeon Woods-Richardson – RHP

In his first spring training camp as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, Simeon Woods-Richardson comes with significant hype given his age and potential to be a prominent figure iin the Blue Jays starting rotation in the near future. In two years of MiLB action, Woods-Richardson sports a 3.48 ERA with 152 strikeouts and a 1.121 WHIP over 124.0 innings. He currently ranks as the Blue Jays #4 prospect.

In his first and only outing so far this spring, SWR started against the top of the New York Yankees lineup and was able to keep them out of the hit column during his two innings of work, striking out Giancarlo Stanton in the process. He was able to get D.J. LeMahieu to fly out to left field and got both Gary Sanchez and Aaron Judge to line out as well. Facing the heart of the Yankees lineup is no easy task, and SWR did a very good job at limiting the Yankees to just a walk over two frames.

Alek Manoah – RHP

The Blue Jays first round selection in 2019, Alek Manoah hasn’t pitched above A ball in his early career and spent last season in the Blue Jays alternate training site. In one season with the Vancouver Canadians, Manoah made six starts and would pitch to a 2.65 ERA with 27 strikeouts and a 1.059 WHIP.

Manoah would follow Woods-Richardson against the New York Yankees, giving up one hit and striking out four batters. The right-hander would get LeMahieu to ground into a double play to end the third inning and struck out Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gleyber Torres in the fourth inning, hitting Aaron Judge to start the frame. Manoah did have a few wild pitches in the inning, but overall, his stuff looked pretty impressive. He faced some very prominent MLB players and was able to get himself out of a few jams in the process.

Joey Murray – RHP

The Blue Jays 28th ranked prospect, Joey Murray found himself promoted to AA at the end of the 2019 season and entering his first spring training at the major league camp in 2021. For his career, the right-hander has a 2.60 ERA in 40 appearances (31 starts) and has 208 strikeouts with a 1.123 WHIP over 163.0 innings.

So far this spring, Murray has had one good appearance and one not so pleasant appearance to his resume. In his first outing, the right-hander pitched a clean inning against the Yankees striking out one batter in the process. His next outing against the Detroit Tigers would be a different story, allowing three earned runs over one inning with three walks and no strikeouts, earning the loss in the process. A starter in his own right, Murray will most likely rejoin AA after spring training ends and a strong year could see a promotion to AAA or possibly the MLB bullpen by years end.

Yosver Zulueta – RHP

Cuban born Yosver Zulueta may not have been on Blue Jays fan’s radar prior to spring training, but the young right-hander is certainly earning praises from fans and scouts alike this spring. After pitching his way through Cuban National Series prior to signing with the Blue Jays (after defecting), Zulueta would undergo Tommy John surgery and has returned back to health. A starting pitcher, the righty can hit the high 90’s with his fastball and is turning heads early this spring.

In his outing against the Tigers, Zulueta struggled a bit with his command, finishing his inning with two walks and two earned runs off of one hit while striking out one batter. Considering this is his first spring training and he hasn’t pitched outside of the Dominican Summer League, the ceiling is very high for the Cuban born prospect who will look to move up the Blue Jays farm system this season if he moves stateside to play rookie league ball.

Quick Pitches

Anthony Castro – RHP

Picked up from the Detroit Tigers via waivers this off-season, Anthony Castro earned a non-roster invite to the Blue Jays spring training camp. In two appearances this spring, the Venezuelan native has pitched 1.2 innings giving up two hits, one home run, and striking out four batters. His first outing was a 0.2 innings with one strikeout, while his second appearance would be where he gave up the home run, but did strikeout three batters over his inning of work.

Bryan Baker – RHP

In one appearance this season, Bryan Baker pitched one inning against the New York Yankees in the Blue Jays first spring game of the year. He threw a clean inning with two strikeouts and earned the save in the process.

Elvis Luciano – RHP

After being acquired in the Rule 5 draft back in 2019, Elvis Luciano enters his third spring training camp with the Blue Jays in 2021. He has made one appearance this spring, going one inning against the Detroit Tigers, giving up two runs (both unearned) while hitting one batter and striking out one.

Kirby Snead – LHP

In his third spring training with the Blue Jays, Snead has appeared in one game and pitched a clean inning against the New York Yankees, striking out one batter.

Nick Allgeyer – LHP

His first spring training camp with the Toronto Blue Jays, Allegeyer has made one appearance so far this season and did not have a fun outing. In one inning of work against the Yankees, the left-hander gave up two home runs and three earned runs total, earning the loss in the process.

Ty Tice – RHP

In his fourth spring training camp with the Blue Jays, Tice has made one appearance so far this season against the Philadelphia Phillies. The right-hander pitched one inning giving up a hit with no strikeouts, earning the win in the process.