Ontario Blue Jays grads enjoy strong seasons in affiliated minor leagues
Ontario Blue Jays alum Jacob Robson (Windsor, Ont.), no. 74 in this photo, made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers this season.
October 5, 2021
Official Ontario Blue Jays News Release
Another year and anther MiLB season is completed by 10 former Ontario Blue Jays players.
With each year, we see new draft picks and signings join the professional ranks while others continue their push towards the major leagues.
This year, we were lucky enough to see another make his major league debut in OF Jacob Robson (Windsor, Ont.). Robson was recalled by the Detroit Tigers on August 12, and played his first game against the Baltimore Orioles before travelling to Toronto to face the Blue Jays. Robson finished the year with the Toledo Mud Hens (triple-A) and put together a solid year, hitting .295 with 19 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home run, while adding 38 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.
Robson was joined for part of the year in Toledo by INF Daniel Pinero (Toronto, Ont.). Pinero picked up eight hits, including four doubles and one home run while driving in seven before suffering a season-ending injury. Pinero will look to make his return to MLB Spring Training for the Tigers in 2022.
A clear standout in the Minnesota Twins’ organization is up next as RHP Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) put together a stellar 2021 season for the Wichita Wind Surge (double-A). Balazovic, the two-time AA Central Pitcher of the Week, put together a 5-4 record over 97 Innings, collecting 102 strikeouts and only allowed 38 walks while posting a 3.62 ERA. Balazovic will undoubtedly begin his 2022 campaign at MLB Spring Training for the Twins.
One of Balazovic's former OBJ teammates is up next, RHP R.J Freure (Burlington, Ont.) who rose in the Houston Astros system this year, finishing the year with the Corpus Christi Hooks (double-A), posting a 4-6 record over 81 1/3 innings collecting 104 strikeouts while only walking 53 in 23 games this summer.
Next up, the double-A Northeast champion, C Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.). Naylor delivered the walk-off single to defeat the Bowie Baysox to cap off a strong season, as he collected 59 hits over 87 games, including 13 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs and added 44 RBI. Naylor will likely get the call to MLB Spring Training for the second straight year with Cleveland.
Fellow Mississauga native, INF T.J Schofield-Sam finished up his second year in professional baseball with the Stockton Ports (class-A, Oakland Athletics), collecting 96 hits over 105 games, adding 20 doubles, five triples and nine home runs while adding 62 RBIs for the Ports.
OF Gareth Morgan (Toronto, Ont.) played the 2021 season for the Tri-City Dust Devils (class-A, Los Angeles Angels), competing in 38 games with 26 hits including four doubles, four home runs and added 15 RBI.
The latest OBJ to TBJ draft pick, OF Dasan Brown (Oakville, Ont.) continues to move his way up the Jays’ system, playing this year for the Dunedin Blue Jays (class-A). Brown played in 51 games, collecting 42 hits, including eight doubles, one triple and four home runs while adding 16 RBI.
The Ontario Blue Jays’ most recent draft pick, OF David Calabrese (Maple, Ont.) spent the 2021 season with the ACL Angels where he played in 42 games and collected 29 hits and scored 25 times, including eight doubles, two triples and a home run. Calabrese currently sits 24th on the Angels’ Top 30 Prospects List.
Last up, our 2021 signee, C/INF Max Hewitt (Midhurst, Ont.) who was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers after three incredible seasons at Oklahoma State University. Hewitt will look to make his MiLB debut in 2022 in the Dodgers system.