DUNEDIN, Fla. – Orelvis Martinez and Gabriel Moreno never had a chance to make the Blue Jays’ opening day roster, but they did have a chance to make an impression.
Of the two, it was only Martinez who made the most of that opportunity. A wave of cuts sent the two top prospects and 13 others to minor-league camp Monday as the Blue Jays continued paring down their roster ahead of opening day.
Also optioned were four players who appeared on the 2021 Blue Jays – Thomas Hatch, Anthony Kay, Josh Palacios and Otto Lopez – along with 40-man roster players Hagen Danner, Bowden Francis and Leo Jimenez. Meanwhile Chris Bec, Max Castillo, Adrian Hernandez, Casey Lawrence, Fitz Stadler and Chavez Young were all reassigned along with Martinez (40-man roster players must be optioned while non-40-man players can simply be reassigned).
Martinez impressed in eight Grapefruit League games, collecting four hits including two home runs. Along the way, Baseball America's 75th-ranked prospect impressed onlookers with his game power and composure. As manager Charlie Montoyo said, “He’s got it.”
Once the minor-league season begins, Martinez could be assigned to high-A Vancouver, where he hit nine home runs in 27 games at the end of last year, or double-A New Hampshire. In the meantime, he’s still eligible to play in spring training games, as are all the others who lost their spots in big-league camp Monday.
As for Moreno, who ranked seventh among all prospects on Baseball America’s list, visa issues delayed his arrival to Jays camp, preventing him from making the same kind of impression Martinez did.
Instead, he'll continue working behind the scenes in preparation for an assignment to the upper minors – perhaps as high as triple-A, where he finished the 2021 season. In 37 minor-league games last year, Moreno hit .367 with a 1.060 OPS, impressing team decision makers with his athleticism and bat to ball skills.
A converted infielder, Moreno also played some third base in the Arizona Fall League to increase his versatility. It’s with that same goal in mind that the Blue Jays intend to continue mixing in some infield reps for the 22-year-old, whose path to the majors could be accelerated if he’s capable of handling other positions. With Danny Jansen, Alejandro Kirk and Reese McGuire all likely candidates for the MLB roster, catcher is an area of organizational depth.
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