Blue Jays Farm System Review: Tiedemann knocking on door, Roden on rise

TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays farm system graduated Davis Schneider, Spencer Horwitz, Nathan Lukes, Cam Eden and Hagen Danner to the big-leagues in 2023, while Bowden Francis made significant contributions to the pitching staff after a one-game touch in 2022. Orelvis Martinez refined his approach and crushed the ball, reaching triple-A. Ricky Tiedemann remains on the cusp despite a stop-and-start season. Alan Roden established himself as an outfielder on the rise. Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein were turned into Jordan Hicks at the trade deadline. The advanced-A Vancouver Canadians pushed several players up the ladder and won the Northwest League championship.

“Overall we were encouraged, there were a lot of good stories that happened throughout the year,” says Joe Sclafani, the Blue Jays’ director of player development. “That Vancouver group was pretty special, I felt like they created a culture that they could build off of. Even when we moved guys up to New Hampshire, they carried that with them and it was a next guy up mentality. Definitely have some good individual success stories with some players. Bittersweet when we when we trade some of our guys, but the fact that it was able to help the big-league team win was pretty neat. I felt really good about what Buffalo was able to do. Felt like some guys took some massive steps forward. Obviously we had some unfortunate, didn't-go-so well stories, as well. But by and large a lot to reflect on and be happy about.”

Schneider, Horwitz, Lukes, Eden, Francis and Danner should each be in the mix for big-league jobs next spring, with what the Blue Jays do this off-season determining how many spots will be available. Tiedemann, Martinez and Addison Barger are among a coming wave of talent that may factor next year. Way off in the distance in shortstop Arjun Nimmala, the 2023 first-rounder, and outfielder Emmanuel Bonilla, their top international signing this year, have a chance to provide future impact.

The Blue Jays won’t be seeking to make major changes to their minor-league coaching staffs, although shuffling is possible amid the renewal process. Tim Norton, the pitching coach at triple-A Buffalo, and Corey Hart, a longtime member of the organization who last year was hitting coach at the Florida Complex League level, are notable departures thus far.

Here’s a look around the Blue Jays farm system:

LHP Ricky Tiedemann

Final stats: 3.68 ERA | 44 IP | 23 BB | 82 K (four levels)

Shoulder soreness in the spring and a biceps injury in-season diverted the left-hander’s rapid ascension toward the majors, but he continued to dominate when healthy, striking out a ridiculous 44 per cent of the batters he faced. The 21-year-old struck out six over four innings, allowing only an unearned run, in his Buffalo debut to close out the minor-league season. He tacked on 18 more innings in the Arizona Fall League, striking out 23 more batters, before shutting things down.

“The main purpose (in sending him to AFL) was to get him out there and get some innings,” says Sclafani. “It was unfortunate with a couple of injuries throughout the year and him missing that amount of time, but we felt like he was starting to get into a rhythm and it was a good opportunity for him to continue down that path. We wanted him to go out there, focus on execution, crispness of the pitches, be able to throw that slider and the changeup with the fastball command. ... He'll transition to getting the body prepared and hopefully being ready to really make a big impact next year. We trust him to and always do the work that he needs to do.”

SS Orelvis Martinez

Final stats: 538 PA | 28 HR | .243/.340/.496 | 67 BB | 126 K (two levels)

The 21-year-old shook off a dreadful start at double-A and stuck with a more disciplined approach at the plate that eventually carried him up to Buffalo, where he hit 11 homers with an .847 OPS in 55 games. He’s got the arm to stay on the left side of the infield but is playing some second for Licey in the Dominican Winter League, as the Blue Jays seek to make him as versatile as possible. If the changes he made this season stick, he could very well debut next year.

“He's just so dangerous,” says Sclafani. “Once he was laying off pitchers' pitches and made guys come to him, you see the ability just to do damage. The fact that he was able to maintain that and roll it into the Buffalo performance is really encouraging. … The approach is to give him a shot at shortstop. But his ability to play other spots and is only going to help him because the bat is special and hopefully if he continues on the trend he's on, he'll work his way into the big-league mix.”

INF Addison Barger

Final stats: 419 PA | 9 HR | .247/.353/.392 | 57 BB | 90 K (three levels)

Turning 24 on Nov. 12, the infielder battled through an elbow injury that limited him to 94 games and kept him from building on a breakout ’22. Still, while his slug was down, he posted a .353 on-base percentage with Buffalo, where he played short, third, second and right field, the Blue Jays seeking to make him an option at as many positions as possible once the bat is ready.

“Offensively, it never felt like he really got into a full rhythm with the time missed and the inconsistencies on that front,” says Sclafani. “He got a little pull-happy this year, trying to do damage. Getting back to using the whole field and doing what made him so successful is the plan. He's got all the pieces there. It's just a matter of him putting it all together more consistently.”

3B/1B Damiano Palmegiani

Final stats: 557 PA | 23 HR | .255/.365/.478 | 73 BB | 153 K (three levels)

The Venezuela-born, Surrey, B.C.-raised, 23-year-old infielder began the season playing for Canada at the World Baseball Classic and is now closing out a strong year in the Arizona Fall League. He slugged .478 between double- and triple-A.

“He doesn't get talked about enough in my personal, humble opinion,” says Sclafani. “He's kind of from that same Davis Schneider-mould, just really dominates the zone, makes good decisions, swings at the right pitches, he's got a ton of juice. Out there in Arizona, it's continuing some things on the defensive side that he can work on and we may even sprinkle an outfield game in there just to see what it looks like. He's set himself up nicely for next year.”

UTIL Rafael Lantigua

Final stats: 578 PA | 12 HR | .305/.425/.469 | 98 BB | 107 K

The 25-year-old is a player-development department favourite, a sound player who logged innings at six different positions and does a bit of everything to be exceptionally productive.

“Just a really good kid, really good worker, teammate,” says Sclafani. “It's not going to be sexy if you go watch for one game, but you stay there for the week and you watch the way he approaches the game, the way he plays day-in, day-out and he grows on you. Puts together really good at-bats, can play all over the place. He's really solid and contributes in an impactful way.”

RHP Connor Cooke

Final stats: 4.06 ERA | 44.1 IP | 19 BB | 80 K (three levels)

Big-armed leverage reliever who turns 24 on Nov. 2 features a fastball that touched 98 along with a wipeout slider and solid changeup.

“He's got big-time (stuff) so it's just putting together that consistency,” says Sclafani. “He got ahead much better and more consistently this year and allowed the pure stuff to kind of play up. He punched out 40 per cent, which is just an absurd number. The execution isn't always that consistent. There still are areas of opportunity there. The quality of contact was a little bit better than you probably expected. But definitely some really good things to build off of.”

RHP Yosver Zulueta

Final stats: 4.08 ERA | 64 IP | 45 BB | 73 K

The 25-year-old Cuban was on the cusp of the majors entering the season but was inconsistent after shifting to a bullpen role, spent time in the Player Development Complex’s pitching lab late in the season and will be looking to better leverage his big stuff next year.

“We were hoping things really clicked and he took off this year,” says Sclafani. “Didn't necessarily go perfectly linear in that vein. The adjustments that we made (in the lab), he took back up there and finished strong. We're encouraged by that. For him, it's always going to be consistency and just seeing what he can do.”

RHP Hayden Juenger

Final stats: 6.33 ERA | 75.1 IP | 39 BB | 92 K

The 23-year-old is another power arm in the system looking to more consistently harness big-time stuff.

“He punched out up a good clip of guys this year, but I think the ABS kind of impacted him,” says Sclafani. “It was a little bit tougher for guys with more of a rise fastball, trying to pitch up in the zone because the ABS doesn't give you that. He limited damage a little bit better than he has in the past, which was encouraging. But it was just consistency with him.”

OF Alan Roden

Final stats: 532 PA | 10 HR | .317/.431/.459 | 68 BB | 64 K (two levels)

The 23-year-old, a third-rounder in ‘22, had perhaps the most complete and consistent season by any hitter in the Blue Jays system, showing far more slug this year (.459) at high-A and double-A than he did during a 25-game touch in low-A a year ago. He’s likely to compete for a spot at triple-A Buffalo next spring.

“We always knew that he was going to control the (hell) out of the zone with a good feel for his barrel, but we wanted to get him to be a little more comfortable taking shots and trying to drive his pitch early in the count,” says Sclafani. “He did a great job with that. He made some technical adjustments with the way he starts, it gets him in a better position. He's a sneaky good outfielder and as a baserunner, he's better than people give him credit for. He's just a complete baseball player and grinds his ass off.”

SS Leo Jimenez

Final stats: 410 PA | 8 HR | .270/.366/.401 | 41 BB | 68 K (two levels)

The 22-year-old recovered nicely after an injury-shortened ’22, progressing at New Hampshire before getting caught up in Buffalo’s middle-infield logjam, appearing in 18 games for the Bisons.

“He's good defensively, has good hands, the actions are there, his internal clock is solid,” says Sclafani. “For him it was pretty much staying on the field consistently. Still a really young kid learning how to push his body to get in there as consistently as possible. ... He's always going to control the zone. Has a really good feel for his barrel. Doesn't chase all that often. And the quality of contact really improved this year. He set a PR for peak exit velocity by 3-3.5 m.p.h., somewhere in there, touching 108. He always puts in the work, he's a physical kid. It's pretty exciting.”

RHP Chad Dallas

Final stats: 3.65 ERA | 123.1 IP | 49 BB | 144 K (two levels)

The 23-year-old’s emergence, in part, helped the Blue Jays to feel comfortable enough to deal starting prospects Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein at the deadline. After logging 88 innings a year ago, he hauled 123.1 frames this year, showing that he’s capable of carrying a starter’s load.

“It’d be tough to make an argument for any other pitcher (in the system) who had a better year,” says Sclafani. “He's always had that ability to spin it with two different shapes on the breaking ball to get ahead, to put away. The velo ticked up a mile an hour this year, averaged 93.5, so it was very encouraging on that front. Once he got to double-A, he got punched in the mouth a couple of times, but learned from it and figured out how to leverage his pitches the best he can.”

LHP Jimmy Robbins

Final stats: 5.59 ERA | 93.1 IP | 66 BB | 91 K (two levels)

The 25-year-old continues to make up for lost time after losing 2020 to the pandemic and 2021 to Tommy John surgery. He’s spending the off-season in the Dunedin-area so he can work out at the PDC.

“A bit up and down for him this year,” says Sclafani. “He wants the ball, he wants to compete. He's not afraid to go after guys. The stuff was a little down at times this year, which contributed to some of the struggles. But when he's at his best, he's working quickly, he's getting ahead and there are some encouraging things that he can build off of.”

CF Dasan Brown

Final stats: 463 PA | 7 HR | .218/.309/.315 | 41 BB | 116 K

The talented 22-year-old from Oakville, Ont., played for Canada at the World Baseball Classic but then spun his wheels while repeating in Vancouver. He’s working to lock down some adjustments in the AFL.

“He kind of lost the feel of what he was trying to do in the box, which made him not as consistently on time, make worse swing decisions and poorer quality contact,” says Sclafani. “But kudos to him. He stuck with it. He wanted to go to the AFL to continue working on the things. The bat is going to be the key to everything. He's continuing to learn how to steal bases and leverage that incredible speed and athleticism. And he works his ass off in the outfield and wants to be one of the best centre-fielders in the game.”

SS Josh Kasevich

Final stats: 383 PA | 4 HR | .284/.363/.365 | 38 BB | 41 K

The 22-year-old is a gifted defender who takes away hits and has a high-contact bat that he’s working to better leverage.

“He's an incredible worker, to the point where sometimes you've got to tell him to take it easy for a little bit. He makes guys around him better just because of the standard that he sets,” says Sclafani. “On the defensive side I don't know if we have a more sure-handed option at shortstop. He can really pick it. With the bat, we saw control of the zone and good feel for contact, a profile we typically like. For him it's freeing him up a little bit to improve the quality of contact. He’s a big strong kid but he locks himself up in the box. We made some progress there. There are still some things he needs to work on but he’s always going to put together a good at-bat and he competes his ass off.”

RHP Devereaux Harrison

Final stats: 2.95 ERA | 94.2 IP | 38 BB | 88 K

The 22-year-old was one of the more pleasant surprises in the system. He was a two-way player at Long Beach State but locked in a rotation role and showed promise.

“Getting him on a starting routine for really the first time in his life, we saw the stuff take off,” says Sclafani. “He definitely got fatigued towards the end of the year. He won't say that to you, but you could kind of see it. Most innings he's ever thrown by at least twice. But he showed that he can start. He wants that ball. He asked if he could throw if the championship series went to a Game 5. He wanted to compete. And guys love having him on the mound and playing behind him. He's got multiple pitches that he has feel for, a plus fastball, a plus slider and the changeup is coming along. Definitely think he has a chance to remain a starter.”

LHP Adam Macko

Final stats: 4.81 ERA | 86 IP | 40 BB | 106 K

The Slovakia-born, Alberta-raised 22-year-old acquired with Erik Swanson for Teoscar Hernandez logged a career-high in innings after working through injuries the past two seasons.

“A really positive season for him simply from the standpoint of staying healthy,” says Sclafani. “He's a great kid but was kind of all over the place. Part of it was just getting to, here's why you're good, this is what makes you good, let's just work with that instead of constantly trying to tinker and try to find something. Once he locked in on certain things and threw the curveball a little bit more than the sweeper, the fastball played up a little bit. As the year went on he actually got stronger and held the velo really well, touched 97.5 towards the end of the year. So really, really encouraging.”

1B Peyton Williams

Final stats: 343 PA | 14 HR | .256/.347/.451 | 34 BB | 79 K (three levels)

Intriguing 23-year-old, lefty slugger peaked at a 110 m.p.h. exit velocity and is trying to adjust his swing to better capitalize on his innate power.

“He hits the ball really damn hard,” says Sclafani. “Coming out of (the University of Iowa), he hit a lot of ground balls. Getting him to unlock that and try to get the ball in the air a little bit more, he's bought in. When he gets a hold of it, it's impressive. He's a large, large man. Trying to get through an entire season, figuring out the routine elements of things both in the field and in the box, is important. Definitely some good things there.”

LHP Brandon Barriera

Final stats: 3.98 ERA | 20.1 IP | 9 BB | 25 K (two levels)

The 19-year-old selected 23^rd overall in 2022 had his first pro season limited to seven starts due to elbow and biceps issues in what was essentially a lost year. He’ll be in the Dunedin area this winter and working out at the PDC looking to rebound next year.

“I think he learned a lot and the way he's talked about is pretty mature,” says Scalafani. “He knows what he needs to do and he's really committed to doing that work, refocusing on the body, get him back in a good spot where he can really attack guys and leverage that good stuff that he has.”

SS Manny Beltre

Final stats: 431 PA | 6 HR | .231/.335/.340 | 48 BB | 83 K

The 19-year-old showed sure hands in the field and the ability to make contact although without much slug at the plate in his first full pro season.

“It was a learning experience,” says Sclafani. “The defence is really good, if you hit it to him it's going to be an out. With the bat, it's a matter of freeing him up a little bit to hopefully hit the ball a little bit harder. Some things got exposed this year and he handed it well. To his credit, he wanted to be out there all the time, even when he was struggling a little bit. So it's another off-season of physical development.”

3B/SS Tucker Toman

Final stats: 503 PA | 5 HR | .208/.320/.313 | 63 BB | 135 K (three levels)

The switch-hitting 19-year-old faced struggles at the plate in his first pro season after an 11-game touch in the Florida Complex League in 2022, but has plenty to build from.

“It’s the first time he’s ever struggled in his life and to his credit, he never put his head down,” says Sclafani. “He was constantly working, he wanted to be in there all the time to compete and help the team win. I think he put a little bit too much pressure on himself at times this year. But he made some progress defensively, the way he's moving, the way his hands work. Hopefully an off-season where he's addressing some of the things where he got exposed this year, he comes coming back next year and gets off to a really good start and we can get him moving a little bit.”

LHP Kendry Rojas

Final stats: 3.75 ERA | 84 IP | 33 BB | 82 K

The intriguing Cuban only transitioned to pitching about four years ago but showed an ability to haul innings and turn over lineups.

“He's still pretty raw and even though he's almost 21 at this point (Nov. 26), he's still very young as a pitcher,” says Sclafani. “He’s still figuring out his routines, what he needs to do in between outings, prep/recovery work. We love the body. He moves really well. He's super athletic, lightning-quick arm. The heater is solid, the slider is good. Still working on a changeup. That we were able to get him consistent innings and build up that workload was positive.”

OF Yhoangel Aponte

Final stats: 207 PA | 9 HR | .244/.358/.483 | 25 BB | 67 K (two levels)

The 19-year-old started showing more power in the Complex League before getting a brief taste of Dunedin to close out the season.

“He's really strong and in really good shape,” says Sclafani. “The quality of contact down in the FCL was good. You're starting to see that translate into some game power. There were some really positive trends throughout the year. He's a great kid and works his ass off, so we're excited to see it.”

RHP Fernando Perez

Final stats: 2.72 ERA | 49.2 IP | 12 BB | 57 K

At 6-3 and 170 pounds, the 19-year-old Nicaraguan is still maturing physically but showed flashes of starter potential. Of the only 35 hits he allowed, just one was a homer. 

“Perez had a huge year in FCL,” says Sclafani. “He's a real strike-thrower, has a feel for how to pitch, can throw everything in the zone and manipulate the ball where he wants to. The building blocks there are super-exciting and he showed more swing and miss than we were anticipating. That will be a fun one to watch.”

RHP Nolan Perry

Final stats: 7.28 ERA | 38.1 IP | 16 BB | 51 K

In spite of an unsightly ERA, the 20-year-old showed an ability to beat hitters in the zone and should better avoid damage once he learns to better utilize repertoire.

“Very, very mature approach for such a young kid, just watching the way he goes about his bullpens,” says Sclafani. “Very professional. Works with a purpose. Still refining the stuff but he throws a ton of strikes. He got hurt a little bit in some of those outings just being a little bit too much in the zone. Hopefully he has a good off-season and can take a big step forward.”