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The Blue Jays farm system boasts eight Canadian players heading into 2025

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The Blue Jays haven’t been shy about acquiring or drafting Canadian-born players over the years. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was born in Montreal when his father played for the Expos, and recently non-tendered Markham, Ontario native Jordan Romano had a solid run as the Blue Jays closer from 2020-2023. Players like Zach Pop, Russell Martin, Brett Lawrie, Dalton Pompey, and Michael Saunders have spent time with the club in the last decade. That’s not to mention the club’s unsuccessful attempt at a homecoming with Toronto’s own Joey Votto, who retired in triple-A last season.

Toronto currently has eight players in their minor league system with Canadian ties – whether because they were born North of the border or grew up in the country.

Let’s take a look at where they are in their development, and who has the best chance of making it to the big leagues one day.

*Zach Pop was not included given his numerous years in the big leagues*

Adam Macko | LHP | Vauxhall Academy (Alberta)

Macko is one of the more interesting stories in minor league baseball, as he was born in Slovakia, moved to Ireland, and later attended the prestigious Vauxhall Academy in Southern Alberta. Drafted by Seattle in the 7th round of the 2019 draft, the left-hander was acquired alongside Eric Swanson in the 2022 trade of Teoscar Hernández.

After winning a Northwest League Championship and displaying an 11.09 K/9 with high-A Vancouver in 2023, the Jays added the 6-foot-0 right-hander to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Macko spent almost all of 2024 in double-A New Hampshire, registering a 4.87 ERA and 1.22 WHIP and missed some time on the IL. He will likely start next season in AAA, with a chance to make his Major League debut by season’s end considering he is one of the top-ranking arms in the Blue Jays depth charts not on the sidelines with an elbow injury.

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Damiano Palmegiani | 1B/3B | Vauxhall Academy (Alberta)

Another product out of Vauxhall, the Blue Jays drafted the Venezuelan-born, B.C.-raised slugger but it wasn’t until after his time with the College of Southern Nevada did he put pen to paper.

Palmegiani had a breakout 2023 season split between AA and AAA, further boosting his stock with a standout performance in the Arizona Fall League. The 14th-round pick in the 2021 draft struggled in his first season with triple-A Buffalo, slashing just .210/.311/.381 but continued to showcase his plus power, smashing a farm system high of 21 homers.

There is some speculation that the 24-year-old could be a player that the Blue Jays lose come next month’s Rule 5 Draft, and some better luck on balls put in play could lead to a bounce back in 2025. Palmegiani has great plate discipline and some of the biggest power in the system, which should lead to him making his Major League debut in 2025.

Dasan Brown | CF | Oakville, ON

Many around the Blue Jays system and prospect circles have noted in recent years that it’s not a matter of if Brown makes the Major Leagues, it’s when, and in what role.

With his elite speed (35 of 39 in stolen bases attempts in 2024) and centerfield defence abilities, which earned him a minor league Gold Glove Award, Brown’s floor appears to be as a 4th outfielder at the big league level. How well he hits will ultimately dictate if he can blossom into a starter. After struggling at high-A Vancouver in 2023, the former third-rounder started to put it all together in 2024, slashing .257/.363/.411 and earning himself a late summer call-up to double-A. The 23-year-old struggled after the call-up, which will undoubtedly lead to him starting in New Hampshire next year. With some success in 2025, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him end the year in triple-A Buffalo, setting himself up to contribute in Toronto in 2026.

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Connor O’Halloran | LHP | Mississauga, ON

It was a bit of a weird first full season for O’Halloran.

The 22-year-old lefty posted a 3.13 ERA and 1.18 WHIP through seven Dunedin starts, before struggling to the tune of a 7.06 ERA and 1.55 WHIP with high-A Vancouver. However, it’s worth mentioning that he pitched much better than those numbers indicate, as most of the damage in his Vancouver tenure occurred across two starts – allowing 11 runs across two innings in one start, and seven runs across 1 2/3 innings in another. In both of those starts the former Michigan Wolverine’s command escaped him, but there’s plenty of upside here to stay high on the 2023 5th-round pick going forward.

The 6-foot-2 starter has a fluid and repeatable delivery from the left side and struck out over a batter an inning in 2024. His fastball tops out in the low 90s, but his slider and changeup profile as potential plus pitches.

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Sam Shaw | 2B | Victoria, BC

Drafted in the ninth round out of Lambrick H.S. (Victoria, B.C.) in 2023, there isn’t a whole lot to go on so far for the middle infielder.

After nine games in the Florida Complex League in 2023, Shaw returned to rookie ball to slash .220/.361/.304 through 51 games. Shaw will likely make the jump to single-A this season as he continues to progress forward, as he was drafted as an 18-year-old. With a first full slate of games in the organization likely ahead of him, Shaw will get a chance to show off his all-field approach and good speed at single-A Dunedin.

Nic Deschamps | C | Quebec City, QC

Deschamps signed as an undrafted free agent in 2021 out of TXNL Academy in Florida, ultimately working his way up to high-A Vancouver in 2024. Deschamps’ offensive game improved from his 2023 numbers when he slashed just .170/.341/.248 in 57 games.

He started last season back in Dunedin and earned the call-up after a .235/.342/.422 line through 33 games. He was the victim of a bit of a catching log jam in Vancouver after his call-up, with starting reps going to newly acquired Jacob Sharp and occasionally Jackson Hornung. However, he did still have his moments, including catching O’Halloran and forming an all-Canadian pitcher-catcher tandem for those in attendance at Nat Bailey Stadium. Deschamps should have a chance for more substantial reps in 2025 as he continues his climb up the system.

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Bryce Arnold | 2B | Grimsby, ON

Signing out of Campbell University as an NDFA in 2023, Arnold has already seen time at each affiliated level through a season and a half.

He has filled an organizational utility role, getting the call-up from single-A Dunedin to triple-A Buffalo for three games in 2024. He held his own with his short stint with the Bisons, collecting four hits in 14 at-bats, including a home run and seven runs driven in. Most of his playing time took place with Dunedin, slashing .195/.342/.329 through 76 games. After suiting up in 13 games with Vancouver to close out the year, Arnold is likely ticketed for more meaningful reps with the Canadians in 2025. He likely won’t ever be a guy who hits for much power, but the 5’10” 175-pounder could be a player who continues to get on base and play solid infield defence going forward.

Owen Gregg | 2B-SS | Oakville, ON

Gregg signed as a non-drafted free agent as a 17-year-old by the Blue Jays last July.

He hasn’t appeared in any games just yet but was allowed to represent Canada at the U-18 Pan-Am Games a few months ago following the draft. The 6-foot 170-pounder is, like Brown, hailing from Oakville, ON, and played with the FieldHouse Pirates, as Arnold did. Gregg made several nice defensive plays in the Pan-Am tournament and will be an interesting name to watch in the coming years as he gets his feet wet in pro ball this upcoming year.