Blue Jays: Top prospects and where they’re beginning the 2021 season

AA – New Hampshire Fisher Cats

The Blue Jays Class AA farm team, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, will have quite a few ranked prospects joining the team to begin the year.

Announced by Shi Davidi yesterday, Jordan Groshans, Simeon Woods-Richardson, Gabriel Moreno, Austin Martin, and Otto Lopez will make the trip to AA, with none of these players playing at this high a level before in their professional career.

One of the most recent prospects to join the Blue Jays, Austin Martin surprisingly fell to the team at 5th overall in last years shortened amateur draft. Described as one of the most pure hitters in last seasons class, Martin has yet to play an inning of professional baseball and spent last year at the teams alternate training site after being drafted. It will be interesting to see where the team has Martin play position wise, as the team boasts quite a few talented infielders in the farm system already and could have the top prospect move to the outfield for the foreseeable future. The right hander is the Blue Jays #2 ranked prospect.

Finding himself on the top prospect rankings for most of his pro career (currently #3), Jordan Groshans had a rough 2019 season that was marred by injuries and strikeouts at the plate. Last season would have been a great bounce back year to prove he can perform when healthy but he would unfortunately have to settle for playing at the alternate training site. With the righty slugger slated to spend time on the left side of the diamond this year, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the hard hitting infielder make his way to Buffalo by the end of the season.

Simeon Woods-Richardson is one of the top ranked pitchers in the Blue Jays farm system at #4, a testament to just how talented he is at just 20 years old. Acquired in the Marcus Stroman trade two years ago, SWR impressed fans with his strong Spring Training, going 8.0 innings allowing only four hits, two walks, while striking out eight hitters (most of them being New York Yankees). Another prospect who will most likely find himself in AAA by the end of the year, the right-hander could also pitch his way onto the active roster if the bullpen needs a boost when the rosters expand in September.

Gabriel Moreno is another member of the talented catching prospects the Blue Jays have in the farm system, known for his cannon of an arm and defense behind the plate. No slouch in the batters box either with his .294/.339/.468 slash line, Moreno will be tested this season at a higher level where he will be expected to get most of the reps as the teams primary catcher. Widely regarded as a potential major league catcher of the future, look for the Jays #8 prospect to be knocking on the AAA doors by the end of the season.

Rounding out the group, Otto Lopez will also make the trip to New Hampshire after playing a considerable amount of innings this past Spring Training. Lopez should see a majority of the time up the middle for the Fisher Cats, as the #12th ranked prospect has a few years of development before any potential major league appearance.