Blue Jays’ prospect Arjun Nimmala moves up in Baseball America’s top 100 list

The Toronto Blue Jays‘ farm system is starting to get better.

On Wednesday, Baseball America released their updated Top 100 ranking, which features three different Blue Jays prospects: Arjun Nimmala, Trey Yesavage, and Ricky Tiedemann.

Nimmala has been flying up their Top 100 list this season, starting this season around the 90s, but jumping to 58th in their May update, and now up to 41st. It makes sense, as the shortstop is having a terrific season with the High-A Vancouver Canadians, slashing .286/.372/.510 for a 140 wRC+. His nine home runs are tied for the third-most on the team, alongside Jace Bohrofen, Orelvis Martinez, and Yohendrick Pinango.

The question is, when does Nimmala move up to Double-A? At just 19 years old, it looks like he’s ready as he’s ever been. On top of the power and high batting average, Nimmala has cut down his strikeout rate significantly, going from a 30.7 K% in 2024 to an 18.1 K% so far this season.

Double-A is a tough test for a player so young, but it’s clear that Nimmala has nothing else to achieve at the High-A level.

Another prospect that moved up on Baseball America’s updated list is Trey Yesavage, who went from 98th in May’s list to 89th in June’s list. That’s not a big jump, which is surprising because he’s dominated the lower levels.

In Single-A, Yesavage posted a 2.43 ERA and a 2.40 FIP in 33.1 innings pitched, or seven starts. More impressive was his 43.3 K% and 6.3 BB% at the level. The right-handed pitcher did so well that he was promoted to High-A, where he has a 1.46 ERA and a 3.10 FIP in 12.1 innings pitched in three starts. 

Somehow, Yesavage’s K% increased in High-A, as he’s struck out 48% of batters. A little more concerning is his command, as he’s walked 10 of the 50 batters he’s faced for a 20 BB%. It’s a small sample size, but that’s something he’ll need to clean up before his promotion to Double-A, which will surely come later this summer.

Yesavage’s season so far is reminding me of Ricky Tiedemann’s debut season in 2022. Despite not pitching so far this season, Tiedemann is ranked as the 92nd-best prospect in baseball according to Baseball America. The left-handed pitcher may return from his Tommy John surgery in August or September.