Blue Jays prospects Pearson, Pardinho move up in Baseball America ranking

Ben Nicholson-Smith joins Joey Vendetta on the Jeff Blair Show to lay out the issues surrounding the Toronto Blue Jays, pointing out that a series of things need to go perfectly for this team to contend.

Baseball America released its 2018 top 10 ranking of Toronto Blue Jays prospects on Wednesday and, as expected, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette lead the bunch, with the publication calling them “arguably the best one-two prospect punch in baseball.”

There are also new names to the list: Right-handers Nate Pearson and Eric Pardinho, lefty Ryan Borucki, catcher Danny Jansen and shortstop Richard Urena each moved into the top 10 ranking after being left off of the publication’s previous edition.

Here’s a look at the full 2018 list:

Baseball America also broke down the best tools in the Blue Jays’ system. Predictably, Guerrero Jr. is the top hitter for average and power, and also displayed the best strike-zone discipline. Anthony Alford was named the best athlete.

On the pitching side, Pearson owns the best fastball and slider, Pardinho the top curveball and Ryan Borucki the best change-up and control.

[relatedlinks]

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.