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

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