Three Blue Jays prospects featured on Top 100 list to begin 2022

Earlier this week, MLB Pipeline released their updated prospect rankings for the 2022 season. This includes a new and improved top #30 list for the Blue Jays but also a new top #100 list for all teams across the MLB.

While the rankings will most certainly change throughout the year, three Blue Jays prospects find themselves featured on the first edition of the top 100:

#7 – Gabriel Moreno

#38 – Orelvis Martinez

#80 – Jordan Groshans

Moreno is the Jays’ top prospect heading into 2022, a spot he is familiar with after taking over as top dog late last season. A thumb injury limited him to just 38 games in 2021, with the Venezualan spending a majority of the year in AA but seeing limited action with the Buffalo Bisons late in the campaign. The righty-batter would finish with a .367.434/.626 line and a 1.060 OPS through 139 at-bats. Behind the plate, Moreno posted a 40% caught stealing percentage while owning a perfect 1.000% fielding percentage with just one passed ball. He should start the year in AAA and be MLB ready towards the midway mark of the season.

Nobody’s prospect status within the Blue Jays camp has been higher than Martinez’s, as the Dominican product is taking full advantage of his time in Spring Training with the Major League camp. Through five games and nine at-bats, Martinez has gone 3-9 with one double and two home runs while walking twice compared to four strikeouts. Last season, the righty-batter started the year in A-ball before being promoted to A+ towards the end of the season, seeing 27 games with the Vancouver Canadians. Through 395 at-bats split between both levels, Martinez finished with 26 doubles, 28 home runs, 87 RBI, and a .895 OPS. While he may not be quite ready for the MLB level this season, it wouldn’t be surprising if Martinez sees some AAA action towards the back half of the campaign, especially if he can start strong in A+ or AA this year.

MLB Pipeline has released an updated top 100 prospect rankings list for 2022 and three Blue Jays find themselves ranked on the first edition.

Lastly is Jordan Groshans, the Blue Jays’ #3 prospect. Drafted in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft, Groshans returned from an injury-plagued 2019 campaign (with the 2020 season cancelled) and posted solid numbers in AA New Hampshire. Through 75 games, the infielder amassed a .817 OPS with seven home runs and 40 RBI, finishing the season with a .291 batting average. Defensively, Groshans spent most of the 2021 campaign at shortstop but saw some action at third base as well, earning a .960 and a .869 fielding percentage respectively. Groshans could start the year in AA but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Jays have him start the year in Buffalo, as a hot bat could see the Texas product seeing some time on the active roster come September.

Some former Blue Jays also saw their name in the top prospect rankings, as Twins INF/OF Austin Martin ranked at #52 while Simeon Woods-Richardson dropped off the top 100 rankings and is now ranked at #8 in the organization.