Toronto Blue Jays Land Top International Catching Prospect in Major Draft Move

The Toronto Blue Jays have been title contenders for the past few years. And despite finishing within a game of the wild card spot, they had to give the postseason a miss in 2021. However, they are future-proofing their side with gusto, and what better than signing youth prospects to prepare. The Blue Jays have made the most of the international signing window, securing the services of Luis Meza in 2022.

The Blue Jays already have a stacked batting card and will look to further reinforce their superiority with the bat come 2022. While the lockout may hold back signing MLB players, the Toronto franchise has made the most of the international signing window by signing one of the top prospects. Ranked highly almost universally by scouts, Meza will sport the Toronto Blue come 2022.

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Who is Luis Meza?

Luis Meza is a top Venezuelan catcher prospect expected to make big waves in the MLB. Expected to spend some time in the farm system before making his way to the big leagues, Meza is currently aged 17.

The young catching prospect is evidently highly rated. Reportedly, Meza is an overall 50-grade prospect. He is part of a well-stocked international signing class of 2021-2022. Ranked as highly as 33rd in his class according to MLB and 11th on Baseball America’s Big Board, Meza is undoubtedly talented.

Reportedly, Meza has a “loose easy swing”, an obvious advantage for any hitter who takes the home plate. Rated as one of the best young hitters in Venezuela, Meza has solid whole-field contact skills. Add to this, he is still young and has massive room to develop more power as time goes on.

As a catcher, Meza has an advanced pop time and a strong arm, qualities that should serve him well in the big leagues. A big part of his ability also comes from his sheer projectability from behind the plate.

The prospect has put pen to paper on a $2,050,000 bonus, per MLB Pipeline’s Jesse Sanchez.

Toronto Blue Jays – Prospect development

The Blue Jays have been credited with some of the greatest development stories in recent times. There are, of course, the usual suspects, Vlad Guerrero Jr., and Alejandro Kirk. But truly, several of the Toronto franchises’ prospects have emerged from international free agency.

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Top league-wide prospect, Moreno headlines a group that includes infielders Orelvis Martinez, Otto Lopez, Miguel Hiraldo, Estiven Machado, Leo Jimenez, and Manuel Beltre.

Beltre has been highly rated as a shortstop for the Jays. He headlined the 2021 signing class, alongside a $2.6 million signing bonus at the time. 2022 might be time for some of these prospects to finally make it to the big leagues.