Ross Atkins went back to a familiar trade partner at the deadline, and the Blue Jays are again betting that a former Twins arm can turn into something more in their system.
On Monday, Toronto dealt reliever Jeff Hoffman to Minnesota and got back three minor leaguers: left-hander Dasan Hill, right-hander John Klein and infielder Dameury Pena. Hill and Klein both landed inside the Blue Jays’ top 30 prospects after the move, with Hill checking in at No. 6 and Klein at No.
- Pena is not ranked in the top 30.
For Toronto, the deal fits a pattern. Last season, the Blue Jays and Twins swapped pitching talent again when Minnesota sent Louis Varland to Toronto in exchange for Kendry Rojas and Alan Roden.
Rojas has already made his MLB debut this year and looks like he could become a fixture in the Twins’ rotation. Roden has also reached the big leagues, though he hasn’t been able to hold onto that spot.
Varland, meanwhile, has become one of the elite closers in the league. The Twins are now hoping Hoffman can give them some of that same late-inning value after Varland took over the closer’s role in Toronto. Minnesota got Hoffman with an extra year left on his contract and would love to see him produce something close to the impact Varland is having for the Blue Jays as they push in both the AL Central and Wild Card races.
Hill is the name to watch on Toronto’s side. The 6-foot-5, 20-year-old can run his fastball up to 99 mph, and it sits at an average of 95. The issue has been command, which is hardly unusual for a young arm, but the path is clear: cut down the walks and throw more strikes, and he has a chance to move quickly.
His recent work showed exactly why Toronto wanted him. The Twins’ player development account noted that Hill was dominant before a rain delay for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, working three innings with two hits, no runs, no walks and six strikeouts. He topped out at 97.7 mph in that outing and has struck out more than 35% of the hitters he has faced this season.
Hill has now been assigned to High-A with the Vancouver Canadians, where he’ll pitch alongside Johnny King, Toronto’s No. 3 prospect. King has a similar profile to Hill, just from the other side of the mound.
The Blue Jays’ relationship with the Twins has paid off before, too. Several years ago, Atkins made one of his first major deadline moves after the rebuild by sending Simeon Woods Richardson and Austin Martin to Minnesota for José Berrios.
At the time, Woods Richardson was Toronto’s No. 4 prospect and Martin its No. 2.
Berrios gave the Blue Jays exactly what they needed in that 2021 stretch run, slotting in behind Cy Young winner Robbie Ray. Toronto still missed the postseason by one game, but that trade helped set the stage for the next phase of the club’s push.
After the offseason additions of George Springer and Marcus Semien, landing Berrios only reinforced that the rebuild was over. Berrios has had his issues with the Blue Jays more recently, but that deal still marked a real turning point for the organization.
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