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Blue Jays: Five prospects next in line for a promotion to the big leagues

By Tyson Shushkewich

Jul 17, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Blue Jays infielder Jordan Groshans (86) gestures to a team mate during an intra-squad game at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 17, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Blue Jays infielder Jordan Groshans (86) gestures to a team mate during an intra-squad game at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Blue Jays
DUNEDIN, FLORIDA – MARCH 13: Gabriel Moreno #70 of the Toronto Blue Jays swings at pitch during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a spring training game at TD Ballpark on March 13, 2021 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

The Toronto Blue Jays have used a few different players this season from the farm system, some experiencing success and some struggling in their first taste of Major League Baseball. Overall, the Blue Jays have used prospects Alek Manoah, Riley Adams, Kevin Smith, Josh Palacios, Otto Lope (for one at-bat), and a barrage of relief pitchers such as Tayler Saucedo, Kirby Snead, Connor Overton, and most recently Bryan Baker (although he has yet to make an appearance)

Manoah is leading the pack and is having a monster season in the rotation, pitching to a 3.15 ERA through 14 starts and garnering Rookie of the League votes late in the season. Adams is no longer with the team after being traded at the deadline but struggled to a .107/.167/.179 slash line during his 12 game stint. Palacios is back down in the minors after a brief second stint late in the season while Smith is on the Blue Jays bench, slashing .130/.259/.261 with a .520 OPS through 23 at-bats.

The Blue Jays currently have the 14th ranked farm system in the league, falling into the double-digit category after trading Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson at the deadline for Twins starter Jose Berrios.

This brings up the question of who is next in line for a promotion to the big leagues within the Blue Jays farm system.

Gabriel Moreno – C

The Blue Jays new top prospect after the most updated rankings, catcher Gabriel Moreno was having a fantastic year in AA before a fractured thumb put him on the injured list.

He was leading the league in multiple offensive categories prior to the injury, slashing .373/.441/.651 with eight home runs, 45 RBI, and a 1.092 OPS. Defensively, Moreno sports a clean 1.000 fielding percentage and has caught 44% of base runners.

Had it not been for the injury, there is a strong possibility that Moreno would be in AAA right now and behind the plate for the Buffalo Bisons. This will most likely be his next test either to finish this year or to start the next and while he hasn’t returned to playing full time yet, he will most likely be major league ready within the next season or two, with the 2022 season being a very good possibility for Moreno to crack the major league roster.

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