5 Blue Jays prospects that will be ready to compete for a big league spot next season

The Toronto Blue Jays most likely won't be dealing their top prospects at the trade deadline unless it’s to acquire an MLB-ready player with multiple years of team control. It wasn't the expected scenario at this point in the season, but injuries and poor performances from key players derailed the season.

Looking ahead to next year, the Blue Jays will still have the pieces in place to be strong contenders. The only players on expiring contracts this season are Kevin Gausman, George Springer, Shane Bieber, and Daulton Varsho. Toronto also has quite a few prospects who can push to make the 2027 Opening Day roster.

5 Blue Jays to watch that could crack the 2027 Opening Day roster

Sean Keys - 1B/3B

Keys had a brief debut, getting called up on June 27, but his time in the majors lasted less than a month as he was sent back down to Triple-A Buffalo on July 23. Despite a promising minor league career, slashing .278/.405/.597 with 21 home runs, 55 runs, 55 RBIs, and a 1.002 OPS over 301 combined plate appearances in Double- and Triple-A, that didn't translate to the big leagues.

Keys hit .167/.189/.278 with only one home run, five runs, and five RBIs over 37 plate appearances. His plate vision was below par, with a 35.1 percent strikeout rate and only a 2.7 percent walk rate. However, he couldn't get consistent playing time with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto locked into the corner infield positions, and Springer slotted as the DH.

The main issue for Keys next season would be where he plays. Guerrero Jr. and Okamoto aren't going anywhere. If Springer isn't traded, it's unlikely he re-signs, but Brandon Valenzuela has emerged as a threat to DH. So, other than performance, position availability becomes a major hurdle to cracking the Opening Day roster for Keys.

Charles McAdoo - 1B/2B

McAdoo was another prospect who squandered his first shot in the majors. He received his call-up on May 28 as a depth addition when Lenyn Sosa went on the 10-day injured list. Before McAdoo's call-up, he was slashing .250/.357/.432 with eight home runs, 25 knocked in, and showed great plate vision, drawing 29 walks.

However, like Keys, McAdoo couldn't find consistent playing time and struggled when he did get chances at the plate. He filled in periodically for Vladdy at first and Ernie Clement at second, but in 25 plate appearances, McAdoo slashed .160/.160/.280, although he did homer in his debut game.

He also doesn't have a clear path back up to the majors, barring an injury, so it looks like September could be his next opportunity. McAdoo will also lean on his limited experience this offseason to try and crack the Opening Day roster next spring.

Ricky Tiedemann - LHP

Tiedemann missed the entire 2025 season after needing Tommy John surgery in July of the 2024 campaign. He was progressing well in his return this season, making his 2026 debut on June 16. However, he made one other rehab start before suffering some discomfort in his neck and shoulder. He received injections and spent another month on the shelf.  

The southpaw is back on the mound, making a rehab start in Single-A Dunedin on July 25. He faced four batters in one inning, striking out two of them. With all the injuries the Blue Jays suffered in their starting rotation to begin the season, if healthy, Tiedemann would have likely already made his MLB debut.

With Tiedemann's injury history, the Blue Jays will be cautious with their promising prospect. However, if Gausman and/or Bieber get traded, Tiedemann could make his MLB debut once fully healthy and stretched out. When the time comes, it'll be a good tryout to see if he's ready for the jump up.

Nolan Perry - RHP

Perry is on a similar path as Tiedemann, injury-wise. Perry was dealing in 2024, posting a 2.93 ERA through 46 innings at the Single-A level. However, in August, he suffered a UCL injury that required him to undergo Tommy John surgery, forcing him to miss the entire 2025 season.

Perry has returned this season to his dominant ways, pitching in three different minor league levels thus far. He's posted a 2.41 ERA through 56 combined innings in Single-, High-, and Double-A. His 13.66 strikeouts per nine innings have him quickly flying up the minor league ladder.

The righty could follow the Trey Yesavage route, flying up the minor leagues and making a late September appearance in the majors. The Blue Jays will likely want him to get experience at the Triple-A level , but he'll likely be talked about next season in spring training with a shot at an Opening Day spot.

Jay Harry - Util

A massive dark horse to crack the Opening Day roster is Harry. He came to the Blue Jays in the 2024 trade that sent Trevor Rogers to the Minnesota Twins. In 2023, with the Twins' Rookie ball and Single-A affiliates, Harry slashed .339/.434/.468 over 129 plate appearances. However, he went downhill from there, posting a .213/.295/.367 stat line with 12 home runs over 448 plate appearances in 2024 in High-A for both MLB organizations. His stats got even worse in 2025.

But whatever Harry did in the offseason worked, as he is now slashing .316/.360/.559 with 13 home runs and has been promoted to Triple-A, where his strikeout rate has improved to 18 percent. The prospect can play both middle infield positions and all three outfield spots, which is a skill set the Blue Jays like to utilize.

Harry's game is still pretty raw, and with two down seasons, he'll need more work at the highest minor league level. If he's still performing this well and has the defensive flexibility, it's not out of the question for Harry to receive a September call-up and but himself on the inside track for a shot at the 2027 Opening Day roster.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow