3 Blue Jays callup options geared for 2025

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TORONTO -- September 1 isn’t as wild as it once was, but for transaction hounds, it’s still an oasis in the post-Deadline desert.

Rosters expand from 26 players to 28, and while the Blue Jays hoped to be using those spots for a bench bat and an extra bullpen arm to help a postseason run, that’s just not how this season has gone. This is all about 2025 and beyond, and with these two new roster spots, there’s room to take a look at more of this organization’s young talent.

At least one of these spots could be a player you’ve already seen. Bo Bichette’s pending return plays into all of this while the 40-man roster includes some familiar options, including Nathan Lukes and Luis De Los Santos, but September should be the time for something new:

RHP Jake Bloss (No. 3 prospect)
Bloss is the obvious candidate. The 23-year-old headlined the Yusei Kikuchi trade package from the Astros and, in a perfect world, can compete with Bowden Francis and Yariel Rodríguez for a rotation job next spring. For now, it’s about workload considerations more than his actual talent.

The Blue Jays wanted to give Bloss 30-40 more innings when they acquired him, which is why they didn’t rush him into game action and sent him down to the club’s complex in Dunedin to get his feet wet. Bloss was a third-round pick just a year ago, and while he’s skyrocketed up prospect rankings, there’s no need to rush this whole thing -- even for a player as mature and advanced as Bloss.

Manager John Schneider wants to keep the Blue Jays’ rotation on an extra day of rest down the stretch, which should be welcome news to the workhorse trio of José Berríos, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt. A couple of those “extra” days can be covered naturally by an off-day, but there’s plenty of room for Bloss to be part of the solution in September.

Toronto’s rotation depth is thin now. This would have been a beautiful time for Ricky Tiedemann to debut, but the Blue Jays’ former No. 1 (now No. 4) prospect underwent Tommy John surgery a month ago. Ryan Yarbrough and Paolo Espino can start, but if there’s an eye on 2025 and beyond, Bloss makes far more sense if his workload allows.

OF Jonatan Clase (No. 6 prospect)
Consider Clase your classic “fun” September callup option.

Clase only turned 22 years old in May, so there’s no rush. But he was already playing with Seattle’s Triple-A affiliate when the Blue Jays acquired him for Yimi García. He’s played nearly 80 games in Triple-A this season, and while his numbers in Buffalo don’t exactly paint the picture of a prospect who is kicking the door down, that’s not much of a sample to work with following the trade.

In the bigger picture, Clase is one of the most exciting prospects in this system. There’s risk, but frankly, this system needs to take some chances and accept the upside that could come along with it. In 2023 in the Mariners' system, Clase hit 20 home runs and stole 79 bases. That’s a rare skill set if all of the pieces come together.

The Blue Jays have been thrilled with what they’ve seen lately from Joey Loperfido, but given that Clase should be able to play all three outfield spots, there would be enough reps to go around in September. This could be used as a developmental tool, testing Clase while also giving him a taste of what it takes to succeed in the big leagues before a major offseason for him and the organization.

RHP Hagen Danner
Danner deserves another shot at this. The young right-hander made his MLB debut on Aug. 11, 2023, but left with an oblique strain after recording just one out. He’s spent much of this season on the IL in Triple-A, too, but now that he’s back on the mound, this is the type of reliever the Blue Jays should be eager to take a longer look at.

Danner owns a 3.62 ERA with 28 strikeouts over 27 1/3 innings this season at Triple-A, and at 25 he represents something different than the collection of waiver-wire relievers the Blue Jays have built up. A former catcher who converted back to being a pitcher, Danner still boasts raw upside with a high-90s fastball and excellent slider.

This bullpen is wide open in 2025 and Danner could (finally) be in the right place at the right time.