With MLB putting the future of baseball on display this week in the form of the first-ever “Spring Breakout,” 26 Toronto Blue Jays prospects will get a chance to introduce themselves to fans in the new event on March 16 against the New York Yankees.

Toronto is sending an exciting group of youngsters to George M. Steinbrenner Field for the game, including a solid mix of up-and-comers and established minor leaguers.

While system headliners Ricky Tiedemann and Orelvis Martinez won’t be taking part in the event, other notable names like recent first-rounders Arjun Nimmala and Brandon Barriera and near-ready major leaguers Addison Barger, Spencer Horwitz, Damiano Palmegiani and Connor Cooke are set to step up and represent the Blue Jays.

Despite lacking some of the top-end talent of some of the best systems in MLB, there are still a number of Blue Jays minor leaguers who could make the leap and insert themselves into top-100 prospect conversations over the next calendar year.

Toronto has recently seen examples of breakouts from the likes of Tiedemann, Palmegiani and Alan Roden, who used strong seasons across multiple levels to emerge as potential impact big-league pieces.

So, as we get a first look at some of Toronto’s prospects against the Yankees on Saturday, here are five players who could break out in 2024:

LANDEN MAROUDIS – RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER
On Spring Breakout roster
MLB Pipeline’s No. 12 Blue Jays Prospect

After turning his attention to pitching full-time when Toronto used its fourth-round pick on him in 2023, Maroudis has reportedly made significant strides on the mound in his short time with the organization.

According to MLB Pipeline, the six-foot-three right-hander’s fastball is sitting “in the 94-96 m.p.h range” after a strong off-season, up from being between 91 and 93 before the draft.

Maroudis also throws a slider and a changeup, the latter of which received a 60 grade from Baseball America.

Set to make his professional debut in 2024, Maroudis could see a Tiedemann-like rise if things break right.

ENMANUEL BONILLA – OUTFIELD
On Spring Breakout roster
MLB Pipeline’s No. 8 Blue Jays prospect

After receiving a franchise-record $4.1 million bonus as an international free agent in 2023, Bonilla made his debut in the Toronto system last season. He appeared in 50 Dominican Summer League (DSL) games, posting an .836 OPS with three home runs, 22 RBIs and five stolen bases. He also demonstrated a solid approach, walking in 11.9 per cent of his at-bats.

While he didn’t get to his power much last summer, the 18-year-old found his stride over the final month of the season, slashing .370/.458/.556, slugging nine extra-base hits and cutting his strikeout rate nearly five per cent between Aug. 21 and Sept. 21.

Expected to make his way stateside in 2024, Bonilla is likely to start the season in the Florida Complex League (FCL).

JACE BOHROFEN – OUTFIELD
On Spring Breakout roster
MLB Pipeline’s No. 23 Blue Jays prospect

Another member of the 2023 draft class, Bohrofen, arrived in Toronto’s system and immediately hit. A sixth-round pick out of Arkansas, he posted a 1.080 OPS over 24 games with seven home runs, five doubles and 18 RBIs between the FCL and low-A Dunedin.

The left-handed hitter helped the Razorbacks finish third in a loaded SEC in 2023, slashing .318/.436/.612 with 16 home runs and 52 RBIs over 60 games.

While it’s expected that an SEC bat would succeed against the younger competition of the FCL and in low-A, posting one of the top debuts from last year’s draft is no doubt encouraging for Bohrofen, 22, and the Blue Jays.

Based on his age and experience playing in the NCAA’s premier conference, Bohrofen could be a fast riser through the minors if he continues to deliver at the plate.

CJ VAN EYK – RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER
On Spring Breakout roster
MLB Pipeline’s No. 18 Blue Jays prospect

Van Eyk has done nothing but impress since returning to the mound after Tommy John surgery forced him to miss all of 2022. He threw 34.1 innings across three levels in 2023, ending the season with double-A New Hampshire.

He then went to the Arizona Fall League, pitched to a 2.51 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 14.1 innings and was named the starter of the “Fall Stars” game.

Primed for a fully healthy season, the 25-year-old will have to make up for lost time, but he has the stuff — he throws two fastballs, a curveball and a slider — to establish himself as a top-end arm in the Blue Jays’ system.

BRENNAN ORF – FIRST BASE/OUTFIELD

Orf was the Blue Jays’ 13th-round pick in 2023 out of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) and debuted with low-A Dunedin in late July.

You don’t have to look too far if you’re looking for a potential blueprint for an Orf breakout. In his first 35 games as a professional, he posted similar results to Roden’s when he debuted in 2022.

The two left-handed hitters arrived in the pro ranks with an excellent understanding of the strike zone and a strong ability to get on base.

Like Roden, Orf didn’t hit for much power in Dunedin. However, the SIUE product displayed solid exit velocities and hit 19 home runs in college — while slugging over .700 — so it may just be a matter of getting more at-bats for that ability to shine through as a pro.

You can watch the Blue Jays prospects take on the Yankees on Saturday, March 16, at 4 p.m. ET and 1 p.m. PT on Sportsnet+ or listen on Sportsnet 590 THE FAN.