Toronto Blue Jays basic supervisor Ross Atkins has traditionally acted pretty self-contained throughout his media availabilities. You’ll not often hear him unpromptedly reference a person participant in an interview. That’s usually how he operates.
However Atkins flipped the script, barely a minimum of, when he met with reporters Thursday as pitchers and catchers reported for spring coaching. The membership’s GM was requested which prospect he’s most excited to watch in camp over the subsequent six-plus weeks, and with out hesitation, he went out of his strategy to spotlight outfielder Alan Roden.
After being chosen within the third spherical of the 2022 draft, Roden — Rule 5-eligible after this season — has rapidly shot up the group’s rankings, impressing at every cease alongside the best way. He arrived at triple-A Buffalo final June, reaching the best minor-league degree lower than two years after he was drafted.
It’s been a fast ascension up to now, and his subsequent cease may embrace the foremost leagues in 2025 if all goes proper.
“I’ll single out and put some strain on Alan Roden. He’s executed a lot to place himself ready to maneuver by means of the system rapidly,” Atkins informed reporters, together with MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson, when requested which prospect he’s most enthusiastic about this spring.
It was a stunning response. Not as a result of Roden — Toronto’s No. 8 prime prospect per Baseball America’s pre-season rankings — isn’t worthy of that sort of recognition. He actually is, particularly after slashing .293/.391/.475 with 16 residence runs and 75 RBIs whereas posting a 136 wRC+ (100 league common) in 125 video games cut up between double-A and triple-A final season.
Not solely can he create harm on the plate, however he additionally has an unbelievable data of the strike zone, which he’s carried with him from his days at Creighton College to now as a prime prospect within the Blue Jays farm system. For reference, he registered a mixed 12.1-per-cent stroll price in comparison with his 14.2-per-cent strikeout price in 2024.
However listening to such excessive reward from Atkins normally doesn’t occur with out goal, particularly when he delivers it on his personal accord. You’ll be able to most likely rely the occasions he’s acted equally previously on one hand. And given his calculated nature, he’s probably sending a message with these feedback concerning Roden’s standing getting into this season.
Studying between the strains, the 25-year-old may have a legit likelihood to interrupt camp with the big-league squad popping out of spring coaching. Tons would most likely need to fall his means, contemplating the likes of Nathan Lukes, Joey Loperfido, Jonatan Clase, and Steward Berroa are already on Toronto’s 40-man roster and certain forward of him on the depth chart. And Myles Straw, a non-roster invitee, matches in someplace, too.
On the identical time, although, the Blue Jays lineup nonetheless wants extra thump. They’re one impression hitter shy of setting up a vastly improved beginning 9 from final season. Maybe Roden may fill that void if he pushes the envelope throughout exhibition play. Or perhaps he may assist deal with that want in one other means, probably as a commerce chip for a big addition that options time period properly past 2025.
The latter possibility is one the entrance workplace most likely hopes to keep away from in any respect prices. Nonetheless, regardless of the way you slice it, Roden’s inventory has skyrocketed over the previous few years — probably accelerating his timeline a lot earlier than Toronto’s brass beforehand anticipated.
