The Toronto Blue Jays' farm system improved from one of the worst in MLB to middle of the pack due to several strong pitching performances. Trey Yesavage rose from a Single-A professional debut to starting Game 1 of the World Series, and left-hander Johnny King also produced quality results. Gage Stanifer, a 19th-round pick in 2022, transformed in 2025 with elite strikeout rates and far better results. Stanifer posted a 0.69 ERA and 2.24 FIP in 26 Single-A innings (36.9% K, 11.7% BB), then a 3.20 ERA and 2.30 FIP in 76 High-A innings (36.5% K, 11.7% BB), followed by a short Double-A look, finishing the minors with 161 strikeouts and rising prospect status.
"Drafted in the 19th round of the 2022 draft, Stanifer's first two seasons in the Jays system were a bit underwhelming, posting a 6.33 ERA in 2023 and a 6.34 ERA in 2024. The stuff was always there to succeed, as Stanifer features a mid-90s fastball, nasty slider, and splitter. However, he didn't put it all together until the 2025 season."
"Most of Stanifer's 2025 was spent with the Canadians, where he posted a 3.20 ERA and 2.30 FIP in 76 innings pitched, starting 14 of the 18 games he appeared in. He had a similar strikeout rate (36.5%) to his tenure in Dunedin, while his BB% sat at 11.7%. In the final weeks of the season, Stanifer got a look with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, where he had a 6.75 ERA and 7.92 FIP in eight innings of work."
Read at BlueJaysNation
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