Just as the Blue Jays’ injury problems are turning around at the Major League level, they seem to be trickling down to some of the club’s top prospects.

Blue Jays No. 6 prospect Gabriel Moreno, the young catcher who’s taken Minor League Baseball by storm in 2021, was hit by a pitch recently and is expected to miss an extended period of time.

“It caught him in the wrong spot in his thumb that has caused a very minor fracture,” GM Ross Atkins said Wednesday. “It potentially involves also a minor subluxation, which will mean some time down. We’re still getting our arms around whether a procedure will be necessary or not -- whether there will be an intervention or not -- but it would be likely that he’ll have weeks down from that fracture.”

Moreno hasn’t just been the hottest prospect in the organization, he’s been one of the hottest young players in the Minors, and his stock has soared this season. Hitting .373 with eight home runs and a 1.092 OPS through 32 games, the 21-year-old was already running out of things to prove at the Double-A level. While the Blue Jays wanted to see small improvements in his plate approach and continued development in how he manages a pitching staff, what he’s doing at his age and position is rare.

If this injury does only keep Moreno out for a period of “weeks” and he returns in time to round out a full “front” and “back” to his season, that’s not unmanageable by any means. An MLB debut in 2021 wasn’t in the cards given his age and the depth in front of him, so that would allow Moreno to go through a full offseason with some momentum from the season before entering Spring Training 2022 as one of the biggest stories in camp.

By then, the catching breakdown in front of him will be clearer. These next few weeks, though, will be anything but.

Decisions loom as Jansen, Kirk begin rehabs

Both Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk have begun their rehab assignments with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, and soon enough, the Blue Jays will be facing a difficult decision. With Reese McGuire hitting .318 over 33 games and both Jansen and Kirk nearing returns, it’s turning into a game of musical chairs and there won’t be a spot for everyone.

“It’s a good problem to have, and we’re not going to carry three catchers,” manager Charlie Montoyo said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Kirk is coming back from a more serious injury with his left flexor strain and is still on the 60-day IL, but his long-term offensive upside is still the best in the group. There’s also Riley Adams, who’s on the MLB roster now after a great start in Triple-A. This could go in many different directions, especially with the Trade Deadline a month away.

“I think Jansen has certainly earned the right to be on this team,” Atkins said. “Although he’s struggled offensively, we believe so much in the person, the teammate, the character and what he brings all around. Alejandro has obviously earned the right with his balanced approach to the game and exceptional offensive performance. We’ll see. We’re going to have some decisions on our hands, not only for the short term but long term with our roster.”

Injury worries continue for top prospect Pearson

Nate Pearson, the club's top prospect and MLB Pipeline's No. 9 overall, injured his groin early in Spring Training, then injured it again, delaying his start to the 2021 season. After a shoulder issue kept him down for a while, another groin strain came for Pearson just over a week ago, and given the recurring nature of the injury, there has to be some worry for the Blue Jays.

“It’s starting to feel as though there could be something underlying with the nature of this reoccurrence," Atkins said. "At the same time, we still have no evidence of that after multiple opinions. There’s the potential of it. We have one more opinion that we’re seeking. I think it’s on Friday that it will occur. We’re still optimistic that he will return to pitching [in 2021], and he’s of the mindset that he will be pitching again soon.”

Atkins explained that any further options, including surgery, will depend on the coming information that the Blue Jays receive.

This has been another frustrating season for the hard-throwing right-hander, who made just one Major League appearance and walked five batters without a single strikeout before being sent back to Triple-A. Pearson will turn 25 in August, and while he’s a starter long term, any return in 2021 would likely see him coming out of the bullpen like he did for the Blue Jays in the 2020 American League Wild Card Series against the Rays.

Martin named to Futures Game

There had to be some good news on the prospect front on Wednesday … right? Blue Jays No. 2 prospect Austin Martin was named to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game as the club's lone representative. The game will take place at Coors Field on July 11 at 3 p.m. ET.

Martin is in his first season of pro ball after being drafted fifth overall in 2020, and is hitting .275 with a .391 on-base percentage and .785 OPS in Double-A, where he’s splitting his time evenly between center field and shortstop.