Jonatan Clase Off To A Hot Start At Triple-A Buffalo
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jonatan Clase has come out of the gates swinging for Triple-A Buffalo, going 11-for-25 (.440) over his first eight games. Just one of those hits has gone for extra bases, however, that, combined with his four walks, has given him a .517 OBP, which has allowed him to use his wheels. After a stolen base on Wednesday, the 22-year-old now has six on the young season, good for the third-most in all the minors. If Alan Roden or Nathan Lukes struggle for an extended period, there's a good chance we'll see the speedy Dominican back in the majors. In his limited 26-game sample in 2024, the switch-hitter slashed .246/.303/.328 with three extra-base hits and three stolen bases. If he gets the call and can find some regular at-bats, Clase could be under consideration for fantasy managers in need of steals.
The Toronto Blue Jays have optioned outfielder Jonatan Clase to Triple-A Buffalo. Clase was competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster but will continue his development at the top level of the minor leagues. Last season, the Blue Jays acquired Clase at the trade deadline from Seattle in exchange for relief pitcher Yimi Garcia. Clase made his MLB debut last season and appeared in 26 contests. During this short stint, Clase held a .246/.303/.328 slash line with three swiped bags. He generated a low .169 xBA with a .217 xwOBA. However, he flashed elite speed as he placed in the 99th percentile in sprint speed. At the Triple-A level, Clase held a .263/.344/.439 slash line with 21 doubles and 12 long balls. Across this stint, Clase swiped an impressive 38 bags. He is worth monitoring in deeper category leagues, as he could be a viable speed target when he returns to Toronto.
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jonatan Clase (hamstring) has been running and could play in Grapefruit League games by the weekend, according to manager John Schneider. Clase is working his way through a sore hamstring, but it's a minor issue and should not be a factor at all by Opening Day in late March. The 22-year-old should have a good shot to win an Opening Day roster spot with Toronto as outfield depth, too, with Daulton Varsho (shoulder) expected to open the 2025 regular season on the injured list. The switch-hitting Dominican outfielder was acquired in a trade from the Seattle Mariners in 2024 and hit a combined .246/.303/.328 with a homer, five RBI and three stolen bases in 26 total games (seven with Toronto) in his first MLB season. Clase is still a work in progress as a hitter and defender and doesn't have much power, but his 99th-percentile speed could make him an asset in deeper fantasy leagues if he finds the playing time.
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jonatan Clase and infielder Leo Jimenez will both start on the bench on Saturday against the visiting Miami Marlins at Rogers Centre. Fellow rookie Joey Loperfido will make the start in center field and will bat ninth, while Ernie Clement starts at the 6 and bats sixth against Marlins right-hander Xzavion Curry. Clase came to the Blue Jays via trade at the deadline at the end of July from the Mariners and has looked good in the early going in his six games with the team, going 6-for-16 (.375) with a homer, double and to RBI. However, the 22-year-old will take a seat after going hitless in four at-bats on Friday with two strikeouts. Jimenez has been forced into plenty of playing time in 2024 in his rookie campaign due to Bo Bichette's injuries and has slashed .229/.329/.358 with only four home runs and 19 RBI in 63 games played. Clement will be a low-upside DFS sleeper for Saturday's action.
The Toronto Blue Jays called up outfield prospect Jonatan Clase, who they acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners in the Yimi Garcia deal, on Thursday from Triple-A Buffalo. With the season winding down, the Blue Jays can get a good look at Clase, who is a gifted athlete with real upside in the long term. The 22-year-old is currently listed by MLB Pipeline as Toronto's No. 6 prospect. Especially with outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) out for the remainder of the year after shoulder surgery, Clase could get some nice run to close things out through the end of September in Toronto's outfield. The switch-hitting Dominican made his MLB debut with Seattle earlier this year and went 8-for-41 (.195) with a double, three RBI and three steals in 19 games. In 94 games with Buffalo and Triple-A Tacoma, Clase has hit .263/.344/.439 with 12 homers, 45 RBI and 38 steals in 426 plate appearances.
Toronto Blue Jays outfield prospect Jonatan Clase has looked quite comfortable since joining his new club. Clase was traded to Toronto in exchange for relief pitcher Yimi Garcia. In his first nine games with Triple-A Buffalo, the 22-year-old holds an excellent .294/.351/.474 slash line with three doubles, one home run, four RBI, two swiped bags, and a 3:7 BB:K ratio. Previously, at Triple-A Tacoma earlier this summer, Clase held a solid .274/.373/.483 with 26 stolen bases. In the major leagues this summer, the switch-hitting bat struggled with a .195 AVG. However, Clase could be worth stashing in deeper redraft formats if he continues to play well at Triple-A, as he possesses elite speed that can be very valuable in the stretch run.
The Toronto Blue Jays are acquiring outfield prospect Jonathan Clase from the Seattle Mariners on Friday in exchange for right-handed reliever Yimi Garcia, according to sources. Clase was Seattle's No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The 22-year-old will now have a new start in the American League East. Clase made his major-league debut with the Mariners this year and struggled to a .195/.233/.220 slash line with a double, three RBI, three steals and 14 strikeouts in 19 games played. The 5-foot-10, 150-pounder could get more run with the Jays to close out the year, making him worth a look in AL-only leagues. Despite his small frame, Clase could develop some legitimate power, but speed is going to be his primary calling card. The Dominican outfielder stole 26 bases in 59 games for Triple-A Tacoma and had 79 swipes in the minors in 2023.
The Seattle Mariners recalled outfielders Jonathan Clase and Cade Marlowe from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday. Marlowe is starting in right field for the M's and is hitting ninth against the visiting Los Angeles Angels and right-hander Jose Soriano. Marlowe, a left-handed hitting 27-year-old, made his big-league debut in 2023 and hit .239 (21-for-88) with three homers, three doubles, two triples, 11 homers and four steals in his first 34 games. He hit .235 with 13 homers for Tacoma this year, and he and Clase, the team's No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline, could be battling for playing time with Julio Rodriguez (ankle) on the 10-day injured list. Clase, a 22-year-old switch-hitter, has looked overmatched in his MLB debut in 2024, going 8-for-41 (.195) at the plate with no homers, a double, three RBI, three swipes and a 14:2 K:BB in 43 trips to the plate and 19 games played.
Dominic Canzone Goes On Injured List, M's Recall Jonatan Clase
The Seattle Mariners placed outfielder Dominic Canzone (groin) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a right-groin strain and recalled outfield prospect Jonatan Clase from Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move. Canzone hurt his groin on Sunday while making a catch against the Toronto Blue Jays and then made things worse on Tuesday night running out a double in the win over the San Diego Padres, and now he'll be out through next week's All-Star break. The 26-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has struggled in a part-time role in his first full season in Seattle this year, hitting .211 (30-for-142) with a career-high seven home runs and 14 RBI in 54 games. Clase, the team's No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will give Seattle outfield depth after he went 6-for-34 (.176) with a double and 13 K's in his first 15 big-league games earlier this year.
Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Jonatan Clase has three home runs in his last six games for Triple-A Tacoma and four in his last 10. The 22-year-old has been seeing the ball well since his return to the minors, reaching base safely in 27 of 29 games and going 36-for-121 (.298) during that time. He's also logged 14 stolen bases since his return. Unfortunately he wasn't able to stick with the big league club but hopefully his skills will translate to the majors his next time around as he could be a difference-maker on the basepaths for the Mariners and for fantasy managers.
Jonatan Clase
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Blue Jays
