Toronto Blue Jays

TRACK RECORD: Van Eyk won a gold medal with USA Baseball's 18U national team in high school and entered his senior year as one of the top prospects in the 2017 draft. A forearm injury hurt his draft stock, and he instead went to Florida State. The move worked out, as Van Eyk became the 42nd overall pick in the 2020 draft and signed for $1,797,500. He went to the team's rookie camp at instructional league in the fall and pitched in one game.

SCOUTING REPORT: Van Eyk pitches off a fastball that sits in the low 90s and touches 95 mph. He throws an above-average curveball with good depth that can miss bats, along with an average changeup that has good sink and separation off his fastball. Van Eyk has a feel to spin a slider, but it doesn't generate the same swing-and-miss rate as his curveball. He throws strikes with easy, fluid arm action and simple, low-maintenance mechanics.

THE FUTURE: Van Eyk is a relatively safe bet to stick as a starter between his repertoire, delivery and pitchability. He should make his pro debut at one of the Class A levels in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Signed for $60,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2016, Lopez broke out in 2019 with a batting title in the low Class A Midwest League. In 2020, Lopez spent a few weeks in instructional league before going home to play winter ball for Escogido in the Dominican Republic. The Blue Jays added him to the 40-man roster after the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Lopez won't jump out for his pure tools, but he has an innate feel for contact and a particular knack for barreling fastballs up in the zone. Lopez doesn't walk much and would benefit from a more selective hitting approach, as his bat control leads to light contact on pitches he should lay off. Lopez has average raw power, though it hasn't manifested itself in games yet with a swing geared for low line drives and grounders. There's unlocked power for Lopez to tap into if he shifts his intent from a contact-oriented approach to one where he tries to drive certain pitches for extra-base damage. Lopez has primarily played shortstop with his slightly above-average speed and average arm strength, but he will be stretched to play there every day at higher levels. He has played second base and the outfield, as well.

THE FUTURE: Lopez's future may involve playing multiple positions. He has a chance to be an everyday player if he's able to hit for more power in games.

TRACK RECORD: Beltre was the headline prospect of Toronto’s 2020-21 international class when he signed with the Blue Jays on Jan. 15, 2021. Beltre became well known prior to signing, documenting his daily training and highlights for years on his Instagram account of nearly 70,000 followers.

SCOUTING REPORT: One of the best hitters in his international signing class, Beltre is a baseball rat with a lot of in-game experience relative to his peers, which shows in his advanced understanding of the game. Beltre doesn't have one tool that jumps out as plus, but his game skills and pure hitting ability are promising. His swing is short and simple with a direct path to the ball, making frequent contact against live pitching with a good eye at the plate and ability to control the strike zone. He has good leverage in his swing and can drive the ball out to his pull side, but his offensive game is built more around his on-base skills than slugging. Beltre has transformed his body as he's grown taller with more strength and athleticism. He's an average runner who should play somewhere in the middle infield, where he's a fundamentally sound defender with soft hands, good footwork and a chance for an average to a tick better arm with good accuracy.

THE FUTURE: Beltre enters the 2021 season still 16, but his hitting ability and instincts could have him in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League soon with a chance to move quickly.

TRACK RECORD: Machado was one of the top prospects in the 2019 international class and signed with the Blue Jays for $775,000. When the coronavirus pandemic shut down the 2020 season, Machado and a group of Venezuelan players stayed near the Blue Jays' complex in Dunedin, Fla., and worked out together at their hotel. Dominican Summer League manager Dane Fujinaka guided them through video workouts and drills in the parking lot before they got back on the field later in the summer.

SCOUTING REPORT: Machado combines an exciting mix of quick-twitch athleticism, tools and skills that translate in games. The switch-hitter's swings are fast, short and direct from both sides of the plate. His plate discipline is advanced for his age, leading to a high contact rate and consistent quality at-bats. Machado has mostly doubles power now, but he has the bat speed and projectable strength to potentially develop average power. Machado has average speed, but he has explosive movements with an easy running gait, so there's a chance he could get faster. His defense at shortstop isn't at the same level as fellow 2019 signing Rikelbin de Castro, but he has the athleticism, quick first step, footwork, range and hands to stay at shortstop. His above-average arm could become plus when he gets stronger.

THE FUTURE: Machado could develop into one of the most exciting players in the system, but needs to prove it in real games first. He should get that chance in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The top international pitching prospect in 2017, Pardinho signed with the Blue Jays out of Brazil for $1.4 million. He got off to a terrific start in his pro debut, skipping two levels and showing his polish in the Rookie-level Appalachian League as a 17-year-old. Pardinho battled a sore right elbow the following year and didn't have the same stuff or success when he returned. He eventually had Tommy John surgery in Feb. 2020 and spent the year rehabbing in Florida.

SCOUTING REPORT: When Pardinho was at his best in 2018, he sat in the low 90s and touched 96 mph. He complemented his heater with a curveball that flashed plus to get swings and misses and a slider that could develop into another above-average pitch. But when Pardinho returned to the mound after his elbow soreness in 2019, his stuff was not as crisp, with his velocity in the 88-92 mph range and his breaking stuff lacking its usual bite. He has shown feel for a changeup, though he hasn't been able to use it much. With Pardinho having surgery, there's reason to believe he wasn't 100% when he came back to pitch in 2019, and there's a chance his stuff will rebound once he's fully rehabbed. He has solid control from a smooth, easy delivery and a good arm action.

THE FUTURE: Pardinho is set to return in the middle of the 2021 season. His outlook depends on what his stuff looks like when he returns.

TRACK RECORD: Hatch won Big 12 Conference pitcher of the year in 2016 at Oklahoma State and was drafted by the Cubs in the third round. He made his way up to Double-A in the Cubs' system and was acquired by the Blue Jays at the 2019 trade deadline for David Phelps. Hatch's results improved when the Blue Jays encouraged him to throw his changeup more. He made his major league debut in 2020 as a reliever, with his stuff looking sharper out of the bullpen.  Elbow discomfort in 2021 spring training, however, will delay him from pitching early in the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hatch's fastball sat in the low 90s as a starter but ticked up to 94-98 mph as a reliever. He generates above-average spin that helps his fastball play up, though he needs to improve his command. Hatch mainly threw his fastball and slider in college and with the Cubs, but his plus changeup is his best offspeed pitch, a weapon for whiffs against both lefties and righties. It looks like a fastball out of his hand before hitting the brakes at 84-88 mph, resulting in off-balance and empty swings. Hatch throws his solid-average slider with more power out of the bullpen than he did as a starter. It comes in at 86-91 mph with short, hard action and is capable of getting swings and misses as well.

THE FUTURE: Hatch has a smooth, controlled delivery and a three-pitch starter's mix, so a return to the rotation is possible. Given how much better his stuff played in relief, he might stay there going forward.

TRACK RECORD: Jimenez was Panama's top prospect in the 2017 international class and signed with the Blue Jays for $825,000. He performed well in his first two years of Rookie ball and showed up to instructional league in 2020 with added strength that made a notable impact.

SCOUTING REPORT: Jimenez is an instinctive player who isn't as flashy or explosive as other shortstops, but he's a fundamentally sound player with a good internal clock. He's a fluid defender at shortstop with soft hands, good body control and an average arm, with a throwing program a focal point for Jimenez to try to improve his arm strength. His first-step quickness and range lead some to believe he'll move off the position, but others believe his reads and instincts will keep him at short. After not hitting a home run in his first two seasons, Jimenez went deep in an early instructional league game and was driving the ball with more authority. Like many young hitters who start to grow into a little bit of power, Jimenez got caught up trying to sell out for power and began swinging and missing more than usual. That should settle in as he finds the right balance. The strength of Jimenez's offensive game has been his ability to manage his at-bats and put the ball in play from a simple swing

THE FUTURE: Jimenez's newfound strength should help his jump to a full-season league in 2021. He might end up a utilityman, but there's enough upside for him to develop into an everyday middle infielder.

TRACK RECORD: Mesia signed for $300,000 as part of the deep Blue Jays international class in 2019. He made a strong impression after signing during Tricky League (an unofficial league for July 2 signings) and Dominican instructional league. The coronavirus pandemic prevented him from making his official pro debut in 2020, but he was a standout at instructional league in the fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: Mesia has a knack for making contact and driving the ball with impact. He has surprising explosiveness to his actions for his stocky build, producing fast bat speed and a compact, efficient stroke. He needs to become a more selective hitter, but he still makes a lot of contact, squares up high-end velocity and uses the whole field. Mesia's raw power is at least average with a chance for more to come. He has a strong, heavy lower half and moves athletically behind the plate, where he projects to stick with a slightly above-average arm that could tick up as he gets stronger.

THE FUTURE: Mesia is far away, but he has the building blocks to develop into an everyday catcher. He's advanced enough to start 2021 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.

TRACK RECORD: De Castro received the largest bonus in Toronto's deep 2019 international signing class, signing for $1.2 million. His expected pro debut was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but the Blue Jays brought him over in the fall for instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: De Castro is a wiry, thin-boned shortstop with quick-twitch athleticism and slick defensive actions. He's a high-energy player with a quick first step, nimble footwork, smooth hands and good range. His speed and arm strength are average but have a chance to tick up once he puts on strength, especially his throwing given his fast arm speed. The attributes are there for a future plus defender at shortstop, but de Castro is still a skinny teenager who needs to add weight. That holds back the damage he's able to do at the plate right now, but he has quick wrists and a loose, simple swing with a good path. He's not always consistent with his swing mechanics, but he has shown solid bat-to-ball skills so far, with a line-drive approach and gap power.

THE FUTURE: De Castro likely would have debuted in the Dominican Summer League if there was a 2020 season. He may be advanced enough to go to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League for his debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Murphy was pitching well for Double-A New Hampshire in 2019 before umpires informed him in the middle of the season that his toe tap with his left foot was illegal. He took time off to change his mechanics and struggled the rest of the way as he tried to adapt to his new delivery. He spent 2020 continuing to make adjustments at the alternate training site and earned his first major league callup in September, when he made four solid relief appearances.

SCOUTING REPORT: Murphy's fastball sat in the low-to-mid 90s as a starter and ticked up to 95-98 mph in relief in his debut. He likes to pitch up in the zone and to his arm side, though he tends to fly open in his delivery and has less success locating to his glove side. Murphy pairs his fastball with a power curveball that has slider-like velocity at 82-85 mph. It has a hard, sharp break and is a plus pitch at its best. Murphy has a below-average changeup and didn't throw it in the majors. His medical record includes Tommy John surgery, an operation for thoracic outlet syndrome and a surgery to reposition nerves in his pitching elbow early in his career.

THE FUTURE: Between his delivery, medical history and the way his powerful two-pitch mix has played up as a reliever, the bullpen may be the best place for Murphy. He could be a middle reliever with the upside to pitch in higher leverage situations.

TRACK RECORD: Kay was drafted by the Mets with the 31st overall pick in 2016 but missed the following year after having Tommy John surgery. He returned to pitch well in 2018 and the Blue Jays acquired him with Simeon Woods Richardson at the 2019 trade deadline in exchange for Marcus Stroman. Kay made his major league debut shortly after the trade and returned to the majors for 13 appearances in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Kay's 91-96 mph fastball has above-average velocity from the left side, but it comes in fairly straight and got hit hard in the majors, especially when he was behind in the count and hitters were looking for it. Kay throws an average curveball at 76-80 mph that can get swings and misses when he keeps it down. His 85-88 mph changeup is a tick below-average but flashes average. Kay threw strikes up through Double-A, but his command has been below-average in Triple-A and the majors.

THE FUTURE: Kay came up through the minors as a starter and some think he could still handle that role in the back of a rotation. But he will be 26 in 2021 and it's yet to click for him in the major leagues, so he could end up returning to relief.

TRACK RECORD: Espinal was born in the Dominican Republic, grew up in Florida and spent one season at Miami-Dade JC, where he won the Southern Conference player of the year in 2016. The Red Sox signed him for $50,000 as a 10th-round pick and traded him to the Blue Jays at the 2018 trade deadline for Steve Pearce. Espinal steadily climbed the minors and made the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster in 2020, settling in as a reserve infielder.

SCOUTING REPORT: At 26, there isn't much projection left for Espinal, who has the skill set to fit as a utilityman between his bat control and ability to play multiple positions. He has been a high-contact hitter all the way up the minor league ladder, with a low swing-and-miss rate and a good two-strike approach. He manages his at-bats well with solid plate discipline. Espinal has well below-average power, so there's little impact when he connects. Espinal is an average runner with soft hands and a solid-average arm. He's a reliable defender at shortstop and has seen time at second base, third base and center field in his pro career.

THE FUTURE: Espinal lacks the power to be an everyday player. His ability to put the ball in play and move around the diamond are suited to a bench role.

TRACK RECORD: Robertson had two loud offensive seasons at Creighton with a strong Cape Cod League summer in-between. He signed with the Blue Jays as a fourth-round pick in 2019 and debuted that summer in the short-season Northwest League. Robertson went to instructional league in 2020 and was one of the Blue Jays' top offensive performers, though at 22 he was one of the oldest hitters in camp.

SCOUTING REPORT: Robertson generates easy above-average raw power with his strength, bat speed and short lefthanded stroke. Pitchers were able to beat him with fastballs inside in his pro debut, so he backed off the plate in 2020 with better results at instructs. There's some stiffness in his swing that contributes to swing-and-miss concerns against more advanced pitchers, but he is working to create a better bat path to stay through the hitting zone longer. That showed early results at instructs, where Robertson was able to show more power through the middle of the field and to right-center. Robertson's value is tied to his bat. He's a below-average runner and defender in a corner with average arm strength.

THE FUTURE: Robertson showed encouraging signs in 2020. The real test will come once he faces Double-A pitching, possibly at some point in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Frasso was mostly a reliever his first two seasons at Loyola Marymount and led the Lions in saves as a sophomore. He moved to the rotation in 2020 but failed to get through five innings in either of his first two starts before he was sidelined with forearm and elbow tightness and the college season shut down. The Blue Jays still drafted him in the fourth round and signed him for $459,000.

SCOUTING REPORT: Frasso hits plenty of checkpoints scouts have for a young pitcher. He's a college arm who still has physical projection remaining in his 6-foot-5 frame and was a standout high school basketball player whose athleticism is evident on the mound. He throws strikes with a 92-95 mph fastball that plays up because of its high spin rate and his ability to generate extension out front. His slider is still inconsistent, but it has tight spin and flashes plus potential. Frasso has shown some feel for a changeup, but it's a third pitch that lags behind.

THE FUTURE: Frasso has the qualities to develop into a solid major league starter but needs to prove he can handle that workload. Otherwise, his stuff could play well in a multi-inning relief role.

TRACK RECORD: Palmer was a reliever as a freshman at Jacksonville, split time between starting and relieving his sophomore year and took off as a full-time starter as a junior before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the season. The Blue Jays drafted him in the third round and signed him for $847,500. Palmer made his organizational debut at instructional league in the fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: Palmer has a sturdy, heavy build that helps him generate a lot of power but he will have to maintain. His fastball comes in at 92-97 mph and he can both sink it or throw a four-seamer up in the zone. It will play better if he can improve its spin efficiency. Palmer's mid-80s slider flashes aboveaverage potential and he has worked to mix in more of his splitter. Palmer has a repeatable delivery and showed better control as a starter than he did as a reliever at Jacksonville.

THE FUTURE: The Blue Jays will develop Palmer as a starter. He'll make his pro debut in 2021 at one of the Class A levels.

TRACK RECORD: Aponte wasn’t a high-profile prospect coming out of Venezuela when he signed with the Blue Jays on Jan. 15, but he could end up one of the better values of the international class.

SCOUTING REPORT: Aponte has a chance for five average or better tools that play up because of his instincts, especially in center field. With solid-average speed and arm strength, Aponte is a diligent, focused worker when it comes to his defensive craft and it shows in games. He's not a burner, but he reads the ball well off the bat, has a quick first step and glides to balls in both gaps with efficient routes and diving catches. He has performed well against live pitching too, making frequent contact with good strike-zone judgment, a lot of line drives and surprising power from his 5-foot-11 frame.

THE FUTURE: He’s a long way from Toronto, but Aponte has a chance to break out and raise his stock once more scouts are able to see him play in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Blue Jays drafted Brown with the 88th overall pick in 2019, making him the first Canadian player selected that year. Brown was raw coming out of high school and young for the class at 17 on draft day. The lack of development time with the canceled 2020 minor league season was evident to scouts when Brown arrived at instructional league in the fall.

SCOUTING REPORT: Brown is the best athlete in the Blue Jays' system and one of the fastest players in professional baseball. He's an explosive runner with a light, gliding gait and 80-grade speed on the 20-to- 80 scouting scale. That speed, along with his solid instincts, gives him the attributes to develop into a plus or better defender in center field. Brown has an average arm, but he's working to improve his arm action and exchange to be more efficient. Brown is still crude as a hitter. He has plenty of bat speed to handle good velocity, and that bat speed gives him a chance to drive the ball with impact in the future despite his wiry build, but his pitch recognition, swing path, timing and contact skills all lag behind. Once he learns to read pitchers and get better jumps, he should pile up stolen bases.

THE FUTURE: The lost season hurt Brown's development more than most, but he's still an electric athlete and only 19. He probably starts 2021 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.

TRACK RECORD: Murray racked up strikeouts despite modest velocity at Kent State and was drafted in the eighth round by Toronto in 2018. He soared up to Double-A in his first full season in 2019 and led all Blue Jays minor leaguers in strikeouts. The Blue Jays brought him to their alternate training site in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Murray piles up whiffs with a fastball that gets on hitters faster than they anticipate. It parks at 88-92 mph, with a slight uptick at the alternate site to 94 mph, and plays up with aboveaverage spin and late riding life. On top of its movement, Murray has exceptional deception that makes it difficult for hitters to track the ball of his hand, leading to an abundance of empty swings when he elevates his fastball. Murray's slow curveball gets mixed reviews. Some scouts consider it a fringe-average pitch that better hitters might lay off. Others see good rotation and bite to keep hitters off-balance. He throws a fringy slider and hasn't used much of his below-average changeup, with his changeup a developmental focus. Murray is a solid strike-thrower and a student of the game who prepares for the strengths and weaknesses of opposing lineups.

THE FUTURE: Some scouts think Murray's act may be more smoke-and-mirrors that won't translate against major league hitters, but he could develop into a back-end starter similar to Josh Collmenter, with a chance to get starts with Toronto at some point in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Morris had a strong summer in the Cape Cod League and followed it up by hitting .345/.452/.507 with more walks than strikeouts as a draft-eligible sophomore at Virginia in 2019. The Blue Jays drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $397,500. Morris showed the same on-base skills in his pro debut in the short-season Northwest League after signing, but he arrived at instructional league in 2020 having lost weight, which took a toll on his performance.

SCOUTING REPORT: Morris is a disciplined hitter who doesn't expand the strike zone and puts himself in advantageous counts to manage his at-bats. He has a simple lefty stroke and good bat control with a swing geared for line drives and sending the ball to the opposite field. If he learns to turn on certain pitches, there could be more power coming, but he doesn't project as a power threat for now. Morris has a strong arm and generally makes the routine play on balls he can get to, but his first-step quickness and range is thin for shortstop, which should lead him to second or third base, with a focus on improving his body positioning on defense.

THE FUTURE: Morris has the components to be a high on-base threat if he can drive the ball with more impact. He is set to open 2021 at one of the Class A levels.

TRACK RECORD: The Blue Jays signed Zulueta at 21 for $1 million near the end of the 2018-19 international signing period, but he needed Tommy John surgery shortly afterward. He spent the 2020 season rehabbing in Florida and began showing his previous big velocity during live batting practice sessions in December.

SCOUTING REPORT: Zulueta's fastball ranges from 93-97 mph and tops out at 98. He's an athletic pitcher with a loose, quick arm and has late life on his four-seam fastball. Zulueta throws a hard, power curveball in the low 80s with good bite and three-quarters action. It's more advanced than his changeup, which has some depth. Zulueta's command remains scattered as he goes through the early stages of returning from surgery.

THE FUTURE: Zulueta is a wild card as an electric arm with a lot of uncertainty and a wide range of outcomes. He will develop as a starter and pitch his first official games in 2021.