Blue Jays: What to expect from Jordan Groshans in 2022?

In 2021, Jordan Groshans evolved into the AA. Everything was allowed for the #3 Toronto Blue Jays prospect, who was to share shortstop with Austin Martin and play at third base.

That said, it can’t be said that he fully lived up to expectations in 2021 when you look coldly at what he did. Yes, his .291 GPA and .817 MPP aren’t bad at all, but it goes deeper than that. Defensively, he was not perfect (12 errors) and his power was not there by virtue of his seven long balls in only 75 games.

That being said, you don’t necessarily have to start worrying too quickly. Without having played in 2020 and with an injury in 2021, it is normal not to have seen him be at his best in 2021.

A bit like Austin Martin, basically.

But on the other hand, you shouldn’t be too positive and believe that everything is fine since it is not necessarily the case. After all, he was passed by Gabriel Moreno and Orelvis Martinez in the Blue Jays prospect hierarchy for a reason…

Questions about its potency, there are more and more. Considering that was his bread and butter and why he was a first-round pick in 2018, that’s not ideal.

The problem is that with a 2020 season in the water for young people, you have to learn to be nuanced. On the one hand, there are those who doubt what he will be able to do. The other? Those who still believe in him. Jim Bowden believes that he will be a better than average hitter.

The truth is probably between the two. He has the potential to become a great hitter, but he still has a hard time getting there after playing little in two years.

In 2022, he will play against men in the AAA if the normal progression is followed. Groshans will then have to prove, against pitchers who have played in the Majors, that he can hit for power. Offensively, it will be a big challenge for him.

But defensively, if I was the Blue Jays, I would stop the shortstop project since his style of play is much more like a third baseman. I would make him a full-time third base player in order to see him develop into a position that, oddly enough, fit with the needs of the big club.

Note that Gabriel Moreno will also be entitled to third base repeats in 2022. Groshans will have to fight for his playing time.

What to expect in 2022 from the #3 Blue Jays prospect, then? I want to see a guy who is going to fight his way into the Majors through defensive efforts and a more powerful stick. If he succeeds, he will be entitled to a recall in Toronto along the way.