Blue Jays: Which prospects are next in line to debut this season?

On Saturday, fans got to see the Blue Jays’ top prospect and #4 ranked player by MLB Pipeline, Gabriel Moreno.

He was called up for the Detroit Tigers weekend series with Danny Jansen back on the IL and caught Kevin Gausman in his debut while also going 1 for 4 at the plate with one strikeout. He also technically threw out Victor Reyes in the first inning when he tried to take second base, however, he was safe at the bag as Bo Bichette dropped the ball, resulting in an E6 but Moreno still earned the caught stealing stat. He followed that performance by going 0-3 with a walk while catching Ross Stripling yesterday.

With Moreno now getting his feet wet at the big league level, I decided to take a look at who might be next in line amongst the Blue Jays prospects for their MLB debut sometime this season. Some players are featured on the top prospect list while others are having a solid campaign in the higher levels of the Minor Leagues, with each player trying to force management’s hand to bring them up should the need arise at the big league level via injury, trade, or poor performance.

Adrian Hernandez – RHP

The Blue Jays #18th ranked prospect, right-hander Adrian Hernandez is having a great season down in AAA. After three outings in AA, the Jays moved Hernandez to Buffalo and he has been outstanding all year, posting a 1.10 ERA through 15 appearances. The Mexico product has been with the Jays since 2018 and he has really cemented himself in the Bisons bullpen this year, pitching late in ballgames and earning five saves on the season so far. Hernandez did not allow an earned until his 11th game and boasts a 12.7 K/9 on the year so far.

With Gabriel Moreno making his MLB debut this past weekend, which Blue Jays prospect is next in line for a big-league promotion this season?

Considering how well he is doing on the mound, it might be time for the Blue Jays to consider putting him into promotion consideration if a member of the relief corps starts to struggle or finds themselves on the IL. He has some competition for roster spots against Julian Merryweather and Trent Thornton, but sooner or later, it will be time to give him a chance in the big leagues (once he is given a 40-man roster spot).

Nathan Lukes – OF

One of the last cuts of Spring Training earlier this season, outfielder Nathan Lukes was just on the outside looking in when it comes to roster space. A product of the Tampa Bay Rays system, Lukes joined Toronto this past offseason on a MiLB deal and so far in Buffalo, he is taking advantage of the situation. Through 53 games, Lukes is sporting a .302/.370/.441 slash line with four home runs, 25 RBI, and a .811 OPS (the highest of any qualified players on the squad). Defensively, Lukes has split his time between centre and right field and has four assists on the year with one error.

The Blue Jays currently feature five outfielders on the roster and it will be tough for any outfielder to crack the lineup without someone being placed on the IL or being DFA’d. If Bradley Zimmer had options available, I would guess that Lukes would be in the big leagues instead of the lefty batter but alas, the numbers game has him down in Buffalo. If Lukes can continue to play well and get reps in center field, the Jays may need to make a switch on the bench and bring up the Oregon product and DFA Zimmer and his .406 OPS.

Jordan Groshans -SS/3B

Jordan Groshans has been a member of the Blue Jays’ top prospect list since being drafted in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft. The Magnolia High School product has worked his way through every level of the Minor Leagues since being drafted and now finds himself in AAA this season.

He had a late start to the year after starting the year on the IL but since his return, Groshans has been hitting the ball well. Through 33 games, the righty-batter is sporting a .749 OPS with five extra-base hits and 15 RBI on the year with 19 walks and 18 strikeouts. On the field, Groshans has spent most of his time at shortstop (19 games) but is also getting some reps at third base mixed in (12).

There is no doubt that Groshans bat is what will carry him to the big leagues and if the Jays are looking for some additional hits later this season, the Texas product may be one to consider. Fighting for playing time will be his biggest challenge considering the current infield of Bo Bichette and Matt Chapman are in his way. Should an injury arise, it wouldn’t be an absurd thought to give him a chance with the Blue Jays but more so in a DH role rather than on the field, once he is added to the 40-man.

Samad Taylor -2B/OF

Acquired from the Cleveland Guardians back in 2017, Samad Taylor has also battled his way through the Minor League ladder and is now a prominent feature on the Bisons roster. It makes sense considering he was one of the top hitters on the Fisher Cats roster last season with a .888 OPS and 16 home runs.

The biggest task for Taylor this year was to keep the strikeouts in check, as he accumulated 110 K’s last year through 87 games. The righty-batter is faring much better this season, only having 45 strikeouts through 55 contests this season while also posting a .262/.352/.401 slash line with a .753 OPS, adding five home runs and 35 RBI, both of which lead the Bisons roster. Taylor has also become a versatile player, splitting time between 2B and LF with just one error on the year through 405 innings this year.

Right now, his biggest internal competition is Nathan Lukes should a spot for an outfielder open up on the Jays roster. The power is there and the strikeouts have been drastically reduced, so it would not be a crazy notion if the club decides to give him a chance later on this season.

Max Castillo – RHP

Although he only has four appearances at the AAA level this season, Max Castillo is quickly putting himself in a position where he could be called upon should the need arise at the big league level.

After six starts in AA where he posted a 3.10 ERA, he was promoted to the Bisons roster and has been an absolute force on the mound. He did not allow an earned run through his first two starts spanning 11.2 innings while surrendering just three hits compared to four walks and 13 strikeouts. His next two outings did see a number in the earned runs column but he has limited the damage to just two runs while racking up 12 strikeouts in the process. His ERA currently stands at 0.77 and he has amassed a 0.771 WHIP so far in AAA.

Castillo is pitching well compared to some of the Bisons starters who are struggling comparison. Casey Lawerence might have the advantage over Castillo considering he has the experience at the MLB level but it might not be an outrageous thought that the right-hander may get some reps in the Jays bullpen sometime later this season.

Kyle Johnston – RHP

Acquired at the 2019 trade deadline from the Washington Nationals, right-hander Kyle Johnston split last season between AA and AAA and posted some of the best numbers of his career, a 1.57 ERA through 69.0 innings and 35 outings (nine starts). A starter for most of his career, Johnston flirted with the bullpen in 2021 and now finds himself as a reliever moving forward.

So far this season, the Texas product has finished 11 games this season with three saves while owning a 3.70 ERA with 27 strikeouts through 24.1 innings of work. He has been used mostly late in games and in high-pressure situations and his ERA has mostly been influenced by a rough outing back on June 9th where he allowed four hits, three walks, and five earned runs, seeing his ERA balloon from 2.08 to 3.86.

Johnston finds himself in tough when it comes to relievers looking for MLB playing time but will be towards the back of the bus when compared to arms like Thornton, Merryweather, Castillo, Eisert, and Hernandez. Things can obviously change as the season wears on and if Johnston can continue to post strong numbers, a late-season call-up is certainly not out of the cards for the University of Texas at Austin product.

Logan Warmoth – INF/OF

While he has not developed into the prospect the Blue Jays were hoping for when they selected him in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Logan Warmoth is sporting some solid numbers in AAA this season.

So far this year, he is sporting a .236/.343/.400 slash line with four home runs, 27 RBI, and a .743 OPS. He has transitioned to playing more in the outfield but can be utilized at various infield positions, making him a valuable asset should he be given a shot later this season.

Hayden Juenger – RHP

A reliever for most of his time at Missouri State, the Blue Jays have started to experiment with Hayden Juenger in the rotation as an opener type and the results are impressive so far. A product of the 2021 MLB Draft, Juenger has quickly risen through to AA this season and continues to pitch well, boasting a 3.38 ERA through 13 outings (11 starts).

He hasn’t pitched more than four innings in a single outing but the results so far are noteworthy, and he hasn’t given up an earned run through his last three outings. Juenger is considered a long shot but could see his name called by the Blue Jays as a reliever should he find himself in AAA sooner rather than later.