Blue Jays Top 30 prospects on the rise
Slugging third base/shortstop prospect Orelvis Martinez (4,2) only moves up a couple of spots but takes over the No. 2 rank based on his age and immense power upside. Following a midseason promotion, he's currently figuring out Triple-A, with four home runs in 22 games. At just 21 years old, he's 5.4 years younger than the league average, so hopes are high that the youngster can fill the third base void in the coming years with Matt Chapman's possible offseason departure.
Martinez is the only other Blue Jay (along with Tiedemann) to appear on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 update. He comes in at No. 93 with "power [that] has the potential to be special," as his scouting report forecasts.
Orelvis Martinez shows off his 60-grade power on this moonshot πͺ
β MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 13, 2023
The second-ranked @BlueJays prospect hits his 21st homer of the season -- and fourth for the @BuffaloBisons.
See where he lands on the updated Top 100 Prospects list: https://t.co/0Sf9ZHpOQQ pic.twitter.com/Dx8cLDjux3
The biggest riser, moving up 15 spots, is new fan favorite Davis Schneider (28,13). If you've been living under a rock, the hard-working minor leaguer made an immediate impact in his MLB debut on his way to a record-setting first weekend in the majors. A 28th-round pick and a long shot to even make the big leagues, "Babe" Schneider is easily the season's feel-good story for the Jays.
Per his scouting report, Schneider has "legitimate pop," as evidenced by his 21 home runs in Triple-A. More importantly, the mustachioed rookie "has an advanced plate approach and knows how to get on base," β skills he demonstrated in his debut series.
Remember when I said earlier today that Davis Schneider just become your new favorite #BlueJays player? This is another reason whyβ¦. β¬οΈ pic.twitter.com/L06ZTRbmLg
β Eric Treuden (@ETreuden) August 4, 2023
Both remaining risers can be found with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in Double-A.
The Jays reportedly turned down at least one trade request for middle infielder Leo Jimenez (19,6), who makes a big 13-position jump. According to MLB Pipeline, the 22-year-old could already be ready to play shortstop in the big leagues.
The question mark for the new No. 6 prospect is how he'll hold up over a full season. So far, so good. Jimenez is leading the Fisher Cats with a .285 batting average and, now that Orelvis Martinez has departed, an .812 OPS through 69 games.
Drafted twice by Toronto, corner infielder Damiano Palmegiani (29,19) rises 10 spots as his power continues to develop. He has a team-leading 14 home runs (again, now that Martinez has moved on) and a .445 slugging percentage.
Hitting .250, it remains to be seen if his hit tool will catch up to the power. Per his scouting report, "the organization believes he can unlock even more [power] by improving his plate approach."
NEXT: Prospects falling in the Top 30