A look into the future of the Blue Jays on-tap with current Blue Jays rained out

Just as the new season gets going, the first delay in the schedule has occurred. The Toronto Blue Jays and the Chicago White Sox game for Thursday (Apr. 2) has been postponed due to inclement weather, meaning we'll have to wait a day to see newest Blue Jay, Dylan Cease, take on his former team.

However, Blue Jays fans can still get their baseball fix by seeing the pro-baseball debut of a prominent prospect - JoJo Parker, while Brandon Barriera will look to make his return to pro-ball after injuries derailed the last two years, although he will not be on the mound for Dunedin's Opening Day game.

A Blue Jays first round pick is in the Opening Day lineup for Dunedin

It isn't raining hard enough in Dunedin to cancel the game where the Blue Jays Single-A affiliates will take on the Bradenton Marauders in their season opener. That's where 2025 first-round draft pick Parker will play shortstop and bat third for the Blue Jays against the Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate club.

The game will be free to watch on MiLB.com as it is one of the Free Games of the Day, which is perfect timing for Blue Jays fans looking to get their baseball fix in with the big league club on the sidelines for the day.

Drafted out of Purvis High School in Mississippi No. 8 overall last July, Parker begins his first year of affiliated ball as the second rank prospect in Toronto's Top 30. He's already flashed his potential this year in the prospects break out game last month. Parker, ripped a blazing 109.1 mph single up the middle, the hardest-hit ball of the game, showing off his profile as a guy who makes a ton of hard contact.

The MLB pipeline time line has Parker getting to the majors in three years, with an expected arrival date in 2029. But if he hits balls like that all year in the minors, that time line may move up.

Meantime, 2022 first round pick, Barriera (No. 23 overall), is entering his age-22 season and is trying to overcome some long-term arm issues that have plagued him since turning pro. In 2024 he recieved Tommy John surgery and had an internal brace procedure done, while in August of 2025 he fractured his forearm after returning to the mound. He's pitched just 13 games of minor-league ball since being drafted almost four years ago and while he's still very young, the Blue Jays would love to see some progress with Barriera.

Barriera isn't starting the opening game for Dunedin on Thursday but is on the Opening Day roster and could figure into a game some time this weekend.