How the Blue Jays' depth in the Minors is paying off?

TORONTO -- It’s been an odd start for the Blue Jays’ Top 30 Prospects.

From Triple-A Buffalo to Single-A Dunedin, many of the Blue Jays’ bigger names started slowly this season, with those teams relying instead on some impressive contributions from prospects who just missed the top 30.

Talent always finds a way, though, and we’re starting to see some prospects round the corner. There should be some more momentum near the top soon, with 2022 first-round pick Brandon Barriera expected to make his professional debut in the near future. The 19-year-old was slightly delayed coming out of camp, but he is spilling over with talent and is more polished than your typical high school pick.

Before the calendar flips to May and Minor League Baseball escapes all of the weather and challenges that come with April, here’s a look at who’s impressing at each level:

Triple-A Buffalo Bisons
Keep an eye on right-hander Hayden Juenger, the Blue Jays’ No. 10 prospect who is working as a bulk reliever with Buffalo. He’s struck out 22 batters over 13 1/3 innings, cranking his fastball up to 95.5 mph in his last outing.

Juenger is still just 22, but this is a great example of an organization having a clear development plan with a big-league future in mind. As bulk roles become more common in the Majors, teams are shortening up former starters or stretching single-inning relievers out to two or three frames. Juenger represents the next wave, which is young pitchers who came up in a two- to three-inning role and find it natural.

If Juenger was on the 40-man roster, we’d be talking about him as one of the next men up behind Nate Pearson. He’ll get more time in Triple-A to develop, but there’s an opening for him to pitch his way onto the big league roster by the end of the season.

Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Damiano Palmegiani wasn’t a first-rounder or a big-bonus star. Coming out of college ball as a 14th-round pick, he’s had to earn every inch of his prospect status, and he’s carrying that right into Double-A this season.

Playing both corners of the infield, the built-for-power Palmegiani launched two home runs earlier in the week and has balanced his 19 strikeouts with 17 walks, giving him a .462 on-base percentage with an .876 OPS. Entering the year, the Blue Jays believed he could unlock even more power by being just a bit more selective, and he’s doing just that. Palmegiani has quietly developed into one of the more exciting power bats in the system.

High-A Vancouver Canadians
No. 8 prospect Cade Doughty caught fire this week, launching three home runs and raising his OPS to .926. With LSU in college, Doughty had a wide stance that he used to work long at-bats and limit strikeouts. The Blue Jays have narrowed him up in hopes of finding more power, and he’s finding it.

First-baseman Rainer Nunez is turning a corner, too. The No. 26 prospect who opened some eyes in camp is starting to drive the ball, showing the power that ranks near the top of all Blue Jays prospects. He’ll be challenged by more advanced pitching and he’ll only go as far as his bat takes him, but Nunez’s power potential is significant.

Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays
Ask a Minor League coach or player development staffer about No. 16 prospect Adrian Pinto, and you’ll get an immediate smile. He’s all effort, all the time, and a spark plug for any lineup he’s a part of.

Pinto has stolen seven bases this season and is coming off a streak of three consecutive two-hit games earlier in the week. Now reaching base at a .393 clip, which is the key number for the young second baseman, he’s giving himself regular opportunities to let that speed shine and could chase 40-plus steals.

Getting Pinto alongside Raimel Tapia in the Randal Grichuk trade was a fantastic piece of business by the Blue Jays.