6 Blue Jays prospects who improved their stock with a hot month of May

Toronto Blue Jays v New York Yankees - Rainer Nunez
Toronto Blue Jays v New York Yankees - Rainer Nunez | Julio Aguilar/GettyImages
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Rainer Nunez – Jays MLB Top Prospects ranking #26

Rainer Nunez started the year in High-A with the Vancouver Canadians, after spending most of the previous year in Single-A Dunedin. He had a breakout year during the 2022 season, hitting .304 with 65 runs scored, 19 home runs and 82 RBI in 121 games across two minor league levels. Bringing that promise into the 2023 season, Nunez unfortunately had a miserable first month with the Canadians, producing only a .182 average and .538 OPS to go along with one home run, six RBI and 13 strikeouts in 44 at-bats.

However, Nunez had a huge bounce back month of May that resembled more like his breakout year from the previous year. He batted .364 with a .984 OPS, 21 runs scored, three home runs, 23 RBI, 13 walks and 18 strikeouts in just 99 at-bats. If he continues to keep this up, he should be able to crack the top 20 for Jays’ top prospects pretty soon and could become one of the Jays more prolific hitters in their minor league system, being able to combine his power with hitting consistency and solid run production.


Hagen Danner – Jays MLB Top Prospects ranking #22

Pegged to potentially be the Jays’ closer of the future, Hagen Danner began the year ranked outside of the top 20 for the Jays top prospects list. He started the 2023 season in Single-A Dunedin on a rehab assignment after being out since March due to right forearm inflammation. After two rehab outings, he was reinstated to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats roster at the beginning of May.

From there, he would go on to have a strong month with the Fisher Cats, pitching to a 1-1 record in eight appearances, giving up only three earned runs, with only two walks and 16 strikeouts over 9 innings for a 3.00 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. With the steady, yet impressive performance, Danner earned a promotion to Triple-A Buffalo at the end of May. He now joins the likes of Yosver Zulueta and Trent Thornton on the Bisons team as the only players currently on the Jays’ 40-man roster that could be called up readily to help the big league bullpen when needed.

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