Blue Jays' prospect promotions include former first-rounder and intriguing trade pickup

The Toronto Blue Jays have some interesting developments happening in the organization right now. While much of the attention is focused on the players in Toronto who have their sights set on chasing down a playoff spot, the front office is always looking ahead and trying to project when their younger players could help out the big league roster.

Recent promotions for Brandon Barriera, Daniel Guerra and Dameury Pena have added a little more intrigue to the Blue Jays’ farm system. Both Barriera and Guerra are pitchers who have had recent stretches that should excite the front office about their potential. Pena is an infielder that is pretty new to the system, but has gotten off to a flying start after being acquired in the Jeff Hoffman deadline deal.

Three Blue Jays' prospects are moving up a level in Toronto's farm system

Brandon Barriera

The former first round pick finally looks to be on track and showing the Blue Jays why they signed him for a $3.5 million-dollar bonus. His last four outings have been virtually flawless. Since Aug. 5, Barriera has started four games, and has not allowed an earned run in 13.2 innings, while racking up 16 strikeouts.

He has walked eight batters, but only allowed six hits, including one outing where he no-hit the Yankees' Single-A team across four innings.

Barriera began his pro-ball career the year after he was taken 23rd overall in the 2022 draft, but has only pitched in 26 games since then. Injuries derailed his development, including pitching just six games between 2024 and 2025 as he underwent Tommy John surgery in April of 2024.

Over his first nine games this season, Barriera was limited to about two innings per outing and allowed 17 runs (15 earned) in 20.2 innings pitched. However, he has turned a corner since the beginning of August, and has rightfully earned his promotion to High-A Vancouver.

Daniel Guerra

Guerra also became a member of the Blue Jays in 2022 - signed as an international free agent. He's spent the last three season's honing his craft in the Complex League, before showing some real improvement with Single-A Dunedin last season (3.40 ERA, 84 strikeouts in 82 IP).

This year, he has advanced three levels, getting to Triple-A Buffalo after just four innings pitched in Double-A. He began the season with High-A Vancouver and pitched there until Aug. 5. In 14 starts he posted a 3.20 ERA, and in 59 innings pitched he racked up 78 strikeouts, with a 1.32 WHIP, and a .226 batting average against.

With New Hampshire, he had nine strikeouts in those four innings, while allowing one run on three hits, and the Blue Jays have felt that was more than enough to get him up to Buffalo. He is Rule 5 eligible at the end of the season, so a strong finish could get him on the Blue Jays' 40-man roster.

Dameury Pena

The 20-year-old second baseman hasn't been in the Blue Jays' system for long, but he's already made an impact. He slashed .318/388/.432 in 12 games with Single-A Dunedin and is getting promoted to High-A Vancouver.

He was playing in High-A with the Minnesota Twins before they traded him, along with John Klein and Dasan Hill for Hoffman at the deadline. In 25 games with the Twins' High-A team, Pena hit .245/.321/.316 with no home runs, but he kept his strikeout rate down to 10.0% with a .276 BABIP.

Pena isn't listed within the Blue Jays' Top 30 prospects via MLB Pipeline but he could push his way up if his bat keeps up this pace. He's also got some positional flexibility since he's logged some games at left-field and right-field this year in both the Blue Jays' and Twins' system.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow