Recently acquired Blue Jays infielder tabbed as 2025 Rookie of the Year candidate

The Toronto Blue Jays made their biggest splash at the 2024 trade deadline when they dealt starter Yusei Kikuchi to the Houston Astros for three promising prospects. At the time, many believed that top pitching prospect Jake Bloss was the centrepiece of the return package coming back to the Jays. For some others, they may have thought that outfielder Joey Loperfido was the key piece, who was at the time perhaps the most MLB-ready of the three. 

However, it now appears that the third piece could be the hidden gem of the entire deal. When MLB.com recently came out with their list of 2025 Rookie of the Year candidates, it was actually infielder Will Wagner, the Jays’ No. 18 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, that ended up receiving the honours.

Recently acquired Blue Jays infielder tabbed as 2025 Rookie of the Year candidate

With top prospects such as Ricky Tiedemann, Orelvis Martinez and even Bloss in the Jays’ system all ready to make significant contributions in the major leagues this upcoming season, one would predict perhaps one of them would be the odds-on favourite to be the top rookie. But if we take a look at what Wagner accomplished last season, we can see where the experts of MLB.com were coming from.

After all, Wagner put together a strong 2024 minor league campaign in which he batted a solid .315 with an .876 OPS, along with 57 runs scored, 15 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs and 43 RBI in 77 total games played. More impressively, he showed incredible plate discipline with 59 walks and just 37 strikeouts over 286 at-bats.

When Wagner first joined the Jays’ organization at the deadline, he had a blazing start in his tenure with their Triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons. In his first seven games with the Bisons, he hit a stellar .400 with a 1.116 OPS. That strong first impression was enough to earn Wagner a promotion to the big leagues in mid-August. From there, Wagner dazzled the Jays’ brass and their fans by compiling a .305 batting average, .788 OPS, together with 8 runs scored, 6 doubles, 2 home runs and 11 RBI in 24 games played. In fact, he even set the Jays’ rookie record with most hits in a game with five on August 31 against the Minnesota Twins.

Nothing was going to stop the 26-year-old spark plug until he was felled by a left knee injury that prematurely ended his season in mid-September. Nevertheless, it is fully expected that Wagner will be ready by the time spring training rolls around. MLB.com also believed that he will likely slot in as the Jays’ Opening Day second baseman, ahead of the likes of Spencer Horwitz and Davis Schneider. Added to the fact that Wagner rarely missed on swings in the zone, a big breakout season could be in store for the rookie infielder.