Blue Jays are developing a deeper pitching pipeline than fans really think

Prior to the season, the Toronto Blue Jays overall farm system did not look great, but halfway through 2025, it resembles a legitimate pitching lab. There are a handful of prospects in the organization that are looking like future contributors to the major league pitching staff.

The pitching development within every Blue Jays affiliate is producing excellent results and now, four prospects have exceeded 85 strikeouts through the first half of the season. Those four rank within the top 22 of all minor league pitching. Three of these four are ranked in Toronto's top 30 prospects on MLB Pipelines rankings. The talent in the organization is very real, making the future very bright for this team.

The Blue Jays are creating a deeper pitching pipeline than fans realize.

It comes at an important time too as the Blue Jays rotation has three free agents after the season and they need as much help from their farm system as they can get. This wave of pitching prospects may help this organization spend on other areas, while still getting positive production at a cheap price.

Trey Yesavage, who was just named to the All-Star Futures game, leads the charge with 104 strikeouts this season, but has ran into a block in Double-A. Through two starts with this affiliate, he has walked 10 batters. If his control continues to be an issue, he will likely remain down there for the rest of the year and then likely start 2026 in Triple-A. He could very well make an impact in 2026, especially if he keeps this 2.92 ERA and 2.79 FIP coming along.

Next is Juaron Watts-Brown who ranks just behind Yesavage with 98 strikeouts. He began the year in High-A with the Vancouver Canadians but earned an call up and like Yesavage he also resides in Double-A, making for a very strong duo at that affiliate. He is the Blue Jays' 15th ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline and has posted a very solid ERA of 3.06 at that level.

Gage Stanifer is an unranked prospect that sits with 87 strikeouts on the year in High-A. He has not been a very dominant arm in his minor league career with an ERA close to 5.00, but this season he has found a groove and has brought that all the way down to 2.26 on the year.

Lastly is Khal Stephen as he sits at 86 strikeouts in High-A aswell. He was selected right after Yesavage and is the ninth ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline. On the year, his ERA is down to 1.90, the most impressive out of all these guys.

All of these players have great stuff that and the Blue Jays are unlocking that talent quickly. All of these prospects are turning heads this season and are giving Toronto a lot to work with moving forward. There are plenty more prospects in the pitching department, but these four are proving the pitching lab is real in this organization.