4 surprising Blue Jays prospects who will shine at spring training 

With MLB spring training fast approaching in less than a month for the Toronto Blue Jays, it comes that time of year again where the players battle it out for potential spots on the 26-man Opening Day roster. Among the competition for various roles and positions on the ballclub will include established veterans, as well as inspiring rookie prospects.

In the case for the Jays’ top prospects, who could be in for a surprising spring that could force the Jays’ hand? Here, we will take a closer examination of four players that will do their best to impress this spring training. (Current prospect rankings based on Jays Journal’s updated 2024 top prospects list.)

Hagen Danner (No. 23 Prospect)

Selected by the Jays in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Hagen Danner was originally a catcher by trade, but has been converted into a pitcher in recent years. It was quite the season last year for the right-handed reliever when he pitched to a solid 3.66 ERA and 1.04 WHIP across three minor league levels. More impressively, he held his own during his time with the Jays’ Triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons, as he posted a 3.81 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 35 strikeouts in 28.1 innings of work. 

In doing so, Danner earned a promotion to the major leagues in August and had an unforgettable debut in more ways than one. In the ninth inning of a game against the Cubs on Aug. 11, he retired the first batter he faced and collected the commemorative game ball for his personal historical feat. However, immediately after, he had to leave the game due to a left oblique strain, promptly ending his debut outing. To make matters worse, it turned into a season-ending injury, and essentially wiped out the rest of his 2023 year.

There’s no doubt Danner will want some redemption, as he will be hungry to show the Jays’ brass once again that he can be a solid option in the bullpen for the 2024 season. As a result, look for Danner to be at his absolute best right out of the gate in spring training to regain his opportunity that he mercifully lost last season due to unforeseen circumstances.

Spencer Horwitz (No. 17 Prospect)

After spending four promising seasons in the Jays’ minor league system previously, Spencer Horwitz finally got his chance to shine with the big league club in 2023. Horwitz put together a strong year at Buffalo where he batted a stellar .337 with a .945 OPS, along with 61 runs scored, 30 doubles, 10 home runs, 72 RBI, 9 stolen bases, 78 walks and just 72 strikeouts over 107 games played. His tremendous accomplishments was recognized as it earned him team MVP honours at the end of the season. 

More importantly, his breakout season in Buffalo earned him a 15-game cameo with the Jays last season and he certainly did not look out of place when called upon. Horwitz compiled a .256 batting average with a .726 OPS, 5 runs scored, 1 home run and 7 RBI in his two short stints with the ballclub. He showed that he could make good contact at the major league level and looks primed to join the big show in 2024.

Some will believe that the recent signing of veteran Justin Turner, who likely will be taking on mainly the designated hitter role, will push Horwitz out of a role this upcoming season with the Jays. However, Horwitz is still due for a huge spring for many reasons. First of all, he does not want to spend any more time in the minors and show that he belongs with the big boys. Secondly, as a left-handed power bat, he could potentially complement Turner’s right-handed mashing in a platoon role at DH, as well as provide a solid late-game pinch hitting option off the bench. Finally, if the Jays do decide to keep Turner permanently as the team’s sole designated hitter, then by showcasing himself in spring training, Horwitz can attract potential suitors that can finally give him a starting role in the majors. So he certainly has nothing to lose but to just be at his best this spring.

Yosver Zulueta (No. 14 Prospect)

When it comes to flamethrowing pitching prospect Yosver Zulueta, he endured a roller coaster season last year with Buffalo Bisons. The opportunity presented itself in 2023 for Zulueta to make his major league debut when the Jays ran into some injury troubles with their pitching. However, his trouble in honing his control and command for most of the first half of 2023 ended up keeping him out of the picture when it came to call-ups to the big club.

With the Jays unsure of whether to deploy Zulueta as part of their future rotation or bullpen, they experimented him in both roles when he began the season in Buffalo. In doing so, it might have played a role in leading to his inconsistency as a result. In his first 32 appearances, he pitched to a 4.63 ERA with a horrific 1.76 WHIP, including 39 walks in just 46.2 innings of work. That caused his prospect rankings In the organization to plummet a bit as a result. But one positive coming out of it was the fact that he gave up only 1 home run over that same time frame despite the struggles with his command.

However, he did manage to turn his season around to respectable levels in the final two months of the season, which included a stint in the Florida Complex League to help fix whatever was ailing him in his performance. In August and September, Zulueta compiled a solid 2.60 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, holding opponents to a .167 batting average while striking out 22 in 17.1 innings pitched. Those numbers certainly resembled more the dominant form many were expecting of him.

With Jordan Hicks lost to free agency this offseason, Zulueta represents one of the best internal options available to replace the overpowering flamethrower at the back end of the bullpen. Look for Zulueta to mature in his game and surprise everyone in spring training with his consistency and earn a chance to finally make his debut for the ballclub this season.