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

Advanced A – Vancouver Canadians

Starting pitcher and #11 ranked Blue Jays prospect C.J. Van Eyk will begin the year in Advanced A, a year after being drafted in the second round. He too did not get a chance to play in any games last season with the minor league season being shut down so it should be interesting to see how Van Eyk plays against professional hitters. In Spring Training with the Blue Jays, the right-hander pitched in one game but was roughed up, surrendering two hits and three walks and five earned runs without recording an out.

Another player starting with the Canadians this year is Adam Kloffenstein (10th ranked prospect) after spending last season playing in the independent leagues (with MiLB the shut down). He spent part of the 2019 season with the Canadians although they will be playing in Oregon this season due to the border being closed. After starting 13 games and crafting a 2.24 ERA for Vancouver in 2019, Kloffenstein will most likely not be staying there long and a strong start could see him move to AA sooner rather than later.

Low A Dunedin

The most exciting prospect in Dunedin this year is arguably Orelvis Martinez, the Blue Jays #6 ranked prospect. He spent the 2019 season in the Gulf Coast Rookie League at just 17 years old, crafting a .275/.352.549 slash line in 142 at-bats. This past Spring Training was also eye opening for fans, as Martinez performed well in 10 games, finishing with a .354 average and one home run with three RBI. Martinez will be a prospect to keep an eye on this year to see how he performs over the course of a full season against players 2-3 years his age in Dunedin.

Miguel Hiraldo will also be making the trip to Dunedin, the Blue Jays #9 ranked prospect. In Spring Training earlier this year, Hiraldo played in five games and would not record a hit over five plate appearences with one RBI, one walk, and one stolen base.

Another infielder prospect on the Blue Jays top prospect rankings, #13 ranked Leo Jimenez will also begin the season in Dunedin. In limited action earlier this year, Jimenez crafted a .500/.500/.667 in six at-bats during the Blue Jays Spring Training camp.

Another new prospect in the Jays organization, outfielder Zach Britton will be making his professional debut after being drafted last season. His college career at the University of Louisville was solid and the lefty hitter will hopefully be able to carry over his stats and power stroke from his Louisville days to the Florida shores.

One of the players who was under quite a few fans radar when camp broke this spring was pitcher Yosver Zulueta. Hailing from Remedios, Cuba, the 23 years old has pitched for years in the Cuban National Series before making the jump to play Major League Baseball.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery back in 2019, Zulueta is one pitcher who could find himself rising through the farm system rather quickly if he can pitch well out of the gate given his experience in Cuba prior to signing with the Blue Jays. He is currently ranked as the organization’s #22 top prospect.