Blue Jays: Four prospects to watch on the mound

Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Blue Jays: Four prospects to watch on the mound
Credit: MiLB

The Blue Jays have a top prospect on the mound named Trey Yesavage. The only reason this 2025 Series hero still wears the prospect title is because he doesn't yet have enough innings pitched in Toronto during the regular season to lose it.

Not surprisingly, Baseball America named him the Queen City club's top prospect.

But when we look at the top 10, we find four other pitchers who have the potential, one day, to be game-changers on the mound for the Blue Jays.

Why not introduce them for a moment?

Johnny King

The left-hander, only 19 years old, pitched in the pros for the first time in his career in 2025. The 2024 third-round pick (the same draft year as Yesavage) had a breakout season.

The 6'3″ pitcher is not close to making it to the top, having only pitched at the rookie and A levels this year. However, his curveball is the best of any Blue Jays prospect.

His speed can reach 96 mph and he also has a gear shift. He's seen as a youngster with a huge ceiling if he develops properly.

To be followed, but the project is clearly interesting, given his 105 strikeouts in 61.2 innings in 2025…

Gage Stanifer

The right-hander, drafted 578th overall in 2022, took off in 2025. He broke it all down in Florida before heading to Vancouver and finishing the season in AA New Hampshire.

He has the best slider of any prospect on the club, according to Baseball America.

Stanifer isn't expected to pitch in Toronto in 2026 (unless…) and he'll have time to improve his fastball, which has bite and often sits between 94 and 96 MPH.

He lacks control, but his 161 strikeouts in 110 innings alone in 2025 are just what the Blue Jays, who like strikeout pitchers, are looking for.

Ricky Tiedemann

The Blue Jays have been waiting a long time to see their handsome left-hander produce results. The player drafted in 2021 is immensely talented, but injury-prone.

In 2025, the pitcher was recovering from Tommy John surgery and didn't pitch. But even so, the club made sure not to lose him by selecting him to the organization's 40-man roster recently.

The more time passes, the more one wonders how much Tiedemann, who has an excellent fastball, doesn't have what it takes to become an excellent resource in the bullpen.

Throwing fewer innings could help the guy who has the stuff to develop into a late-inning specialist.

Jake Bloss

Acquired in the Yusei Kikuchi deal, the right-hander hasn't gotten off to an easy start in the Blue Jays organization. The man who pitched in Houston in 2024 didn't perform well in Buffalo in the minors.

Bloss was injured during the 2025 season and never got his chance in Toronto. But if he has a good start to the 2026 season, he could buy himself another shot at Major League Baseball, after the one in Houston. The potential is there if he can stay healthy, and he's always been seen as a big prospect.

Adam Macko and Brandon Barriera, for what it's worth, are also Blue Jays prospects I'm keeping in mind. They are, however, ranked lower in the club's affiliates.

A good 2026 season could muddy the waters…

This content was created with the help of AI.

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