Jared Spencer is the first 2025 draftee to appear on this list.
This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual mid-season prospect list, where we’ll take a look at the 50 best prospects in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. I’ll look at the player’s stats, what other publications have to say, as well as my own observations of the players.
Like many 2025 draftees, Spencer won’t make his professional debut until the following season, albeit it’s because he’s currently injured. Despite that, Spencer’s potential has him ranked as the 30th-best prospect in the Blue Jays system. If you missed who we ranked as the 31st-best prospect in the system, you can read about Cutter Coffey here.
Getting to know Jared Spencer…
Position: Starting pitcher
Throws: Left
Born: July 1, 2003
Acquired: 11th round, 2025 draft
Previous ranking: Unranked
Due to a shoulder injury, Spencer has yet to make his professional debut and will not until sometime in 2026. He began his collegiate career with Indiana State University in 2022, starting two of the 16 games he appeared in with a 5.63 ERA and 5.26 FIP in 32 innings pitched. The following season, he served as Indiana’s closer, posting a 3.86 ERA and 3.90 FIP in 37.1 innings pitched, with a 32.9 K% and 12.9 BB%.
Entering his draft-eligible season out of college, Spencer started nine of 18 games with Indiana in 2024, authoring a 4.08 ERA and 3.54 FIP in 53 innings pitched. His K% of 29.5% remained relatively high, but his BB% jumped to 13.5%. Still, the Philadelphia Phillies drafted Spencer in the 14th round of the 2024 draft, with Spencer electing to honour his transfer to the University of Texas (Austin).
There, Spencer found a new level. The senior started all 10 games he appeared in and had a 3.27 ERA and 3.89 FIP in 52.1 innings pitched, with a 29.3 K% and a 10.2 BB%. Spencer’s walk rate was the lowest of his career, and it led to him being ranked as the 113th-best draft prospect by MLB Pipeline. He fell to the 11th round, where the Blue Jays picked him 322nd overall.
Because of the shoulder injury, there’s some uncertainty around Spencer’s near future. He signed for a bonus worth $165,000, just $15,000 above slot value. Ranked as MLB Pipeline’s 24th-best prospect in the Blue Jays’ system, Spencer’s stuff is good, with his fastball sitting in the mid-90s and reaching as high as 98 mph now. He also has a hard slider and an above-average changeup. Spencer’s mechanics have improved as well, but this isn’t his first shoulder injury, which is a bit concerning.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.