The Blue Jays’ first-round history under Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins has had its share of swings in both directions, and the 2026 MLB Draft will mark the 11th one overseen by the pair. After ten drafts, the picture is clear enough: there have been real hits, some painful misses, and a lot of room in between.
That’s why the first-round picks deserve a fresh look. Not the whole draft classes - with 20 rounds in play, that would be too messy to judge cleanly - but the top selections that carried the most expectation. Toronto has found late-round value in players like Addison Barger and Davis Schneider, while also taking some hard knocks early, including Brandon Barriera.
At the bottom of this list sits Logan Warmoth, Toronto’s 2017 first-round choice at 22nd overall. The college shortstop was viewed as a bat that could move quickly, but the offense never came together in the minors, and he eventually ended up being claimed by the Seattle Mariners in the Rule 5 minor league draft.
Brandon Barriera is another first-round name that has been stalled by injury. Taken 23rd overall in 2022, the left-hander has not been able to stay on the mound and has never made more than seven starts in a season. He has not advanced beyond A-ball, and he has been out since May 13 after hurting himself while throwing a pitch.
Jordan Groshans entered the system with real upside when Toronto made him the 12th overall pick in 2018. The high school shortstop showed that promise as he moved through the minors, including strong stretches at Single-A and Double-A, but Triple-A Buffalo proved to be a tougher stop. He was later traded to the Miami Marlins, got a brief look in the majors in 2022, and has not received another call-up.
T.J. Zeuch, the first first-round pick of the Shapiro/Atkins era, came off a good season at the University of Pittsburgh and had the kind of frame that made sense at 6'7". Toronto took him 21st overall in 2016, but he never locked down a role across three separate stints with the club and was last seen trying to get his career back on track in Mexico.
Injuries also changed the course of Gunnar Hoglund’s path. The 2021 19th overall pick reached the majors with the Athletics last season after Toronto had dealt him as part of the Matt Chapman trade, but Tommy John surgery already interrupted his rise, and hip surgery has now wiped out his 2026 season.
It’s too soon to make a firm call on JoJo Parker, but the early returns are encouraging. Toronto took the infielder eighth overall in the 2025 draft, and in his first pro season at A-ball, the 19-year-old has shown some pop with nine home runs in 68 games, along with an .845 OPS. He also put together a strong June.
Another young Blue Jays standout is Arjun Nimmala, the 2023 first-round pick at 20th overall. The shortstop has already moved through four levels in 2026 and is now at Double-A New Hampshire, where he is settling in quickly. Among Toronto’s prospects, only Parker can really match him for top-tier status right now.
Austin Martin’s time in the organization was brief, but his development still counts. Toronto selected him fifth overall in 2020, then sent him to the Minnesota Twins in the José Berríos trade after just one year. He has since become an everyday player for Minnesota, moving between the outfield and second base.
Trey Yesavage may ultimately wind up near the top of any Blue Jays first-round ranking. His 2025 debut was already unusual enough, with the 22-year-old getting the Game 1 World Series start after only three regular season appearances in the majors. He started 2026 slowly, but has since found his form again and continues to look like a pitcher who could anchor Toronto for a long time.
Alek Manoah takes the No. 1 spot despite the sharp turn his career has taken since. The 2019 11th overall pick was dominant in 2022, going 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA, finishing third in AL Cy Young voting, making the All-Star team, and starting Game 1 of the wild card series against the Seattle Mariners. His fall came fast after that, but that one season still stands among the best Toronto has seen.
In Other News...
Blue Jays Fans Will Love Who Just Got Dragged Back Into Focus
One of the sports most familiar and polarizing umpires is back in the conversation, and Blue Jays fans know exactly why that matters. C.B. Bucknor, who has been working MLB games since 1996, is among six umpires set to retire after the 2026 season, a list that also includes Laz Daz, Brian O'Nora, Lance Barksdale, Marvin Hudson and Tony Randazzo. For Toronto, Bucknors name still carries plenty of baggage, especially after a viral 2025 moment at Rogers Centre when Max Scherzer made a coin-flip gesture in response to his strike zone.
Bucknor has not worked since April 1 after taking a 100.2 mph fastball off his face mask in a Brewers-Rays game, and his recent absence has only added to the sense that one of baseballs longest-tenured umpires is nearing the end of the line. He has also been a frequent focal point in the leagues new Automated Ball-Strike Challenge system, with seven of his nine challenge calls overturned, the highest rate among MLB umpires. For a Blue Jays fan base that remembers the flashpoints, the timing of his retirement news is the kind of detail that gets noticed right away. [Read more 🡒]
ESPN Just Framed The Blue Jays Deadline Pressure Perfectly
With the trade deadline approaching, ESPNs Jeff Passan has put the Blue Jays in the kind of spotlight that usually comes with urgency, not comfort. His read is that Toronto is still operating like a club that could chase multiple upgrades, with pitching and position-player help both in play as the front office weighs how aggressively to push for a postseason spot.
Passans list of possible fits is broad enough to show just how many directions Toronto could go, from frontline arms to infield help and even catching depth. The bigger takeaway for the Blue Jays is the pressure baked into that kind of shopping list: if they are going to make a real push, they may need to act before the market and the standings leave them with fewer options. [Read more 🡒]
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Pulls Out Of All-Star Game At Crucial Time
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was voted in as the American Leagues starting first baseman for the 2026 All-Star Game, but he will not take part in the festivities. The Blue Jays slugger made the call before the starters were announced, choosing to use the break to recharge after a stretch in which his production has fallen short of expectations.
For Toronto, the timing matters as much as the decision itself. Guerrero has been managing a lower back issue for about a month, and the plan is to give him space to get right for the second half, where the Blue Jays will need him closer to his best. He also thanked the fans who put him in position to start, leaving the club with a notable absence but a clear reminder that the bigger priority is what comes after the break. [Read more 🡒]