Blue Jays promote Gage Stanifer to New Hampshire

Drafted in the 19th round of the 2022 draft, Stanifer became one of a handful of breakout stories in 2025. He had two okay seasons before 2025, but has reached another gear this season, beginning his season with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays. Piggybacking with Trey Yesavage, Stanifer posted an incredible 0.69 ERA and 2.24 FIP in 26 innings pitched, with a 36.9 K% and 11.7 BB%.

Of course, his performance led to a promotion to the High-A Vancouver Canadians, where he has posted a 3.20 ERA and 2.32 FIP in 76 innings pitched, with a 36.5 K% and 11.7 BB%. The 21-year-old had a terrific August, owning a 1.69 ERA and 2.69 FIP in 32 innings pitched, striking out 42 for a 33.1 K% during that span. More interestingly, Stanifer only had an 8.7 BB% in August.

Stanifer is a strikeout artist. Over his 102 innings pitched, his 153 strikeouts are tied for second for all minor league pitchers. Only Canadian Jonah Tong has more strikeouts, while Yesavage ranks seventh and former Blue Jay Juaron Watts-Brown ranks 10th. For any prospect with more than 70 innings pitched, Stanifer’s 36.6 K% ranks fifth, behind Yesavage, Tong, Thomas White, and Luis De La Torre; the first three are top 50 prospects in baseball.

In just five months, Stanifer went from a relatively unknown prospect (albeit one that I thought could breakout) to a legitimate candidate to rank as a top 100 prospect. The 21-year-old ranked as the Blue Jays’ sixth-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. His fastball averages in the mid-90s with ride and has touched the high-90s. Stanifer’s slider is his best secondary, and he also features a splitter that is often miscategorized as a changeup.

The biggest question mark moving forward is command, but the fact that Stanifer dropped his walk rate to below 9% in August is an encouraging start. He’ll make two more starts this season, and if all is to stay the same, his next start will be Friday.