Two of the Toronto Blue Jays’ top prospects gave fans a glimpse of what might be coming at the MLB Futures Game this past weekend, and both JoJo Parker and Nolan Perry made the most of the stage.
Parker, Toronto’s first-round pick in 2025, finished 1-for-2 with an RBI double for the American League. The big swing came in the top of the seventh, when he jumped on a 101 mph fastball and drove it off the wall in right-center field.
The shortstop is ranked as the Blue Jays’ No. 1 prospect by MLB Pipeline, and his first pro season has only added to the buzz. The 19-year-old is hitting .242/.381/.426 with nine home runs, 21 stolen bases and a 17.1% BB/9 rate.
He has spent most of the year at shortstop, though he has also started seven games at third base, and he has committed eight errors across more than 570 combined innings. Drafted out of Purvis High School, Parker signed for a team-record $6 million, and so far he has looked like money well spent.
Perry’s outing was shorter, but it still checked important boxes. He worked one inning, allowed one earned run and one walk, and didn’t surrender a hit. His fastball touched 95 mph, a notable step for a pitcher who had Tommy John surgery in 2024 and has spent the last year rebuilding.
The 22-year-old has clearly been moving in the right direction. He has already climbed three levels of the minors this season, reaching Double-A and appearing in one game with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
In 12 starts and 13 appearances overall, Perry has thrown 54.2 innings, struck out 85 batters, and posted a 13.99 K/9 rate along with a 2.47 ERA and 2.73 FIP. He is the Blue Jays’ No. 3 prospect, and at this pace, he could be in the mix for a rotation job as soon as next season.
For Toronto, the Futures Game showing only sharpened the picture of what these two could mean down the line. Parker is projected to reach the majors by 2029, which lines up with Andrés Giménez’s contract situation, since he is also under team control through that year, with a club option for 2030. Parker could also end up at second base, which would put him in position to push Ernie Clement, who will be a free agent after the 2029 season.
Perry’s path could move even faster. The Blue Jays have only two guaranteed rotation starters for 2027, Dylan Cease and Trey Yesavage, because of contracts and injuries.
Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber are free agents, while Cody Ponce, Bowden Francis, and José Berrios are injured. That kind of opening gives Perry a real chance to force his way into the conversation, whether that happens in spring training or before this season is over.
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