Toronto Blue Jays: 5 pitching prospects to watch out for

1) Simeon Woods Richardson

Throws: Right

How acquired: Trade with New York Mets in July 2019

Best pitch: Fastball & slider

Simeon Woods Richardson was the other top-rated pitching prospect the Blue Jays’ received in the Stroman trade. In addition — as he is now — he was ranked higher than Kay, which should give fans plenty of reason to be optimistic for the future.

Woods Richardson had caught a lot of people’s attention prior to being drafted, thanks to a fastball which reached 95 mph. Originally projected to go somewhere between the third and fifth round, the Mets saw enough promise to select him in the second round of the 2018 draft.

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The 19-year-old made an immediate impact during his first year in the Mets organisation. He had a 0.00 ERA in 11.1 innings in the Gulf Coast League, while allowing no walks and striking out 11 batters in 6.0 innings of action in the Appalachian League.

Woods Richardson’s rapid progression persuaded the Mets to promote him to Single-A for the beginning of the 2019 season. While he had his struggles, the potential was there for all to see and the Blue Jays willingly took him as part of the return package for Stroman.

After arriving in Toronto, the Sugar Land, Texas native showed immediate promise with his excellent performances after being promoted to Class A Advanced Dunedin. Over the remainder of the 2019 campaign he had a 3-2 record in six starts, with a 2.54 ERA and 0.88 WHIP, along with 9.21 strikeouts per nine innings.

What’s scary for other teams is that Woods Richardson already has excellent control of his pitches for someone so young and is only going to get better. Overall, he will continue to grow — both figuratively and literally — and should become an intimidating player for opposing batters to contend with.

Projection: First or second starter

Which of the prospects selected do you see having the best chance of having a positive impact on the Toronto Blue Jays’ roster? Further, are there any other pitching prospects you believe should be included, and why? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.