Tiedemann, Martinez headline Baseball America’s 2024 pre-season Top 30 Blue Jays prospects list

It’s exactly one month until the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2024 spring training opener against the Philadelphia Phillies, and there’s no better time to explore some of the top talents within the organization’s farm system.

Baseball America released its annual pre-season top prospects lists on Wednesday, which, starting this year, have expanded from 10 to 30 players. And to no one’s surprise, the Blue Jays’ pipeline is headlined by none other than left-handed starter Ricky Tiedeman and right-handed infielder Orelvis Martinez.

Here’s the entire Top 30 list for Toronto:

1. LHP Ricky Tiedemann
2. SS/2B Orelvis Martinez
3. SS Arjun Nimmala
4. LHP Brandon Barriera
5. INF/OF Addison Barger
6. LHP Kendry Rojas
7. INF Leo Jimenez
8. 2B/3B Davis Schneider
9. OF Alan Roden
10. RHP Connor Cooke
11. OF Enmanuel Bonilla
12. RHP Yosver Zulueta
13. RHP Landen Maroudis
14. RHP Chad Dallas
15. SS Josh Kasevich
16. LHP Adam Macko
17. RHP Juaron Watts-Brown
18. RHP Dahian Santos
19. 3B Damiano Palmegiani
20. OF Jace Bohrofen
21. C Franklin Rojas
22. 1B/DH Spencer Horwitz
23. RHP Hagen Danner
24. RHP Fernando Perez
25. RHP T.J. Brock
26. RHP Nolan Perry
27. LHP Mason Fluharty
28. RHP Hayden Juenger
29. 2B Sam Shaw
30. 3B Tucker Toman

Tiedemann, ranked No. 1 overall for the second straight year, missed most of the 2023 season while recovering from biceps inflammation in his left arm sustained during his fourth start of the campaign with Double-A New Hampshire.

The 21-year-old lefty compiled 44.0 innings across four levels (Complex League, Single-A, Double-A, Triple-A), registering a combined 3.68 ERA with 82 strikeouts and 23 walks in 15 starts. His final appearance came in his Buffalo Bisons debut, where he allowed one unearned run on a pair of hits and walks while punching out six across four innings.

Due to his limited workload, the Blue Jays assigned Tiedemann to the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League, adding four additional starts and 18.0 innings to his resume. He pitched to a 2.50 ERA, surrendering five runs (all earned) on 12 hits, eight walks and two hit-by-pitches but fanned 23 hitters.

Injuries have prevented Tiedemann from compiling more than 122.2 innings in two seasons of minor-league ball since becoming a third-round selection by the Blue Jays in 2021. The 6-foot-4 hurler should have a chance to make his MLB debut next season, but the key will be staying healthy and logging sufficient innings in Buffalo.

Martinez started slow in his second go-around at New Hampshire, faltering to a .176 AVG with 38 strikeouts over his first 40 games of 2023. But after swing decision improvements were made, it wasn’t long before he started reaping the benefits, as he nearly walked (21) more than he struck out (22) over his next 30 contests, ultimately earning a mid-season promotion to Triple-A.

The 22-year-old righty hit 11 of his 28 bombs on the year in 55 games with Buffalo, slashing .263/.340/.507 while producing a 105 wRC+. Defensively, much of his time was spent at second base – a position many believe he’s likely to stick at – but he also made appearances at third and shortstop.

Afterwards, Martinez’s season continued with Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Winter League, where he played just 10 games before being shut down for the year, going 7-for-32 (.219 AVG) with two doubles, five RBIs, three walks and 10 strikeouts.

Power has always remained a constant hitting trait for Martinez. But the youngster still has a few kinks to iron out regarding his plate discipline before his development transfers to the majors. He’ll likely be among the first call-ups from Buffalo if an injury arises amongst the Blue Jays’ infield corps in 2024.

After Tiedemann and Martinez, other highly-ranked notables are Nimmala, Toronto’s first-round pick in 2023, and Barriera, the club’s 2022 first-round selection and a hurler with lots to prove following a disappointing showing last season.

There are also a handful of names most experts have tabbed as potential breakout candidates, including Rojas, Maroudis, Watts-Brown, Bohrofen, Perez, Perry and Shaw.