Mentioned this before, but Kiley McD had Bohrofen #59 (one spot ahead of Watts-Brown) and felt the Jays getting him at #184 and signing him for slot one of the steals of the draft.

As I predicted, Rafael Ohashi bounced back from a shaky outing to deliver an excellent start today and against a very tough lineup too. Good to see the young man get back on track. I think we can expect a strong finish to his season.

When I was reading the minor league box scores earlier and saw Ohashi's name, my first thought was I wonder what Super Bluto will say today.

Ohashi has 6 pitches 4Sm, sinker, cutter, CU, SL, CH. I used gameday which gave velo, type and location of pitches. Velo was 88-91. The sinker was the 91mph. 20 years old and dealt with injuries. 6'1" 185 lb.

Maybe he can make it.

Just for Aug, Barger is playing mainly RF with a little SS/DH. He has the arm for RF. I hope his D is ok because his O is close to ready.

IMO when a farm is ranked you want 1) Very good players. 2) Close to ready AA/AAA. 3) 5 Impact players in AA/AAA. This is something I am just starting to work on.

So for the Jays #3 A Nimmala does not count because he is in the FCL. D Schneider does not count because I don't consider him impact. R Tiedemann, Orelvis, Barger I consider Impact. Also in AA/AAA L Jimenez and Roden but he needs a larger AA sample size. Danner & Zulueta are relievers (1-3IP per) with big stuff that have to improve on a very few things like BB.

They cannot be stuck on the Tor/Buffalo shuttle for years. Also injuries.

Mitch White got absolutely destroyed again... Have to imagine the end is near for him with the Jays anyway.

He can't even get through 2 innings in AAA these days.

Bohrofen off to incredible start which is nice to see. Nimmala off to a solid start as well and Bonilla having good August so there's some hope there. The upper minors has a lot of guys that seem like potential placeholders/part-timers which is important but Jays need some impact prospects as well.

I’m a believer in the bat of Miguel Hiraldo. Many believed that he was the best bat in the 2017 group. I think he’ll be a solid MLB regular. Seems to start slow, and heat up as the season winds down.

On the right day, Hiraldo looks solid. Unfortunately, he's an inconsistent fielder who has never developed a good approach at the plate. He's been roughly league average for three years and strikes out about 30% of the time, which is far too high for someone with 10-15 HR potential. On the plus side, he appeared to come into camp in better shape this year.

He'll also be a six-year MiLB free agent at the end of the year. His draft class also included Julio Rodriguez and Wander Franco. And fellow Jays prospect Leo Jimenez.

He definitely didn’t meet the those expectations of the aforementioned lol

Jimenez is the guy I think is underrated.

He is #6 in the MLB Jays rankings. He is an excellent defensive SS. He is a 22 yr old playing AA and hitting 285/373/443 with 30BB/48 K in 292 PA. He started slow in April but has hit 286/380/492 in his last 51 games

He was not very good last year in Vancouver, but the year before he hit 316/517/381 in Dunedin.

Hirlado is a non-prospect for me but Jimenez has a chance to be a major leaguer. He fits in that group of "likely to be part-timer, chance of being lower level starter" which dominate the upper minors prospects in the organization. I don't see anyone with a real shot to be more than that but I guess players can develop in strange ways.

Bonilla with another good game today 3/4 with a double. His OPS is now over .800. FCL game suspended in first. Nimmala had walked and has started his career with 6 BBs vs 4 Ks which is always nice to see even if it's early but 17 is young for any level so positive results for Nimmala and Bonilla bode well.

Yeah if his defense is that good then Jimenez is looking like a very solid floor guy, who looks like a good bench piece at least, and maybe more if he can sustain his current just-good-enough power numbers.

Durability is a significant issue for Jimenez. He's likely to sneak by his career seasonal high of 294 PAs on Tuesday, but may not make 350 PAs.

Good player. Scott Fletcher/Jason Bartlett type- not flashy but does everything well.

Looking at the minors who is likely to help in 2024 if needed?

Starters: ignoring Manoah, Ricky Tiedemann of course is next in line if healthy (entering age 21 season); Trenton Wallace also LHP who will be 25 next year 2.59 ERA in A+/AA 10 K/9 2.6 BB/9 0.4 HR/9 - hit hard in his 2 AA starts, but has to climb fast or will be forgotten and that HR/9 jumps out; Chad Dallas has had a solid year in A+/AA and will be 24 next year 3.69 ERA 10.4 K/9 3.9 BB/9 1.1 HR/9; Michael Dominguez also A+/AA will be 23 next year 3.82 ERA 10.48 K/9, 6.7 BB/9 (yikes), 1.0 HR/9 - needs work on that control but if he gets it he could jump fast.

Relief: Hayden Juenger has an ugly AAA ERA 6.55 but 11.8 K/9 4.9 BB/9 will play. His H/9 seem very high but entering age 23 season I see him on the short list; Yosver Zulueta we thought would get a shot this year but hasn't 4.47 ERA hurt by his BB/9 7.1 (yikes!) going into his age 26 season I wouldn't be shocked if he falls off the 40 man this winter; Connor Cooke has the video game numbers at 17.2 K/9 vs 2.6 BB/9 in A+/AA he will be 24 next season so another make it now guy; T.J Brock is good (14k/9, 4.5 BB/9). The more I look the more I see guys with crazy BB/9 #'s (high) and solid K/9 but those walks... who do you pick? Basically keep sending them out and see if any of them figure it out I guess.

Catcher: Phil Cooke who will be 26 next year is the youngest in AA/AAA with a decent 257/379/374 line but nothing 'wow'. I suspect Kirk/Jansen is it for a few years, with AAAA guys like Heineman kept around to fill in as needed.
2B/SS/3B: the big area - Guys under 25 now: Otto Lopez (637 OPS), Addison Barger (763 OPS), Orelvis Martinez (821 OPS) all have significant AAA time and all could be here in 2024 - Barger & Martinez obviously have a shot at full time if Chapman leaves or at 2B if the Jays get sick of Espinal/Biggio and Merrifield doesn't resign. Tanner Morris (767 OPS at age 25) and Rafael Lantigua (also 25 870 OPS) are in the picture if still here (won't be on 40 man). In AA you have Leo Jimenez (22 816 OPS) and 23 year old Damiano Palmegiani (815 OPS) who could be in the picture easily as could Miguel Hiraldo (22 761 OPS). Dang - where will the Jays put these guys in 2024 if Chapman & Merrifield sign up again?
OF: a LOT weaker - Cam Eden in AAA looks decent but a 673 OPS hurts his case (44-3 SB-CS helps) as does his age at 25, Steward Berroa in AA is interesting 763 OPS 41-9 SB-CS at age 24.
1B/DH: Horwitz obviously (25 this year, 918 OPS in AAA) will take over DH if Belt goes, but no one else jumps out as being good enough with the bat to get a ML job (need an 800+ OPS in the minors to be worth a second thought at 1B/DH).

I ignored guys on the current roster like Nate Pearson, Francis Bowen, Davis Schneider as all obviously have a shot at the 2024 roster.

So there is some depth but is it enough? Outside of middle infield not really imo. The Jays need to develop some big bats and more pitching (you can never have too much pitching).

Hiraldo is the epitome of a fringey prospect for me: he's getting enough success with enough tools at a young enough age to imagine it coming together. In his case, he needs to cut down on the swing-and-miss and find a little more power. But that's the kind of thing oodles of undoubted prospects also need to do. And he's showing modest progress in that direction this season.

There's obviously a lot that has to go right for Hiraldo, but I wouldn't rule him entirely out.

Good list John N. I don't seen any prospects except relievers making the Opening day roster. Danner, Zulueta and Juenger will use ST to win a spot.

No SPs, If Tiedemann is great he does not have the 2023 innings to really be in the rotation. But you never turn down a good/great pitcher.

Barger I can see making the Opening day roster as OF/IF. Mainly OF.

Nothing else for Opening Day, but as the season unwinds I see many possibilities that will take advantage of injuries and paternity leave.

bpoz - that is what I'm mainly thinking about - IL and the like. The Jays are a potential championship team if everyone plays as well as they should and are healthy, two big ifs. The questions are backups and surprises. What positions do they need to chase this winter due to a lack of in-house options going forward? LF seems to be one, depending how they feel about one of the gang of MI going to the OF. 3B/LF/2B are all at risk this winter due to free agency (Chapman/KK/Merrifield - Varsho going to CF thus opening LF). So the glut is at the right position(s) at least. I doubt any starting pitchers get a shot outside of injury, as I fully expect the Jays to sign a decent 6th man/long relief option to keep options open if Manoah keeps having trouble in 2024. They want Tiedemann to be there for 2025 to replace Kikuchi as his contract ends. Bassitt runs out 25/26 offseason, Gausman in 26/27, Berrios 28/29. Berrios' eventual replacement probably isn't even drafted yet.

The pen is Romano-Swanson-Garcia-Mayza-Richards-Cabrera-Green if kept, leaving just 1 slot open for the long guy/6th starter, or Francis (6th man/long guy but probably kept in AAA as a 'break glass in case of emergency' guy), Jackson, Pearson, etc. Lots of choices before getting into the unstable kids but they'll get a shot to impress in spring, then to earn it. Hicks is a FA, Cimber will probably be released (sadly as I like him but just don't see him sticking anymore), Pop will be given a shot to get back up.

I feel the same as you John N. We evaluate Manoah based on what he does till the season ends. I expect him to dominate AAA by his 4th start there starting now. A spot in the rotation is his to lose in ST/1st month of the season. The 6th SP is the question. B Francis has probably earned long reliever or swingman. They don't "need" to add a $20 mil SP this off season. Someone cheaper like 2021 Ray/Matz or even Stripling like SF did. And this SP would have to earn everything he gets. Z Thompson and Hutch both failed to impress in AAA this year. Thompson is still around. I expect Atkins to do something that is basically unimpressive for this part.

D schneider got promoted due to a struggling team IMO. That is one way to get called up. Merrifield, Belt performed much better than I expected. KK did as expected. Varsho's O was less than expected. To save money Espinal probably gets 3B until Orelvis/Barger are ready. Orelvis/Barger/Jimenez will play everyday because that is how it is done. Barger is playing a lot of OF and doing ok. I saw a highlight where on a deep fly he moved back to the right spot, leapt and saved a HR. Or a not so expensive OF is obtained. Biggio is still in the picture and maybe he steps up.

Injuries are an issue as well. Vlad, Bo or a C can't really be replaced as far as I can see.

Lastly all 5 AL East teams will be good. Since I cannot rank them, I will not try.

26 is not old for a pitcher. Zulueta probably needs more time to transition to the pen but his stuff still looks interesting.

It wouldn't make any sense to sign Chapman to a long contract.

OF is not an issue. Varsho/Springer have CF/RF locked for several years and anybody can play LF.

You can never have too much pitching with options.
You can have too much pitching without option but not for very long as those guys are quickly lost on waivers.

They probably need to sign one big bat to play LF/DH.
1B isn't a problem. C is well covered. 3B? Just use a platoon and see what it looks like at the deadline.

I don't know about Cooke, but Phil Clarke is a left bat which is very nice behind the plate. He sure looks like he could hit enough to be a backup catcher, but likely, the defense is more important.
A catcher who hits really well usually gets moved out of the position to prolong his career and keep his bat in the lineup.

Geoff Pontes at Baseball America was in Florida at some FCL games and has published a look at some Blue Jay prospects (probably for subscribers only). Pitchers Nolan Perry and Gage Stanifer looked good low nineties fastballs with sliders. Both are young but have potential.

He notes that Sam Shaw from BC seems to be like the 2022 drafted hitters, good bat to ball skills with limited power.

He really liked Nimmala, excellent bat speed and pop, good eye at the plate. He needs some work in the field but what 17 year old doesn't?

"There's obviously a lot that has to go right for Hiraldo, but I wouldn't rule him entirely out."

I wouldn't do that for any 22 year old because very occasionally players do make big leaps but I don't see anything in Hiraldo that makes him look like a likely major leaguer. I wouldn't have him in the Jays top-30 prospects and would have no problem losing him in Rule V or including him as a topper in a trade.

Nimmala off to a fantastic start. 1-1 with a 3B and 2 BBs today. In his first 19 PAs, he has 7 BB and 4 Ks and a 1.162 OPS. Very early but love to see this sort of thing from a top prospect obviously.

If he's so meh, which I agree with, why would he be taken in the Rule 5?

The Jays continue to sign NDFAs. P Carson Pierce signed 2 weeks ago pitching in the FCL today.

"If he's so meh, which I agree with, why would he be taken in the Rule 5?"

I doubt he would be but I wouldn't be protecting him or worry about losing him. Maybe some team like Oakland would see him as a middle infield project or something. Who knows?

I agree with this whole discussion about Hiraldo and that he's not really a prospect. But, as meh prospects go, I'd say that he's at a higher than normal (but still small) risk of being picked in the Rule 5 draft. As Marc says, on the right day with the wind and sun in the right direction, you can dream on a few of his baseball tools. If picked, no great loss.

Double header in the FCL today.

Another good outing by Fernando Perez in the FCL today, three innings, five K's, one hit, two walks.

Thanks, Gerry. Perez is having a promising start to his career.

Hiraldo 3 for 3 with a double and a walk tonight. Interesting.

Hiraldo 3 for 3 with a double and a walk tonight. Interesting.

I might have to up his prospect status a half grade to meh+ :)