Reviewing MLB Pipeline's in-season update of the Blue Jays' Top 30 prospects

With the dust settled following the MLB draft and the trade deadline, MLB Pipeline has released an updated Toronto Blue Jays Top 30 Prospect Rankings. It's the first update to this list since the preseason, and plenty has changed in the organization's minor league ranks since the spring.

We'll look at the prospects who have held steady from the beginning of the season and those who have risen and fallen in the ranks. Plus, with nine newcomers to the list, we'll find out who has been added and who has been dropped from the Top 30.

Note: Player ranks are indicated in parentheses (preseason rank, updated rank).

Blue Jays Top 30 prospects holding steady

Of the 30 players that began the year on MLB Pipeline's list, six held their rank or fluctuated only one spot in this latest update.

How good is starting pitcher Ricky Tiedemann (1,1)? The most well-known Blue Jays prospect coming into the year, Tiedemann remains in the top position despite only pitching 21 1/3 innings so far, missing most of the season with shoulder and biceps inflammation. He's also only one of two Toronto prospects to make MLB Pipeline's Top 100 rankings as the 33rd overall prospect.

After a tremendous Grapefruit League debut this spring, there was hopeful chatter about possibly seeing the 20-year-old in the majors at some point this season. That seems unlikely now. He just recently returned to Double-A and got a rough welcome back to a level he dominated in his short time there last year. Not that there's anything to be concerned about — Tiedemann is the team's No. 1 prospect for a reason.

Addison Barger (6,5), another popular name in Blue Jays prospect conversations, also had a shaky start to his year, battling an elbow injury. Now healthy, the infielder's strong second half and power upside have helped him maintain his top-prospect position and move into the top five.

MLB Pipeline is high on the 23-year-old's development from a sixth-round high schooler, touting that "physically, he's one of the most impressive players in [the Jays] organization." To add a layer of intrigue, he's also taking reps in the outfield in Triple-A, so there's a possibility we'll see the No. 5 prospect get a September call-up.

Speaking of September call-ups, first baseman/left fielder Spencer Horwitz (18,17) is a strong candidate for a promotion when rosters expand. Despite a fantastic showing in Triple-A, the 25-year-old rose only one spot in the rankings. His second-half slash line of .417/.500/.709 and recent power surge make one think he'll get another shot at the big leagues before long.

A trio that has maintained top-30 status while helping the Vancouver Canadians dominate the High-A Northwest League this season rounds out this group.

Starter Dahian Santos (11,11) has pitched to a 3-3 record and a 3.54 ERA in 12 starts. 2022 second-round Josh Kasevich (13,12) is slashing .296/.371/.367, while fellow infielder Alex De Jesus (21,20) is hitting .250 but carries a .472 slugging percentage.

NEXT: Top 30 prospects on the rise

Blue Jays Top 30 prospect fallers

Eleven Blue Jays prospects saw their stock drop with the recent update. Despite some big fallers, these players all managed to stay on the list.

Toronto's 2022 first-round pick, Brandon Barriera (2,4), drops two spots and keeps his place in the top five despite a disappointing initial pro campaign. The 19-year-old's biggest problem has been his durability, as he's battled arms issues (elbow, shoulder and biceps) with two separate trips to the IL.

Barriera has only thrown 20 1/3 innings, mostly in Low-A Dunedin, but has flashed the potential that caused the Jays to take him 23rd overall. After an impressive debut, he has racked up 25 strikeouts at a 31.3 percent strikeout rate, along with a 3.98 ERA and .093 WHIP.

The biggest fallers, outfielders Gabriel Martinez (12,27) and Dasan Brown (15,30), both tumble 15 spots after not making much headway in High-A this season. Both players have struggled at the plate. Martinez is hitting .240 with a .653 OPS, while Brown's average sits at .225 with a .644 OPS. Brown's speed is still in play, with 22 steals, but he needs to figure out how to get on base more often.

Their teammate, starting pitcher Adam Macko (9,23), sinks 14 spots while carrying a 5.73 ERA this season but still has significant upside and "is learning to trust process over results," per Sportsnet's Shi Davidi. Vancouver infielder Cade Doughty (8,16) falls eight spots despite posting a decent .268/.352/.463 slash line in his first full season in the system and still possesses potential for a high ceiling.

Further up the farm system, two Triple-A players also see their stock fall. Yosver Zulueta (3,10) has struggled with his control again this season, posting a 7.05 BB/9, and was recently reassigned to the Florida Complex League to work out some kinks. Fellow reliever Hayden Juenger (10,22) slips 12 spots now that he's no longer starting but has logged 74 strikeouts in 57 innings out of the bullpen.

Despite a promising start to his pro career, outfielder Enmanuel Bonilla (17,25) drops eight spots. The Jays' biggest international free agent signing is sporting a healthy .296/.397/.408 slash line in the Dominican Summer League. Still only 17, Bonilla is younger than the league average and has yet to tap into the raw power that makes him such a tantalizing prospect. He has just two home runs but has reached base safely in 45 of his 47 games.

In 19 games since a 5-for-6 breakout performance, Bonilla is slashing .352/.428/.521 with four doubles, two triples and 11 RBI while cutting his strikeout rate down to 18.5 percent from his previous 27.7 percent rate.

Three Low-A prospects round out the group of fallers.

After a rough start to his Dunedin Blue Jays tenure, shortstop Tucker Toman (5,15) slides 10 spots out of the top five. Being only 19, "There's still the potential for an all-around game here," per MLB Pipeline. "But it's going to be a longer climb than first envisioned when Toman entered the system,"

Versatile defender and speedster Adrian Pinto (16,26) has only played 35 games this year, struggling with leg injuries that have kept him out of the lineup. Shortstop Manuel Beltre (20,29) drops to the bottom of the rankings after an underwhelming season so far, hitting .235 with a .682 OPS in 79 games.

NEXT: Additions to the Top 30

Blue Jays prospects added to the Top 30

Nine additions to the Blue Jays Top 30 are included in the update, including four of the team's 2023 draft picks.

The most prominent name is first-rounder Arjun Nimmala (--,3), who vaults into the third slot. With plus raw power, MLB Pipeline thinks the athletic 17-year-old shortstop projects a high offensive upside "and can drive the ball to all fields."

The top high school infielder in 2023 has gotten his professional career off to a good start, hitting .308 with a 1.109 OPS through five games in the FCL. With eight walks to four strikeouts, he's showing he's not overmatched despite being almost two and a half years younger than the league's average age.

Other recent draftees making it into the rankings include two pitchers and an outfielder.

Fourth-round pick Landen Maroudis (--,8) is a right-handed high school pitcher who the Jays like for "his fastball qualities as well as the upside that comes with his athleticism," per MLB Pipeline. Juaron Watts-Brown (--,9), a 21-year-old college pitcher who led the Big 12 in strikeouts, also brings an athletic presence to the mound. Both hurlers have yet to join a team in the farm system.

Jace Bohrofen (--,21), an outfielder taken in the sixth round, has already moved up from the FCL to Low-A and has a .324/.489/.882 slash line with six homers and 11 RBI in 12 games between the two levels. He'll have a chance to move even higher in the rankings heading into 2024, with MLB Pipeline reporting he "has developed a more discerning eye at the plate" to go along with his "prodigious strength."

Bohrofen's Dunedin teammate, pitcher Kendry Rojas (--,18), debuts at No. 18. Now in his third season in the development system, the 20-year-old lefty out of Cuba has seen a good jump with his fastball touching 97 mph this season. Used primarily as a starter, Rojas has posted a 4.04 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings.

Recently promoted to Triple-A, strikeout artist Connor Cooke (--,24) enters the Top 30 after dominating High-A with an 18.32 K/9 and Double-A with a 16.78 K/9 this season. After speaking with the talented reliever following his promotion to New Hampshire earlier this season, the 10th-round pick's success isn't surprising. Unfortunately, the 23-year-old reliever landed on the IL before throwing a pitch for the Bisons.

The final three newcomers to the rankings all hail from Cooke's former team in Double-A.

Outfielder Alan Roden (--,7), a third-round pick in 2022, is opening some eyes this season with a remarkable performance in High-A before moving up to Double-A. In 69 games in Vancouver, the speedy outfielder slashed .321/.437/.459, stole 15 bases and scored 57 runs. Through 20 games with the Fisher Cats, he continues to get on base at a .400 clip, with four steals, 14 RBI and 16 runs scored.

Chad Dallas (--,14), a right-handed starter, carries a 3.49 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 109 strikeouts in 95 1/3 innings through 18 starts between High-A and Double-A this season. The 2021 fourth-rounder has started to improve his questionable control during his time in New Hampshire, bringing his walk rate down to 10 percent.

Reliever Mason Fluharty (--,28) dominated High-A with a 0.59 ERA before getting the call to Double-A. Now a closing option for the Fisher Cats, the 22-year-old lefty has four saves, a 4.18 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 28 innings. MLB Pipeline believes he could become a lefty specialist, as "it's looking clearer by the month Fluharty should be able to get Major League lefties out, potentially by as early as next summer."

NEXT: Prospects who dropped out of the Top 30

Blue Jays prospects out of the Top 30

With so many additions to the Top 30, some players were inevitably surpassed and saw their stock fall far enough to be dropped out of the rankings. So, which prospects are no longer considered among the organization's best?

Starting pitcher Sem Robberse (7,--), who was part of the Jordan Hicks trade, is the only player no longer in the organization. After his move to the Cardinals, the promising right-hander slots in as the No. 8 prospect in the St. Louis system.

One of the most noticeable omissions from this update is Otto Lopez (14,--). At one point this spring, it seemed like the 24-year-old would find his way onto the Opening Day roster after a solid start to his camp and a big performance at the World Baseball Classic.

But since developing groin soreness at the WBC and starting the season in Triple-A, Lopez has struggled to maintain the same performance as in previous years, hitting .251/.307/.330 in 80 games with Buffalo. Recently placed on the 60-day IL with an oblique strain, the versatile fielder's season is done without getting another chance in the majors.

Another notable name left off the new rankings is right-handed pitcher Hagen Danner (22,--), who recently made his MLB debut and only recorded one out before leaving with an injury. After a late start to his season due to forearm problems, the 24-year-old put up impressive numbers between New Hampshire and Buffalo. He posted a 3.66 ERA and recorded 56 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings of relief. Hopefully, Danner can bounce back next season and get another shot at The Show.

The remaining players who lost their spot include a pair of New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Reliever Adrian Hernandez (23,--) is pitching to a 5.66 ERA and 9.51 BB/9 in 30 appearances. First baseman Rainer Nunez (26,--) is struggling to gain traction in Double-A, hitting .218 in 52 games, after raking in High-A to start the season.

20-year-old infielder Estiven Machado (24,--) is riding the struggle bus in High-A Vancouver this season, slashing just .208/.308/.260 in 54 contests. In Low-A Dunedin, 20-year-old right-hander Irv Carter (27,--) has an ugly 8.59 ERA and 29:30 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 12 appearances starts.

Down in the FCL, starter Trent Palmer (25,--) is just beginning his season after returning from Tommy John surgery. Famous for his pair of late-season no-hitters in 2021 with Dunedin, the 24-year-old acquitted himself well in seven starts in Double-A last season and may get a chance to throw in the Arizona Fall League this year.

Dropping off from the bottom of the rankings, 18-year-old catching prospect Luis Meza (30,--) has had difficulty getting going in his first season stateside. He's hitting .208/.283/.229 in 17 games in the Complex League after slashing .229/.267/.292 in 28 games in the Dominican Summer League in 2022.