Toronto Blue Jays Assess Progress of Pitching Prospects

Justin Lehr, the minor-league pitching director for the Toronto Blue Jays, has prioritized strike-throwing and count leverage since joining the organization two years ago. His approach emphasizes the importance of good counts before delving into technical aspects of pitching.

This season, 285.1 innings pitched by Blue Jays players have come from those drafted or developed within the organization, marking a significant increase from previous years. Seven pitchers made their major league debuts this season, contributing to the team's performance amid injuries.

Lehr highlighted the progress of younger pitchers, including Ricky Tiedemann, who is recovering from elbow surgery, and Gage Stanifer, who is adapting to a bullpen role. Other prospects like Daniel Guerra and Johnny King have also shown promise, with Lehr expressing confidence in their development as they continue to refine their skills.