Three rising stars for the Toronto Blue Jays
With spring training underway, each team is filled with hope for a World Series title and fresh faces are ready to make a name for themselves in the majors. After a disappointing postseason loss in the American League wild-card series in 2023, the Toronto Blue Jays will look to make another postseason run in the loaded AL East in 2024.
Here are three rising stars looking to make an impact for the Blue Jays in 2024.
Ricky Tiedemann, pitcher
2023 MILB stats: 0-5, 3.68 ERA, 1.23 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched
The top-ranked prospect in the Blue Jays organization, 21-year-old Ricky Tiedemann is coming off a 2023 season marred with injuries but when he was healthy he was dominant.
After winning the Arizona Fall League Pitcher of the Year this winter, Tiedemann enters 2024 with plenty of hype around him and thanks to the Blue Jays stacked rotation he won't have the pressure to try and carry the team when he gets his call to the majors.
In 122.2 innings pitched in his minor league career, Tiedemann has a 5-9 record with a 2.71 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 199 strikeouts.
After reaching Triple-A in 2023, the Blue Jays will likely monitor his workload in 2024 but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the young left-hander make his MLB debut at some point this season.
When he does, the Blue Jays will have a superstar in the making to add to their rotation.
Orelvis Martinez, third base
2023 MILB stats: .243/.340/.496, 28 home runs and 94 RBI in 125 games played
After a down year in 2022, Blue Jays infield prospect Orelvis Martinez bounced back with a .243/.340/.496 slash line including 28 home runs and 94 RBI.
Able to play multiple positions in the infield, the Blue Jays have spots at both second base and third base up for grabs entering the 2024 season and Martinez will hope to prove himself enough in spring training to grab one of them.
While he is prone to strikeout, his power is what he is known for smashing 93 home runs in 381 career minor league games including 28-plus in each of the past three seasons.
His versatility and power could make him an intriguing option to add to a potent Blue Jays lineup that features superstars shortstop Bo Bichette and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Yariel Rodriguez, pitcher
2023 stats: Did not play
After sitting out the 2023 season due to his club the Chunichi Dragons refusing to let him out of his contract, pitcher Yariel Rodriguez is ready to make a big splash in the MLB after signing a five-year, $32M deal with the Blue Jays.
Having last pitched in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball in 2022 as a member of the Dragons, the 26-year-old went 6-2 with a 1.75 ERA, 0.915 WHIP and 60 strikeouts over 54.2 innings pitched.
Possessing an arsenal fit for the big league, Rodriguez joins a stacked Blue Jays pitching staff that looks to be one of the best in baseball.
While it is yet to be seen how he will translate to the MLB, the Blue Jays have plenty to be excited for with their new signing.
If Rodriguez proves worthy of the majors, he could enter his name in the battle for the American League Rookie of the Year in 2024.
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