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 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.

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," — skills he demonstrated in his debut series.

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

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