Blue Jays Single-A affiliate strikes out 24 batters in a single game

The Toronto Blue Jays took the second game of the three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays yesterday by a score of 5-1, but they weren’t the only Toronto affiliated squad to get a win over a Tampa team on Saturday (sorry Maple Leaf fans).

The Jays Single-A affiliate, the Dunedin Blue Jays, bested the Tampa Tarpons (New York Yankees affiliate) by a score of 1-0, with outfielder Cameron Eden launching the solo home run that proved to be the only score of the game. More impressively was the Blue Jays pitching staff, as three pitchers combined to strike out 24 batters last night through nine full innings.

Starting the game was Nick Frasso, who was making his debut this season after undergoing surgery on his UCL last year and went three innings while allowing one hit and striking out eight batters. The former fourth-round pick of the 2020 MLB Draft was absolutely lighting up the radar, sitting in the high-90s with his fastball and touching the 100 MPH mark on numerous occasions. Other than the hit and eight strikeouts, he allowed a fly ball to keep a clean score sheet.

The Dunedin Blue Jays, the Single-A affiliate for Toronto, had three pitchers combine to strike out 24 batters in a single game yesterday.

Up next was the Blue Jays’ #28th ranked prospect in Dahian Santos. The right-hander spent last season split between Rookie Ball and with Dunedin and has been incredible to start the year, even before last night’s impressive performance (a 2.25 ERA through 16.0 innings with 31 strikeouts). Santos lasted four innings against the Tarpons and would allow one hit and three walks while striking out 10 batters and picking up the win in the process. He did have two wild pitches and one hit batter in the contest but he didn’t allow anyone to cross home while also striking Yankees top prospect Jasson Dominguez twice.

Lastly was southpaw Braden Scott, a player the Blue Jays signed to a Minor League deal back in early February after spending last year in Independent Ball. Scott started the year in Dunedin but was quickly promoted to AA New Hampshire early in the campaign. After six appearances and throwing to a 3.75 ERA, he was sent back down to Dunedin and this was his first outing back down in Single-A. He finished off the last two innings, striking out six batters and picking up the save in the process. He did make the game a little close in the ninth inning when he walked two batters and had a runner on second with one out but settled down after a quick mound visit and struck out the remaining two batters to clinch the game.

Overall, three players on the Tarpons wore the golden sombrero (four strikeouts in a game) while four more had two+ strikeouts in the game. A very impressive outing for some arms that Blue Jays fans may want to keep an eye on over the next few years.