The 2024 Arizona Fall League has wrapped up, with the Scottsdale Scorpions bowing out in the semi-finals. Among the team’s roster were eight Toronto Blue Jays prospects: Peyton Williams, Eddinson Paulino, Adrian Pinto, Lazaro Estrada, Kendry Rojas, Johnathan Lavallee, Ryan Jennings, and T.J. Brock.
With the conclusion of the AFL season, it’s time to break down how these prospects performed over the month and a half of competition. Let’s start with the pitchers:
Kendry Rojas, the Blue Jays’ top prospect in the league, had a rough outing. The 21-year-old left-hander ended with a 5.74 ERA over 15.2 innings, a 18.3% strikeout rate, and an 11.3% walk rate. While his AFL campaign wasn’t ideal, Rojas remains a promising talent who will face challenges in the upper minors next season.
In contrast, the other four Blue Jays pitchers had standout performances:
- Lazaro Estrada, 25, shined with a 3.86 ERA over 11.2 innings, a stellar 41.3% strikeout rate, and an 8.7% walk rate. His 14.7 K/9 was the fourth-highest on the team, aided by an impressive fastball and sharp breaking pitches.
- T.J. Brock didn’t surrender a single run in seven innings, boasting a 42.3% strikeout rate and an 11.5% walk rate. This was an encouraging comeback after missing most of the 2024 season due to injury.
- Ryan Jennings was equally dominant, pitching 10 scoreless innings with a 12.6 K/9 (36.8% strikeout rate) and a 10.5% walk rate. His AFL success could boost his prospect stock.
- Johnathan Lavallee capped off the pitching group with a remarkable 1.74 ERA over 10.1 innings, a 21.4% strikeout rate, and no walks—the only pitcher in the league to achieve that feat.
On the position player side, Peyton Williams was a standout performer. The 24-year-old first baseman slashed .286/.344/.464 with three home runs across 93 plate appearances, earning spots in the Home Run Derby and the Fall Stars Game.
Adrian Pinto also raised his profile, slashing .274/.392/.357 with one home run in 102 plate appearances. Pinto hit a memorable three-run homer during the All-Star Game and another in the final game of the season to help the Scorpions reach the semi-finals.
Finally, Eddinson Paulino, acquired at the trade deadline in a deal for Danny Jansen, had a quieter AFL campaign. In 58 plate appearances, he slashed .226/.293/.302 with one home run, adding four walks and 11 strikeouts.
Overall, the AFL provided a platform for these prospects to showcase their talent, with several making strong cases for brighter futures in the Blue Jays organization.