Friday Bantering: 7 Jays on Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospect list

The Blue Jays tell us that Nate Pearson has a ‘mild right shoulder impingement’. He’ll miss his next start for Buffalo, but he ‘played long toss yesterday with good intensity’.

It doesn’t sound like it will slow him down for long.

There are seven Blue Jays on Baseball America’s top 100 prospects list:

• #15: Austin Martin

Tools: Hit: 70 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 50 Skinny: The fifth overall pick in 2020 is an impressive young hitter, although his future position is up in the air.

• #16: Nate Pearson

Tools: Fastball: 80 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 Skinny: Pearson has arguably the best pure stuff of any pitching prospect. Staying healthy and improving his control are his next steps to fulfilling his frontline potential.

• #27: Jordan Groshans

Skinny: There is a strong belief in Groshans’ bat, but both the Blue Jays and general observers are more than ready to see him return to playing games that count.

• #60 Simeon Woods Richardson

Skinny: Woods-Richardson combines youth and an excellent arsenal into a prospect with both poise and upside.

• #61 Alejandro Kirk

Skinny: Evaluators are split on whether Kirk can stay behind the plate, but he should hit for average and power.

• #83 Orelvis Martinez

Skinny: Martinez might have to move to third base, but potentially plus hittability and power will help him profile there.

• #93 Alek Manoah

Skinny: After only ascending as high as the short-season level in his pro debut, Manoah reintroduced himself with authority during big league spring training. Using a powerful mixture of four- and two-seam fastballs and a slider and changeup, Manoah struck out 15 over seven one-hit innings spread across two outings. Scouts were especially impressed by the slider, which flashed as high as a 70-grade offering during one outing.

At the top of the list are Wander Franco, Adley Rutschman, Julio Rodriguez, Jarred Kelenic, and Spencer Torkelson.

It is good to see so many Jays still among the top 100 even after we’ve had a few guys graduate off the list.

Baseball American also updated its Organizational Talent Rankings. The Jays are number 3 on the list, trailing the Rays and the Mariners. Other AL East teams Orioles 7th, Yankees 18th and Red Sox 20th.

Kaitlyn McGrath has a story on Vladimir Guerrero’s newfound ability to do the splits.

Perhaps the most eye-popping play — the moment that best captures his total physical transformation, while simultaneously delighting fans — has been when Guerrero melts into those legs-nearly-touching-the-ground splits at first base. To not only go into splits but also catch a ball while doing so is a skillful expression of his improved flexibility, mobility, strength and control. He’s done it a handful of times this season, and, while he initially had to master keeping his foot on the bag, while fully extended, he has lately been able to pull off the manoeuvre and record the out in subsequent attempts.

“Oh, he’s flexible,” Tellez said. “He can move pretty well. That’s something that I can’t do. I can’t do the splits. And I was pretty jealous when he did it.”

Not a surprise:

MLB Pipeline has a prospect who could be a future closer for each MLB team. For the Blue Jays, they pick Patrick Murphy, citing the 96.8 MPH average on his fastball and his “plus curve”. Hopefully, he is back from the IL sometime soon. He threw a bullpen session earlier in the week.