Thursday, October 15

TORONTO -- For another year, you need to take a few steps back to fully appreciate the Blue Jays’ farm system and its impact on this organization. 

The Blue Jays’ Top 30 prospects list captures a year of growth and change, but it also captures what’s left. The Blue Jays graduated another group of their more mature prospects in 2026, including Sean Keys, who led the system with 28 home runs across two levels this season. Charles McAdoo also made the jump, another development success story whose tools finally started to flash in the big leagues. 

Then there was Brett Bateman, a Trade Deadline addition from the Cubs in the Kevin Gausman deal who immediately outplayed expectations. The Deadline also saw the Blue Jays deal Arjun Nimmala -- at the time ranked No. 2 in their system -- to the Angels for José Soriano, who projects to be a cornerstone piece in their rotation. 

Looking back, this is what stood out in 2026:

3 players who forced their way onto the radar this year

RHP Nolan Perry (No. 2): Perry made “the jump” teams dream of with each pitching prospect, launching himself onto the Top 100 prospect list (No. 90) in all of Major League Baseball. This is one of the Blue Jays’ biggest development success stories, a 12th-rounder from the 2022 Draft who missed ‘25 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but came back even better. His velocity jumped up to the mid-90s, helping him to strike out 117 batters over 82 2/3 innings of work with a 2.50 ERA. He’s gone from a potential back-end starter to something much more exciting now, and could be an option for the Blue Jays as early as 2027 if he handles Triple-A Buffalo well. 

RHP Danny Thompson Jr. (No. 14): Another example of the Blue Jays’ player development group taking a significant step forward on the pitching front, Thompson was an eighth-rounder in 2025 but has already taken a jump, too. With an uptick in stuff, Thompson posted a 3.41 ERA between High-A Vancouver and Double-A New Hampshire this season, striking out 11.1 batters per nine innings. Consider him another upper-Minors arm who could kick the door down in 2027.

UTIL Jay Harry (No. 21): Arguably the best story of the season among the Blue Jays’ hitting prospects, Harry completely changed the trajectory of his career in 2026. Coming off a .199 average and .572 OPS the year prior, the Blue Jays challenged Harry to swing harder and commit to some adjustments, which he nailed. The result was an .838 OPS with 14 homers, all while playing second, short and all three outfield spots. It’s very easy to see the 24-year-old impacting the MLB roster in 2027. 

2 possible breakout players to watch in 2027

LHP Cole Carlon (No. 4): Carlon didn’t pitch after the Blue Jays selected him 39th overall in the 2026 Draft, but he fits the exact blueprint of a pitcher who could move quickly. With overwhelming stuff from the left side, Carlon could follow the old Trey Yesavage plan, starting in Single-A Dunedin to get his feet under himself before quick moves to High-A and Double-A. He’ll immediately be a must-watch prospect.

OF Jake Cook (No. 20): Cook is an incredible athlete, the fastest runner in the organization with tools for days. The Blue Jays are getting him more reps in the Arizona Fall League, and if Cook can fully uncork his physical potential, the sky is the limit here. At the very least, his value on the bases and in the field should carry him. If he hits, look out.

Let’s sneak in an honorable mention for catcher Will Brick (No. 5), too, their fourth-round pick who signed well over slot at $2.5M. To say the Blue Jays are “high” on Brick would be a wild understatement, even if his development may take some time out of high school.

1 big question for next season

How much can the farm system support the MLB rotation?

This was a gap that got exposed in 2026. When injuries crushed the Blue Jays’ rotation, there weren’t any polished prospects waiting in Triple-A to come up as optionable depth. With another year, that gap should be filled. 

Perry and Thompson could soon represent those options in Triple-A, and while Johnny King (No. 3) still needs some more development to keep him in the zone, he’s getting closer, too. Beyond that, the Blue Jays have Gage Stanifer -- who could land in the bullpen long term, Jake Bloss, Daniel Guerra, John Klein and others. 

Quantity is always the best approach, and if just one of those pitchers can help the big league club, it’s a major win for the Blue Jays’ roster construction.

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