How close are the Blue Jays' top hitting prospects to playing in the majors?

KANSAS CITY — Some high Blue Jays prospects are placing up eye-catching offensive numbers at triple-A, and their manufacturing has not escaped the eye of resolution makers on the big-league workforce.

In Spencer Horwitz (.353/.488/.485, 1 HR), Addison Barger (.314/.435/.586, 3 HR) and Orelvis Martinez (.333/.392/.681, 6 HR), the Blue Jays have a trio of promising younger hitters atop their triple-A batting order. Each one might assist on the big-league stage this season, and a few could also be big-league prepared now.

At the identical time there’s extra to big-league efficiency than hitting, which provides nuance to the query of how quickly the workforce’s high triple-A bats may assist on the highest stage.

“Three in particular are doing really well,” Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider stated. “We want them to continue to keep getting better and make tough decisions for us. It was a good week for them especially Orelvis. But their development is important and playing every day is important, so it’s definitely a balance.”

Take Martinez, as an illustration. Now 22 years outdated, he’s enjoying full-time at second base for the primary time and he has 5 errors to his identify in simply 15 video games. Maybe he’ll be capable to deal with the place with time, however common enjoying time is probably going required to achieve that reply. 

“Errors are going to happen, but I think him getting the reps there is key for his development,” Schneider stated. “We know he can hit. It’s about making his whole game a little more tight.”

If the Blue Jays had been to advertise him now, they’d both have to simply accept a significant defensive downgrade up the center (extremely unappealing) or stall the general improvement of a high prospect (additionally unappealing).

With that in thoughts, Horwitz and Barger could also be nearer to the big-leagues (all three are on the 40-man roster). Since the 26-year-old Horwitz has already reached — and succeeded in — the majors, he’d be a logical candidate for a promotion if somebody like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Justin Turner or Daniel Vogelbach had been to hit the injured listing.

Meanwhile, Barger is likely to be greatest positioned to get the decision if an infielder or outfielder went down. The big-armed 24-year-old’s been enjoying third base and proper discipline within the minors, giving him beneficial versatility.

Also value noting: whereas former high prospects like David Price, Evan Longoria and Kris Bryant had been beforehand held within the minors to suppress their service time, that doesn’t look like a priority right here. At this level, the Blue Jays might name up Martinez or Barger tomorrow or on Sept. 1 with no distinction of their projected timelines to free company.

In time, all three Blue Jays prospects will certainly get their possibilities within the big-leagues, however on a contending workforce variables like defence, baserunning and preparation should even be thought of when weighing promotions. Because errors on the minor-league stage are to be anticipated, however within the majors outcomes are paramount, so there’s much less room for persistence.

“You want them to be doing well, not just offensively, but you want them to be doing well baseball wise,” Schneider stated. “You’ve got to have guys play the game. To me it’s kind of a lost art. Guys can hit the ball hard and throw it hard, but you’ve got to play. It’s going to win you or lose you games. The whole package matters.”

MANOAH’S PATH BACK

After a robust displaying at triple-A through which he allowed two runs in 5.2 innings whereas putting out 5 on Friday, starter Alek Manoah will return to the mound quickly for one more rehab outing with the Buffalo Bisons.

The begin will happen Wednesday or Thursday relying on climate, and after throwing 92 pitches Friday, he’s not anticipated to have any restrictions on workload. So, how quickly may he again within the majors, and beneath what circumstances?

Manoah is “on a good track,” Schneider stated, and now the Blue Jays need him to construct on what he did towards the Columbus Clippers. The supervisor watched your complete outing on video and got here away impressed with Manoah’s command and the form and velocity of his slider.

“And a lot of his misses were good,” Schneider added. “They were close.”

Of course, Manoah is only one a part of the equation for the Blue Jays. Their rotation has been their largest power to date this 12 months, so there’s not precisely a must rush a pitcher whose rehab window extends to May 6.

Plus, they “definitely want to keep (Yariel Rodriguez) on turn” as a starter in the meanwhile. With all of that in thoughts, it stands to purpose that the Blue Jays will proceed intentionally with Manoah, figuring out that these logjams are likely to resolve themselves with time.

“A lot of it is how he is and how we are,” Schneider stated. “So a good problem to have. But yeah, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

GRADUAL PROGRESSION FOR VOTTO

When Joey Votto rolled his ankle in a spring recreation on March 17, he wasn’t anticipated to overlook this a lot time, however he stays on the sidelines with no timetable for getting right into a recreation.

“He’s ramping up baseball activity, and running more but it’s still kind of been the same for about a week or 10 days,” Schneider stated. “Not hitting live (batting practice) or anything like that. Kind of just on the same slow track.”

Schneider stated there’s no further harm, however famous Votto needs to be absolutely prepared as soon as he does get into minor-league video games.

“Probably just a 40-year-old taking a little bit longer to heal.”

FURTHER INJURY NOTES

Reliever Chad Green (shoulder) is assembly with a workforce physician in Toronto to find out subsequent steps. In the meantime, he’s not throwing. … Left-handed pitching prospect Brandon Barriera is visiting with Dr. Keith Meister this week after experiencing elbow soreness. … Right-handed pitching prospect Landen Maroudis is getting an MRI after experiencing forearm soreness.

More from Sportsnet

Blue Jays prospect Orelvis Martinez extends hit streak to fifteen video games, hits one other HR for Bisons

Blue Jays’ Alek Manoah permits two runs over 5.2 innings in newest triple-A begin