Blue Jays: 3 prospects seizing the opportunity this spring with players away at the World Baseball Classic

"While Spring Training does not quite tell the full story of a player, it can make fans excited about who's coming soon in the pipeline for the organization and gives players a chance to impress the coaches while facing potentially tougher competition."

"Catching depth was always something fans were concerned about for the last few seasons after the Jays moved Gabriel Moreno and Danny Jansen. While Alejandro Kirk and Tyler Heinemann are likely going to be the catching duo once again in 2026, waiting in the wings is Brandon Valenzuela, a 25-year-old switch-hitting catcher whom the Blue Jays acquired from the San Diego Padres last summer."

"With Kirk at the World Baseball Classic representing Team Mexico, the fellow countryman is 5 for 15 (.333) at the plate with a double and a pair of RBIs. While it's likely he stays as the third-string catcher and starts the season down with the Buffalo Bisons in Triple-A, Valenzuela can be viewed as a potential long-term backup option in 2027 and beyond."

The World Baseball Classic has removed several key Blue Jays players from spring training, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kazuma Okamoto, Alejandro Kirk, and others. This absence opens opportunities for prospects and depth players to gain visibility and impress coaching staff. Spring training provides a valuable platform for emerging talent to demonstrate their capabilities against potentially stronger competition. Three prospects are notably capitalizing on this opportunity. Brandon Valenzuela, a 25-year-old switch-hitting catcher acquired from San Diego, has impressed offensively with a .333 batting average through seven games. Though likely to remain as a third-string catcher in Triple-A initially, Valenzuela represents a potential long-term backup option and provides depth coverage should injuries occur.

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