Toronto Blue Jays Top Prospects 2024

Toronto Blue Jays Top Prospects for dynasty fantasy baseball including Ricky Tiedemann, Orelvis Martinez, Arjun Nimmala and more.

Welcome to our team prospect rankings. Over the next two months, I will be pumping out team top prospect rankings and evaluations for dynasty baseball. These reports are generated from live looks, film study, and advanced data analysis to bring you in-depth fantasy scouting reports on every player you need to know, with today’s being the Toronto Blue Jays Top Prospects.

Not all 30 players in each writeup will be dynasty relevant, but many will, and if you play in a deep league, certainly most of the names will be worth knowing.

You can check out our previous Top Prospect Rankings:

Atlanta, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Arizona, Los Angeles, Colorado, San Francisco, Baltimore, Boston, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays

Each player has a detailed write-up. The top 10 rankings and writeups are free for all, but the rest of the top prospects are for paid subs. Get an edge in your dynasty leagues and get in on some of these players first! Let’s get to it: our Blue Jays top prospects.

Toronto Blue Jays Top Prospects

1. Ricky Tiedemann, LHP, 21, 6’4”/220

From a pure upside standpoint, there are few pitching prospects that can compete with the upside of Ricky Tiedemann. Armed with a strong arsenal of three plus or better pitches from the left side, hitters struggle to put the bat on the ball, but for Tiedemann, it’s all about staying healthy. 

Tiedemann has a quick arm and throws from a low release height(5.6 on the fastball), creating a very low VAA, which creates tough spots for hitters. 

The fastball sits in the mid-90s, but Tiedemann has been up to 99 mph in shorter stints with a ton armside run. The IVB is average or slightly below average, but the pitch plays as plus due to velocity and and averaging near 15 inches of arm side run consistently. 

The changeup is solid easily by Tiedemann maintaining consistent arm speed on both the fastball and changeup. It sits in the mid-to-low 80s with over 20 inches of fade often, generating a ton of swing and miss. 

The sweeper is probably Tiedemann’s best pitch, though the arsenal is very strong. Sitting in the low-80s, it generates nearly 20 inches of sweeping action when he snaps it off while also showing nice depth. 

There is no denying the upside of Tiedmann, as he has one of the best arsenals in all of baseball. The biggest thing will be proving health. Prior to the 2023 Arizona Fall League, the last time Tiedemann completed five innings was July 1, 2022, nearly a year and a half between. He did make several five-inning, 75-pitch starts in Arizona. If healthy, Tiedemann will likely begin 2024 in the Blue Jays rotation.

FFG: SP2-3

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 160 IP/3.25 ERA/190 K

Variance: High Due to Injury Risk

Buy/Sell: Buy

2. Orelvis Martinez, 3B/SS/2B, 22, 5’11”/200

Martinez has always been known for his big-time power, but his contact skills have significantly lagged behind. That began to change in 2023 as the contact skills improved, and Martinez smacked 28 home runs while slashing .243/.340/.396.

The power comes easily from a strong frame, a big leg kick, and explosive hands through the zone. Martinez posted a 90th percentile exit velocity of 106 mph, putting the power in the plus range, which should not surprise you after seeing him hit 30 and 28 home runs over the last two seasons. 

The contact rates improved in 2023 while Martinez made a conscious effort to have better awareness of the strike zone. The chase rate dropped significantly, and he made contact on nearly 85 percent of pitches in the zone. 

While breaking balls have caused plenty of issues in the past, Martinez showed strong improvement against them in 2023 despite some struggles in Triple-A. He also made a tangible change with two strikes, eliminating his leg kick completely. It paid off with high contact rates, and he saw his strikeout rate drop from 29 percent in 2022 to 23 percent in 2023.

There is effortless 30 home run power in Martinez’s profile, and the hit tool improvements do not go unnoticed. Martinez also got reps at second base this year but likely profiles as a third baseman long-term, where the power will certainly play.

FFG: Power Hitting CI

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .250/.330/30 HR/2 SB

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Buy

3. Arjun Nimmala, SS, 18, 6’1”/170

Nimmala was relatively young for the 2023 MLB Draft, not turning 18 until December of 2023. He has filled out and added to his 6’1” frame, and the tools made significant strides during his senior season of high school. 

Some years, Nimmala might have gone top-five in the draft, but with how stacked the top of the class is, he could be a steal, considering he fell into the Blue Jays lap at 20 overall.

There is big power thanks to a very quick bat, but there have been some questions regarding Nimmala expanding the zone. He drives the ball to all fields well, and the gap power could eventually turn into more in-game home run power. 

Though we don’t have an extensive track record, the body, athleticism, and tools all give reasons for optimism about Nimmala’s long-term outlook.

FFG: Solid Across the Board SS

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .275/.340/23 HR/7 SB

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Buy

4. Addison Barger, SS, 24, 6’0”/210

Barger is one of the more underrated prospects, not only on Blue Jay's top prospect lists but also in prospect circles in general. Selected in the sixth round of the 2018 draft, Barger feels like he has been around forever, but the development path was stunted by injuries and then COVID, leading to him playing just 13 games between 2019 and 2020.

In 2022, Barger looked like a different player, making it to Triple-A and showing strong power. 2023 was a bit of a step backward, but Barger still showed intangibles we want to see out of hitters.

Barger often receives poor grades on his hit tool, but his strides in 2023 were noticeable. His zone-contact rate jumped from 83 percent to nearly 86.5 percent in 2023, while the overall rate jumped from 71 to 76 percent. Barger shows strong discipline, not chasing often out of the zone, posting a respectable 27 percent rate.

The power metrics are also solid, as Barger posted a 90th percentile exit velocity north of 106 mph with an average exit velocity above 89. It does not always translate to barrels or home runs due to launch angles and too many ground balls.

There is nice versatility in Barger’s profile as he can play multiple infield positions as well as getting reps in the outfield in 2023. He may fit a super-utility role or potentially slot in as an everyday second base.

FFG: Multi-Positional Bat with Above-Average Skills

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .275/.350/20 HR/5 SB

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Buy

5. Damiano Palmegiani, 3B, 23, 6’0”/195

Palmegiani, otherwise known as “Cheese” in some parts of Arizona, has continued to improve his prospect stock every year since being selected in the 14th round in 2021.

Hitting 24 home runs in 2022 and 23 in 2023, Palmegiani shows some of the best power among Blue Jays top prospects and absolutely abuses fastballs.

Showing average contact skills, Palmegiani posted a contact rate of 72 percent on the season while collecting a .255/.365/.478 slash line. He does not chase often, which leads to higher walk rates and OBPs.

The power comes easily from a short but strong frame flashing plus power at times, but currently, he projects as an above-average source of power. Palmegiani also hits the ball at ideal launch angles consistently, allowing the game power to play up beyond the exit velocities.

While spending most of his time at third base, Palmegiani might profile best as a first baseman long term, where he will need to get to every bit of power possible for the bat to play well there. 

FFG: Higher OBP 1B with some Pop

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .265/.360/20 HR/4 SB

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Buy

6. Davis Schneider, 2B, 24, 5’9”/190

Schneider was on very few radars prior to his strong 2023 season in Triple-A, which led him to earn a callup toward the end of the 2023 season, where he really took off. The former 28th-round pick in the 2017 draft seemed like a career journeyman before 2023, and now it looks like he could be part of the Blue Jays roster for the foreseeable future. 

Being undersized does not affect Schneiders's game at all, as he mashed 29 home runs in 2023 with strong underlying data in a 90 mph average exit velocity and 105 mph 90th percentile. While he may not hit 29 home runs again, there is sneaky pop in Schneider’s bat.

The contact skills looked solid in Triple-A as Schneider posted an 85 percent clip in Triple-A, but that number dropped to 73 percent in the Majors. The overall contact rate also dropped from 76 percent in Triple-A to 65 percent in the Majors. While the drop is notable, it was a smaller sample. 

The glove is undoubtedly a weak spot in his profile, and while he played second, third, and left field, Schneider may be best suited to move around as a utility-type hitter. The bat, however, should be strong enough for him to stick in the Blue Jays lineup long-term.

FFG: UTL Bat with some Pop

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .270/.360/20 HR/4 SB

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Sell after his Hot Debut

7. Landen Maroudis, RHP, 19, 6’3”/195

Maroudis has an ideal starter's frame at 6’3”/195 with impressive athleticism on the mound. He shows a nice fastball due to a lower release height and some deceptiveness while sitting 93 mph. He has a good feel for his changeup and curveball as well. These skills led the Blue Jays to hand Maroudis a signing bonus nearly three times the slot value of his fourth-round pick.

As Maroudis has continued to fill out his frame, the velocity has progressed, and there is still room for him to see several more increases over the next couple of years. The pitch plays well, given the release point and ride that it gets while being commanded well.

The development of his slider and changeup will be crucial to being a successful starting pitcher long term. While not pitching post-draft, Maroudis is in line to make his pro debut early in 2024 where we will get to see him put his arsenal on display after a full offseason in pro camp.

FFG: Backend SP

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 150 IP/3.75 ERA/165 K

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Buy in Deeper FYPDs

8. Leo Jimenez, SS, 22, 5’10”/215

Jimenez brings a strong feel for contact to a profile that has flown under the radar since he signed with Toronto back in 2017. He has added weight and strength and grown into sneaky power, now weighing 215 after previously being listed at 170.

Running a contact rate near 82 percent last year, Jimenez slashed .270/.366/.401 with eight home runs and eight stolen bases. The profile does not seem super fantasy-friendly, but it gets a little more intriguing when you look under the hood. 

Jimenez posted respectable exit velocities with an 88.5 mph average and a 104 90th percentile. The data suggests there might be some power game power on the way. He will need to lift the ball more often, as Jimenez posted 43 and 52 percent ground ball rates at Double-A and Triple-A last season. 

The contact skills are the carrying tool here as the bat-to-ball skills are good, and Jimenez has strong OBP skills; if he can tap into more power, the skillset becomes more intriguing for fantasy purposes. 

FFG: Hit Tool First MI

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .280/.360/15 HR/10 SB

Variance: Low

Buy/Sell: Buy in Deeper Leagues

9. Kendry Rojas, LHP, 21, 6’2”/190

Rojas originally signed with the Blue Jays in 2020 and has spent every season of his career in Florida, either at the Complex or in Single-A Dunedin. 2023 saw him double his career-best innings mark, pitching 84 innings with a 3.75 ERA and 82 strikeouts.

Having a starter build, Rojas fires in three pitches, starting with his fastball, averaging around 93 with 18-19 inches of IVB consistently. His slider is his best pitch, sitting in the mid-80s with decent shape, getting plenty of whiffs with that pitch. 

Rojas’s changeup is currently a third pitch that does not get a ton of depth and has late fading action, while sitting in the mid-80s.

Rojas has a lot of work to do in refining his delivery and arsenal, but the good news is that he is still young, spending the entire 2023 season at just 20 years old.

FFG: Backend SP

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 140 IP/4.00  ERA/140 K

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Buy

10. Brandon Barriera, LHP, 19, 6’2”/180

Injuries have been the story of Barriera’s short pro career to this point after being drafted 23rd overall in 2022. Not making his debut until May 2023, he compiled just 20 innings across seven starts, posting a 3.98 ERA with 25 strikeouts.

Barriera added weight and strength coming into the year, but it did not translate to noticeable velocity games as he sat around 93 mph with low IVB and cutting action. The slider, however, stood out as Barriera’s best pitch, generating nearly 12 inches of sweep on average while sitting in the low-to-mid 80s. It's a high-spinning pitch that generates a ton of whiffs and chases out of the zone.

A changeup and curve are occasionally mixed in but seldom used pitches. Strike throwing was an issue as Barriera threw strikes at just a 58.5 percent clip, albeit a tiny sample. 

Health is the other major concern, as he had two separate arm injuries in 2023 alone. 2024 feels like a big year for Barriera’s prospect stock as he needs to prove healthy and durability, as well as throw more strikes. He could rocket up rankings, but also fall pretty hard depending on what he looks like next spring.

FFG: Backend SP

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 140 IP/3.80 ERA/150 K

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Sell  

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