Blue Jays rookie a potential fourth outfielder
It has sure been a while since the Toronto Blue Jays had a superior speedster in their organization, perhaps dating all the way back to the Rajai Davis days over a decade ago. Is Jonatan Clase the fourth outfielder the Blue Jays have been looking for?
With Jonatan Clase joining the Blue Jays organization as the key return piece from their 2024 deadline trade with the Seattle Mariners for reliever Yimi Garcia, they finally have one once again.
Especially now that Garcia has returned to Toronto during this offseason as a free agent, it sure feels like the Mariners inadvertently gifted them the young 22-year-old prospect.
Clase was #10 on the Mariners' MLB Pipeline prospect list in 2024. And they put him seventh on the Blue Jays prospect list after the trade.
His best tool is his speed. He has stolen 219 bases in 407 games in his five minor league seasons.
His speed is his best tool on defense, too. He doesn't always take the best routes on fly balls, but his speed makes up for his mistakes. MLB Pipeline calls it 70-grade speed.
He has decent power despite his size (BR has him at 5'10», I'm guessing he's a bit short of that and 150 pounds). He hit 20 home runs in 129 minor league games in 2023 and 12 in 94 this past year.
Clase put together a solid minor league season split between the Mariners and Blue Jays organizations.
In 94 games, he posted a .263 batting average, .783 OPS, along with 66 runs scored, 21 doubles, four triples, 12 home runs, 45 RBI and 38 stolen bases. More significantly, Clase managed to debut for the Jays late in the season.
In his brief cameo, he impressed with a .350 average, .985 OPS, together with three runs scored, one double, one home run and two RBI in seven games played with the big league club.
With his flexibility to play all three outfield positions, along with his ability to hit from both sides of the plate, Clase is as versatile as one could get.
Added to his elite speed and solid defense, together with some surprising pop in his bat, he is no doubt one of the Jays most promising outfield prospects heading into 2025.
Given that the Jays have had their fair share of injuries to their outfielders in the past couple of seasons, together with their lack of speed in the lineup overall, the chances of Clase seeing major league time this upcoming season is huge.
It sure wouldn't be surprising if he actually makes it out of spring training as the fourth outfielder.
But no matter when he makes the big league team this season, look for him to make an immediate impact, whether at the plate, on the bases, or in the field.
Steamer figures Clase will get into 21 games, 123 PA, and have a .220/.291/.353 line with 3 home runs, 10 walks, 34 strikeouts and 7 steals.
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