3 former Blue Jays prospects about to have a breakout season in the majors

While the Toronto Blue Jays are having a good spring and recently, spring training is also a time where you can play the "what if" game. While the Blue Jays have made some shrewd moves in the past to bring some major league talent onto the their roster, they've also had to send away from minor league talent in exchange.

This spring is a prime example of that thinking, as there are several former Toronto Blue Jays prospects who have been putting up great numbers in spring training while showcasing their potential to have a breakout season in the majors.

3 former Blue Jays prospects about to have a breakout season in the majors

One such player is Simeon Woods Richardson who looks poised to help the Minnesota Twins contend in the American League Central in 2025. The Jays traded Woods Richardson to the Twins in 2021 in exchange for José Berríos, and, after a decent first year in the big leagues in 2024, Woods Richardson looks ready to take that next step in 2025.

From April to the end of July last year, Woods Richardson threw 88 innings and recorded 76 strikeouts. he also gave up just eight home runs while pitching into the sixth inning in nine of his 17 starts. That said, he seemed to hit a wall after the All-Star Break, as he reached a career-high in innings.

Now entering his age 24 season, Woods Richardson looks geared up in spring training with nine strikeouts in eleven innings. He's also showcased a skillset that's made him look like an ace in waiting.

Another former Blue Jays prospect that's been having a productive spring is 28-year-old Vinny Capra of the Milwaukee Brewers. The right-handed hitting utility infielder was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 20th round of the 2018 MLB Draft and he made his major league debut with the Blue Jays during the 2022 season. He tallied one hit in seven plate appearances.

Capra has carved his way into the conversation to be on the Brewers Opening Day roster as he’s belted a team high five home runs in 33 at-bats, and is slashing .333/.405./.879 in 14 games. Capra’s versatility around the infield is something the Brewers need right now, and versatility alone could give him a chance to prove his potential to being an everyday player.

Sticking with infielders, it was just a few years ago when Otto Lopez was thought of as a part of the ‘infield of the future’ for the Toronto Blue Jays. Signed as an amateur free agent in July 2016, the right-handed hitting Lopez logged innings at shortstop, second base, third base and all three outfield positions while in Toronto’s farm system, and his glove work was impressive. His fielding value ranked in the 98th percentile last year according to Baseball Savant.

He also showed an ability to make good contact and get on base. In his very brief stint with the Blue Jays in 2022, Lopez had six hits in nine at-bats and struck out just once in ten plate appearances. But the San Francisco Giants purchased Lopez from Toronto last winter, and then Miami picked him up on waivers in April and he impressed in his first full big-league season. He played in 117 games with Miami and slashed .270/.313/.377 and was worth 2.6 bWAR.

So far this spring, it looks as if the 26-year-old from Santo Domingo could be even better this year. He’s slashing .324/.366/.514 with two home runs in 13 games. Mix in his speed (in the 86th percentile, with 20 stolen bases last season) and the Marlins suddenly appear to have an all-around above-league-average player who can play multiple positions around the diamond.

As the new season approaches, it will be exciting to see if these former Blue Jays prospects can make their mark in the majors.