What to know about Alan Roden, Ross Atkins' favorite prospect

Alan Roden stood out in the Blue Jays farm system last season, so it's not surprising the young outfielder is someone that Toronto general manager Ross Atkins is keeping an eye on this spring.

Atkins brought up Roden, the 2024 Blue Jays Minor League Player of the Year, on Thursday when asked about which Blue Jays prospect he was most excited to see in spring training due to the work Roden's done to move through Toronto's system.

Ranked No. 10 on the Jays Journal Top 30 Prospect List in 2024, Roden started making a name for himself in 2023 after posting an .890 OPS between Single-A Advanced and Double-A. A third-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft from Creighton, Roden, 25, played in the prestigious Cape Cod League in 2022 before joining the Dunedin Blue Jays after being drafted.

The corner outfielder spent 11 spring training games with the Blue Jays last year, and opened the 2024 season with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. By June, Roden was called up to Triple-A and made an impact immediately, getting a hit in his first game with the Buffalo Bisons. After a short struggle, Roden took off in Buffalo, as he won International League Player of the Month in August before being named the Bisons Most Valuable Player.

Between New Hampshire and Buffalo, Roden hit 16 home runs and drove in 75 runs in 125 games, all while posting an .865 OPS. He got better as he progressed: He slashed .314 /.406 /.510 with a .916 OPS in 71 games at Triple after only hitting .267 in Double-A.

Roden worked successfully to add some power head of the 2024 season, which is a big reason why he was able to hit 16 home runs and recorded 214 total bases last season. He's also got a good eye at the plate (149 walks and 152 strikeouts in 265 career minor-league games).

Roden's rapid rise has caught GM Ross Atkins' attention

Power and the ability to draw a walk are what get players to The Show and keeps them there. And for a Blue Jays team that is need of power and a left-handed bat, Roden could end up being a mid-season call-up who contributes later in the season.

With experience in all three outfield spots, Roden may also provide some help if injuries (or age) catches up with Toronto outfielders George Springer, Anthony Santander and Daulton Varsho. There's a chance Varsho won't be ready by Opening Day.

A strong spring would go a long way, although it's unlikely Roden would break camp with the major league club. Steward Berroa, Jonatan Clase, Joey Loperfido and Nathan Lukes are outfielders who are already on the 40-man roster and probably ahead of Roden, who is not on the roster. There's also the chance Roden could be used in a trade, but if Atkins is uncharacteristically singing his praises, the Blue Jays may not be willing to part with him.

That could be a good thing given the Blue Jays farm system hasn't produced much impactful homegrown talent over the past few years.

Roden may be an exciting piece, but he still has some work to do like learning how to adjust to higher levels of competition and game planning.

Whatever happens this spring, Roden has already attracted the attention of the man in charge of making roster decisions, which is never be a bad thing for a young ballplayer.