Under the Radar Blue Jays prospect: Yondrei Rojas

Yondrei Rojas is one of the more interesting relief prospects in the Toronto Blue Jays system.

The right-handed pitcher will be the subject of this week’s Under the Radar Blue Jays’ prospect. Last week, we looked at the recently called-up Will Robertson.

Rojas signed during the 2021 International Free Agent period out of Venezuela and made his professional debut later that season. With the Dominican Summer League Blue Jays, Rojas had a 2.95 ERA and a 2.74 FIP in 21.1 innings pitched, with a 28.1 K% and a 9.4 BB%.

In 2022, the right-handed pitcher pitched between the Florida Complex League and Single-A. Rojas authored a 4.60 ERA and a 4.51 FIP in the Complex League, and had a 5.40 ERA and a 4.48 FIP with the Dunedin Blue Jays.

Rojas spent the majority of the 2023 season with the D-Jays, where he finished the season with a 5.66 ERA and a 4.88 FIP in 49.1 innings pitched, starting nine of the 16 games he appeared in. He pitched a total of 53 innings with an 18.9 K% and a 9.5 BB%.

In 2024, he spent the entirety of the season with the D-Jays, pitching in relief for all 33 games he appeared in. Although his ERA and FIP were on the high side (both 4.36), Rojas posted a career-best 29.1 K%, as well as a career-worst 11.2 BB%.

This season, Rojas had made the jump to High-A with the Vancouver Canadians. After starting the season on the Injured List, Rojas has a 2.13 ERA and a 2.90 FIP in 12.2 innings pitched, appearing in all 10 of his games as a reliever. Rojas’ K% has taken another jump this season, sitting at 34%, while his BB% has dropped to 9.4%.

Despite standing at just 5’10”, 180 lbs, Rojas’ four-seam fastball sits in the mid-90s, reaching as high as 97 mph. The 22-year-old has three other pitches: an upper-80s cutter, a mid-80s slider, and a mid-80s changeup.

Rojas is a reliever worth monitoring, as he could end up in Double-A sooner rather than later if he continues to post good results with the Canadians.