Once a long-shot arm, Gage Stanifer is suddenly knocking on Blue Jays' door

Toronto Blue Jays' pitching prospect Gage Stanifer has been promoted from Double-A New Hampshire to Triple-A Buffalo. Ranked as Toronto's number ten prospect and fifth overall among pitchers, Stanifer is one step closer to joining the Blue Jays, which could happen as soon as next year.

After being drafted in the 19th round by the Blue Jays in 2022, Stanifer's journey through the club's developmental system got off to a rough start. As a late-round pick who didn’t immediately dominate the lower levels, he was getting the label of a long-term project, rather than being a guy who could move quickly up the ladder.

In his first two seasons, Stanifer put up a combined 6.33 ERA during his time with the FCL Blue Jays and Class-A Dunedin. The young prospect allowed 72 earned runs and posted a combined record of 4-9.

However, things turned around in 2025. Stanifer found his footing and quickly began turning heads with his improvement and started ascending the through the Blue Jays' system. After a 4-0 record and a 0.69 ERA in seven games with Class-A Dunedin, Stanifer was called up to Advanced-A Vancouver. He continued his consistency with the Canadians, recording a 3.20 ERA in 18 games.

All of that would be enough to get his second promotion of the year and head up to Double-A New Hampshire where he would finish out the season. All told, his 2025 season in the minors brought about a 2.86 ERA and 2.70 FIP in 110 innings pitched. He added 161 strikeouts in 27 games (16 starts) in which he allowed only four home runs.

Stanifer began the 2026 campaign in Double-A as well and in two seasons with the Fisher Cats, Stanifer posted a 6-0 record with a 4.97 ERA in 30 games, 21 of those as a starter.

Gage Stanifer's slow start in the minors is a thing of the past

Part of Stanifer's success so far in the minors is his high strikeout rate, posting an 11.8 K/9. His area of concern is limiting walks, posting 5.7 BB/9 to date. Stanifer struggled to bring down the walks in Double-A New Hampshire, sitting with a 6.3 BB/9.

Nonetheless, the quiet call-up to Triple-A Buffalo is a welcome sight for the Blue Jays, who are currently in a starting pitching conundrum with numerous injuries at the MLB level. Their depth is taking a hard hit amid a playoff push. Out of Toronto's pitching prospects, Stanifer is the latest to hit Triple-A, with the likes of Nolan Perry and Johnny King remaining with Double-A New Hampshire.

Per MLB.com, Stanifer's projected ETA to the Majors is as soon as 2027. While it's unlikely he sees time in the majors this year, that projection looks like it could be spot on with how things are shaping up going into next season. There could be a few spots up for grabs depending on what happens with the current MLB rotation, whether that's by some players leaving in free agency, retiring, or not being ready due to injuries - Stanifer could come into camp next year with his sights set on breaking into the big leagues.

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