Canadian Blue Jays prospect Adam Macko has a meniscus tear in left knee

Blue Jays pitching prospect injuries have emerged as a trend in the last few years, with notable names like Ricky Tiedemann, Brandon Barriera, and Landen Maroudis suffering elbow injuries. Although Macko’s injury is of the leg variety, it will likely be something that keeps him out for the majority of the season as he’ll probably need surgery.

Born in Slovakia, raised in Ireland, and attending high school in Vauxhall, Alberta, Macko was expected to start in triple-A Buffalo and provide rotation depth for the big league club this season. Originally drafted in the seventh round by the Seattle Mariners in 2019, he made his way to Toronto by way of the Teoscar Hernández trade in 2022 along with big league reliever Erik Swanson. In 16 starts with double-A New Hampshire last season, the six-foot lefty spun a 4.87 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, with a 10.0 K/9.

Possessing a mid-90s fastball, Macko also relied on a cutter for strikes while behind in the count in 2024. He also took a step forward with his off-speed pitches, throwing two different versions of his plus curveball. He would typically use a slower curve as a get-me-over strike while throwing it much harder when looking for a strikeout.

After missing two months last summer due to a forearm strain, Macko will once again focus on returning to full health. Given the timing of the injury, our sixth-ranked Canadian baseball prospect will likely have the chance to return before the seasons over, as meniscus surgery recovery can take anywhere from three to six months.

Other options for rotational depth are Jake Bloss, Eric Lauer, Adam Kloffenstein, and Andrew Bash. Moreover, Yariel Rodríguez could fill in the rotation in case of injuries this season.