TORONTO – The Blue Jays don’t just need to develop more big leaguers, they need to develop a star. This is what Toronto expected from the No. 20 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, but to see it so early from an 18-year-old has been particularly encouraging. Most importantly, he’s failed, adapted and bounced back, leaving an extremely strong impression on many in the organization. ArjunNimmala was challenged with an assignment to Single-A Dunedin right out of the gate this season … and it didn’t go well.
Over 29 games, he hit just .167 and struck out 43 times in 108 at-bats. He looked overmatched against older, more experienced pitchers, because of course he did. The Blue Jays pulled Nimmala back to their complex and placed him on the development list at midseason to work on some specifics, and by the time he returned to Single-A, all of that work paid off.
In Nimmala’s 53 games at Single-A to finish the 2024 season, he hit .265 with 13 home runs and an .895 OPS, that unique swing with its high finish working wonders as he consistently drove the ball in the air. So many top prospects soar through the Minor Leagues without experiencing failure, which leaves an unknown variable for the biggest stage. Trying to make true adjustments for the first time against Aaron Judge or Tarik Skubal? Good luck.
Source: https://www.mlb.com/bluejays