Just two Blue Jays prospects crack the latest Top 50 list

Former MLB executive and now insider for The Athletic, Jim Bowden, always puts together his own prospects list around September. As Bowden puts it, his lists are done by the eye test and the gut test and so they often differ from other top prospect lists. However, what's similar about Bowden's is that for two prospects of the Toronto Blue Jays, they continue to make these lists, no matter who is writing them.

Just two Blue Jays prospects crack the latest Top 50 list

The top Toronto prospect that Bowden listed is right-handed pitcher Trey Yesavage, who he ranks as the 28th best prospect. The 22-year old has climbed four levels of minor league ball just this season after being drafted 20th overall a year ago.

Bowden says, "Yesavage is a beast on the mound with a bulldog mentality. The Jays’ 2024 first-round pick profiles as a mid-rotation starter who misses bats at a high level. He uses a short arm action to challenge hitters with a mid-90s fastball, a wipeout split-finger fastball and a solid, but inconsistent slider."

The Blue Jays did not call up Yesavage as a September call up earlier this week, despite his dominant year in the minors. For long-time fans of the Blue Jays, that certainly tracks as when it comes down to it, this front office has proven the thing they value more than anything else is contractual control, and if they were to call up Yesavage, they would have started his clock towards free agency.

However, Yesavage has made a few appearances out of the bullpen while pitching in Triple-A for the Buffalo Bisons and so there is still a chance Yesavage comes up and makes an cameo with the Blue Jays before 2025 is over.

The second prospect listed is 19-year-old shortstop Arjun Nimmala, who Bowden lists as the number 46th best prospect. Nimmala has spent all season in A-Ball and is much further away from his big league debut - but has been making significant strides early in his professional baseball career.

Bowden says, "Nimmala is a fascinating prospect because he has all the tools except the most important one for a position player: the hit tool. He has legit power and above-average speed and is a solid defensive shortstop with a strong arm. The big question is: Will he hit major-league pitching well enough when he gets there?"

"In two professional seasons, he’s hit .229, though he’s played in a couple of leagues (the Florida State League and the Northwest League) that are tough on hitters and he’s been one of the youngest players at each level. I’m betting on his athleticism, work ethic and the Blue Jays’ hitting coaches to help him hit enough to be a major-league regular," says Bowden.

Those are legitimate questions about Nimmala's potential to be a future big league player. The silver lining though is that he is just 19 and has lots of time ahead to develop those hit tools.