As Director of Pro Scouting, I lead a talented group of evaluators as we break down future stars. You can find me at random California League games throughout the season!
The Blue Jays find themselves in an intriguing situation. They entered last season hoping to compete for a Wild Card spot but ended up finishing last in their division, 20 games behind the Yankees. There are apparent holes on their big-league roster, which could present opportunities for their prospects to step in and contribute. The farm system is solid, and as the team approaches the end of its current contention window, it may consider tearing things down and rebuilding, which could further bolster its prospect pipeline.
With that in mind, the honorable mentions in this system are focused on two groups: prospects who could contribute at the big-league level next season and some high-upside gambles from the lower minors. The latter are the type of prospects I can’t resist digging into, as they have the potential to shoot up rankings if things break right.
Rainer Nunez
The Blue Jays system, as mentioned above, could be better, which impacts the overall talent pool, especially among the honorable mentions. Rainer Nunez is likely a 40 OFP prospect at best, but there's still a lot to like about him. He's age-appropriate for Double-A at 23 and just posted a solid 121 wRC+ over the whole season.
His approach is the standout aspect of his game, and his power stems from it. He sees a ton of pitches, works deep counts, and spoils anything in the zone he can't handle. He can be a pest in a couple of plate appearances per game. When he gets into favorable counts, he capitalizes. While his power is average, it plays up slightly because of the advantageous situations his approach creates.
He may end up as a first-base-only prospect, but there's definitely a role for him in a platoon situation, especially as platoons have become more crucial towards the bottom of lineups. There's even a case to be made that platoon partners deserve a slight uptick in value. Nunez doesn't need to sit exclusively against right-handed pitchers and only face lefties; his approach and plate coverage allows him to handle finesse pitchers who work the outer part of the zone. In the 40 OFP tier, I mentioned Peyton Williams needing a platoon partner, and if the Blue Jays want to get creative, they might have something interesting within their own system. Considering the decisions Canada's team may soon face, Nunez could be an appealing option.
As Director of Pro Scouting, I lead a talented group of evaluators as we break down future stars. You can find me at random California League games throughout the season!
As Director of Pro Scouting, I lead a talented group of evaluators as we break down future stars. You can find me at random California League games throughout the season!
Director of Dynasty Content - Canadian born and raised, moved to Arkansas with my wife and two sons Ezra and Ari. Followed and played baseball my whole life; played dynasty for 25+ years.
As Director of Pro Scouting, I lead a talented group of evaluators as we break down future stars. You can find me at random California League games throughout the season!
As Director of Pro Scouting, I lead a talented group of evaluators as we break down future stars. You can find me at random California League games throughout the season!
Director of Dynasty Content - Canadian born and raised, moved to Arkansas with my wife and two sons Ezra and Ari. Followed and played baseball my whole life; played dynasty for 25+ years.
As Director of Pro Scouting, I lead a talented group of evaluators as we break down future stars. You can find me at random California League games throughout the season!
As Director of Pro Scouting, I lead a talented group of evaluators as we break down future stars. You can find me at random California League games throughout the season!
