Getty
Former Blue Jays top prospect inks deal with NL club.
The Atlanta Braves made an intriguing signing, inking a former Toronto Blue Jays top prospect
Atlanta signed shortstop Jordan Groshans to a minor-league deal. It’s uncertain if he will get an invite to spring training. However, even if he does, he will have his hands full trying to make the roster.
The Braves’ infield features the likes of Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Mauricio Dubon, Jorge Mateo, and Ha-Seong Kim, although Kim will miss the beginning of the season due to injury. So, Groshans could have a chance to fill in for Kim until he’s back.
However, the signing gives Atlanta more depth in the system, as at this point in Groshans’ career, he’s more of a minor-leaguer, a far fall from previously being one of the Blue Jays’ top prospects.
Toronto selected Groshans 12th overall in the 2018 MLB Draft from Magnolia High School in Magnolia, Texas. The Blue Jays were able to sign him to a below-slot, $3.4 million deal.
With the Blue Jays, Groshans appeared as the team’s sixth-ranked prospect in 2019, only behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Danny Jansen, Nate Pearson, and Eric Pardinho. The infielder was ahead of future MLB players like Alejandro Kirk, Rowdy Tellez, Gabriel Moreno, and Cavan Biggio, among others.
Groshans ended up peaking as Toronto’s No. 2 prospect in 2020 and was ranked in the top-five until he was dealt in 2022.
Groshans Was Supposed to be a Future Blue Jays Star
Following the 2018 MLB Draft, the Blue Jays landed Groshans for a below-slot deal. In large part, so Toronto could sign his high school teammate, right-handed pitcher Adam Kloffenstein.
Both Groshans and Kloffenstein were expected to be key parts of the Blue Jays’ future. Yet neither reached the majors in Toronto. The Blue Jays ended up trading Groshans to the Miami Marlins, In return, the team got Anthony Bass, Zach Pop, and a player to be named later. That player ended up being Toronto’s now 13th-ranked prospect, catcher Edward Duran.
Groshans ended up reaching the majors with Miami, appearing in 17 games, hitting .262 with 1 home run and 2 RBIs, which have been his only MLB games to date.
It’s a bit disappointing for Groshans, as in 2019, he was projected to be an everyday player in the MLB.
“With his plus bat speed and an explosive but well-balanced right-handed swing, Groshans has no issues with velocity and consistently barrels the ball,” his MLB Pipeline profile read in 2019. “His advanced approach fuels his ability to hit to all fields. And he made a lot of hard, line-drive contact from line to line during his pro debut.
“Those qualities lead scouts to project Groshans as an above-average big league hitter. It’s possible that he could also develop plus power as he fills out his 6-foot-3 frame and adds some loft to his swing. … He has the offensive profile for the position. With the potential to develop into an impactful regular who hits for both average and power.”
However, Groshans never lived up to the hype with the Blue Jays.
Toronto’s Farm System Improving
Despite some of Toronto’s former top prospects leaving the organization, the Blue Jays system has been improving.
The Athletic’s Keith Law ranked the Blue Jays’ system as the 25th in the league. However, in MLB Pipeline’s updated Top 100 prospects, Toronto has three on the list.
The Blue Jays’ top prospect is right-hander Trey Yesavage, who should factor into the team’s rotation this season. He’s ranked 12th overall, while shortstop JoJo Parker came in at 45 and shortstop Arjun Nimmala is ranked 77th.
After dismantling the farm system to compete and players graduating, it appears the Blue Jays system is getting better.
Cole Shelton Cole Shelton covers the NHL, MLB and Cleveland Browns for Heavy.com. He has covered pro and college sports since 2016, including bylines at BJ Penn, USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more. More about Cole Shelton
More Heavy on Blue Jays
Loading more stories