3 young Blue Jays to watch in Spring Training

This story was excerpted from Keegan Matheson's Blue Jays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

The Blue Jays are in the market for a pleasant surprise.

Even if they land a legitimate DH -- a market that should finally move with Rhys Hoskins close to signing with the Brewers -- this roster needs more. Some of that will need to come from internal growth, and while that idea immediately points the mind to underperforming stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Blue Jays will need a couple of players from the fringes of their roster to make the jump, too.

Toronto’s depth is a strength, particularly in the infield, but this is about raising this team’s ceiling, not just protecting its floor.

These three young players enter camp with opportunities to be part of that, whether it be Opening Day or a few miles down the road in 2024.

RHP BOWDEN FRANCIS

Francis is underrated, period.

Fellow pitchers heap praise onto the 27-year-old, who came to the Blue Jays in 2021 alongside Trevor Richards in the Rowdy Tellez trade. Francis and Richards worked in tandem at times last season, combining as a “spot starter” in Alek Manoah’s absence, and Francis held his own. Over 36 1/3 innings, he recorded a 1.73 ERA with 35 strikeouts and just eight walks. His curveball, in particular, emerged as a legitimate plus pitch in the big leagues.

So, what next? Francis spent much of 2023 pitching where he was needed, but with improved pitching depth, the Blue Jays can deploy him where he’s best suited. He’s earned a shot at starting again and could compete for the No. 5 job in camp, with a trip to Triple-A Buffalo as the next man up being the likely outcome. He could open as the bullpen’s swingman, too, a role he’s grown comfortable in.

Either way, Francis will pitch meaningful innings for the 2024 Blue Jays. Thoughtful, mature on the mound and one of the most unique personalities on this roster, he’s earned the organization’s trust.

3B DAMIANO PALMEGIANI

Toronto’s fringe infield depth group is dense and cluttered, which can be a good thing. Add Palmegiani to Orelvis Martinez, Addison Barger, Leo Jimenez, Otto Lopez, Ernie Clement, Spencer Horwitz and others. This isn’t about who the top prospect is or who will be starting in the big leagues 10 years from now. It’s about which player has a specific skill set to fit this exact roster right here, right now.

What Palmegiani offers is positional fit at third base, power potential and the ability to crush left-handed pitching. At some point in 2024, there will be seats open for all three of those things.

Palmegiani is a development success story for this organization -- not unlike Davis Schneider -- and he reached Triple-A for the final 20 games of his 2023 season. Palmegiani has been a work in progress at third base defensively, but recent reports are growing more favorable and he has some experience at first base to go along with it. Add in the power numbers, with 23 home runs last season and strong exit velocities, and you’re looking at a bat with big league potential.

Most encouraging, though, is his success against lefties. Palmegiani posted an .842 OPS against lefties a year ago with an improved approach, making him a potential platoon fit down the road. He won’t be the favorite to win third-base reps in camp by any means, but like Schneider showed a year ago, there comes a point where production catapults you past players with higher prospect status.

1B SPENCER HORWITZ

Conversations around Horwitz tend to begin with what he lacks in power. That’s a legitimate concern for a player who could be limited to first base in the big leagues, but let’s focus more on what Horwitz does well.

His on-base ability is rare, something that should translate well to the Majors after he posted a .450 OBP in Triple-A last season. He also beat up on right-handed pitching and showed much more power in those matchups, so you can see how he is another one of these platoon puzzle pieces that could come together.

The Blue Jays are high on Horwitz and believe he could be a regular contributor. That won’t come with everyday at-bats right away, of course, and how the Blue Jays address their DH spot will have a direct impact on Horwitz, but he’ll get his shot eventually. This lineup needs more power, which Horwitz’s skill set could complement well, but for now he seems to fit what the Blue Jays -- and offensive coordinator Don Mattingly -- want to see from this offense.