"We're still months away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training, but it's never too early to forecast which prospects may be in line for a promotion to start the 2026 season. Several players - both heralded and unheralded - had huge seasons in 2025, with their development stages dictating where they will play the majority of their games next year. Let's take a look at three Blue Jays prospects who should bump up a level to start the new season."
"After giving up a run in his first pro outing, he rattled off 12 2/3 innings of scoreless ball to end the season. His final numbers were elite: a 0.66 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts against just four walks across his 13 2/3 innings. A relief-only prospect out of UNC-Greensboro, Thompson Jr. used his mid-90s fastball and slider combo to strikeout 11.8 K/9 in his college career."
"Drafted in the seventh round of the 2024 draft out of UNLV, Cates spent the majority of the 2025 campaign in Dunedin. He has flown somewhat under the radar due to the emergence of some of the other pitchers in his draft class and D-Jays teammates to begin the year (Trey Yesavage, Khal Stephen, Gage Stanifer, Silvano Hechavarria). Across 20 games (18 starts) in A-ball, Cates posted a 3.52 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, along with an 8.3 K/9."
Spring training remains months away, yet several Blue Jays prospects who excelled in 2025 project to move up a level for the 2026 season. Danny Thompson Jr., an eighth-round pick out of UNC-Greensboro, posted a 0.66 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 15 strikeouts against four walks in 13 2/3 innings as a relief-only prospect, showcasing a mid-90s fastball and slider and appearing ready for High-A Vancouver. Austin Cates, a 2024 seventh-rounder from UNLV, spent much of 2025 in Dunedin, logging a 3.52 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across 20 games before a late-season High-A surge that raised his strikeout rate significantly.
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