Pearson tops six Blue Jays on Baseball America’s top-100 prospect list

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Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Nate Pearson (24). (John Bazemore/AP)

The Toronto Blue Jays are well represented on Baseball America’s 2021 top-100 prospect list.

In the rankings, which were released Monday, there are six Blue Jays, including Nate Pearson (14), Austin Martin (19), Jordan Groshans (34), Simeon Woods-Richardson (69), Alejandro Kirk (70) and Orelvis Martinez (96).

The 24-year flamethrower Pearson, who was previously ranked fifth, struggled with injury last season, posting a 6.00 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 18 innings.

Despite not playing a game last season, Martin, the Blue Jays’ first pick (fifth overall) in the 2020 MLB Draft, dropped six spots.

Groshans, the 18th selection in 2018, also fell from 25 to 34. The 21-year-old infielder had two home runs and 13 RBI with a .337 average in single-A in 2019.

Woods-Richardson, acquired in the Stroman deal, recorded a 3.80 ERA with 126 strikeouts across 106.2 innings of A-ball in 2019.

Kirk, meanwhile, was the lone Blue Jay to improve his standing, leaping 28 spots after an impressive debut in the majors last season. The five-foot-eight, 265-pound catcher hit .375 with a homer and three RBI in 25 plate appearances with the big club.

Martinez, a 2018 signing out of the Dominican Republic, makes his first appearance on BA’s rankings. He slashed .275/.352/.549 with seven home runs and 32 RBI as 17-year-old in 2019 in the Gulf Coast League.

Topping the list are: Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, Seattle Mariners outfielders Julio Rodriguez and Jarred Kelenic, and Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson.

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