Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown – No. 8: Kendry Rojas

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation | By Ryley Delaney | Last updated Feb 21, 2025 12:00 PM ET

Quietly, today’s prospect has worked himself up Toronto Blue Jays’ top prospect lists.

This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual Pre-Season Prospect Countdown, this time looking at the top 40 prospects in the organization. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publications’ scouting reports if available.

Let’s take a look at our eight-best Blue Jays prospect, Kendry Rojas!

Getting to know Kendry Rojas…

Position: Starting pitcher

Throws: Left

Born: November 26, 2002

Acquired: 2020 International Free Agency

Previous ranking: 7

Cuban-born left-handed pitcher Kendry Rojas signed for a bonus of $215,000 in the 2020 International Free Agency period and started his career in the Florida Complex League in 2021. He finished with a 2.28 ERA and a 2.04 FIP in 23.2 innings pitched with a 44.8 K% and a 5.7 BB%.

Of the 20 prospects I did for my first-ever prospect countdown list before the 2022 season, Rojas (who ranked 16th) is one of just three players remaining on the 2025 pre-season list. Anyway, Rojas found success in 2022, posting a 4.08 ERA and a 3.19 FIP in 39.2 innings pitched in Single-A with a 24.7 K% and a 10.9 BB%.

Rojas repeated the 2023 season at the Single-A level, posting a 3.75 ERA and a 4.34 FIP in 84 innings pitched with a 23.4 K% and a 9.4 BB%. In 2024, he pitched mainly at the High-A level, say for a rehab assignment, where the left-handed starter finished with a 2.43 ERA and a 3.02 FIP in 55.2 innings pitched, with a 27 K% and a 5.3 BB%.

That included a stretch from Jul. 26 until the end of the season where he had a 2.13 ERA and a 3.03 FIP in 42.1 innings pitched, with a 28.5 K% and a 4.2 BB%. Five of the 10 earned runs he gave up in this time frame came in one game, as he pitched six quality starts in those seven games. He struggled in the Arizona Fall League though, posting a 5.74 ERA in 15.2 innings pitched.

Rojas ranked 11th on MLB Pipeline’s mid-season list. In 2023, his velocity jumped from 90 mph to 92-93 mph and there’s potentially another spike on the way. The left-handed pitcher’s slider is nasty as well while featuring an okay changeup. His control is also average, being graded at 50.

No. 40: Randy Soto

No. 39: Kennew Blanco

No. 38: Kendry Chirinos

No. 37: Victor Arias

No. 36: Yohendrick Piñango

No. 35: Damiano Palmegiani

No. 34: Lazaro Estrada

No. 33: Mason Fluharty

No. 32: Dahian Santos

No. 31: Juaron Watts-Brown

No. 30: Cutter Coffey

No. 29: Eddinson Paulino