Why we won't be surprised if this Blue Jays prospect is contending for a roster spot next spring

Next season, the Toronto Blue Jays will have to make a decision to either re-sign George Springer or let him walk. He will be a free agent, and although last season was a career best, this season is a career worst. Last season, Springer slashed .309/.399/.560 with 32 home runs, 106 runs, and 84 RBIs. It was the designated hitter's first time producing that many homers and RBIs since 2019.

After five lackluster seasons since 2019, it looked as if Springer had turned a page last year. However, this season, the Blue Jays' DH is off to a slow start and has minimal production. It's still early in the season, where he's hitting .198/.273/.319 with three home runs, 10 runs, and nine knocked in over 129 plate appearances. Not only will a bad season deter the team from re-signing a player who has only DHed this season to keep him healthy, but he is also 36.

Eddie Micheletti Jr.'s hot start could earn him a roster spot next spring

The Blue Jays should look inward to find their replacement, and that prospect could very well be Eddie Micheletti Jr. He is quietly making a name for himself in Double-A New Hampshire, slashing .246/.372/.462 with seven home runs, 31 runs, and 22 RBIs over 156 plate appearances. Even more impressive is his .215 ISO, .833 OPS, and 118 wRC+. Micheletti Jr. also possesses great plate vision, posting a 27:23 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

The prospect was an eighth-round draft pick, but since signing with the Toronto organization, he has been one of the best-hitting prospects in the team's farm system. In 2024 in Single-A Dunedin, Micheletti Jr. posted a 155 wRC+, and last season in High-A Vancouver, he posted a 124 wRC+. However, the prospect isn't being named among the top prospects in the Blue Jays' farm system.

That could change if Micheletti Jr. continues to produce at this pace. Being promoted to Triple-A this season would be a clear sign of how the Blue Jays feel about the prospect. We likely won’t see him in the big leagues this season, with fellow outfielders Yohendrick Piñango already at the MLB level and RJ Schreck, Jake Cook, and Victor Arias ranked ahead of Micheletti Jr.

However, a strong finish to the season could earn the outfielder a spring training invite. Keep an eye out for this prospect, as he’s quickly making a name for himself, and we could see him in a Blue Jays uniform next season.

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