Interview: Toronto Blue Jays top pitching prospect Gage Stanifer
Photo credit: Gage Stanifer - Instagram
The 2025 campaign marked a major turning point for the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
After several lean years, the Toronto Blue Jays’ farm system made significant strides, highlighted by the presence of three Top 100 prospects across all of baseball for the first time in a long while.
One of the biggest reasons for that leap was the emergence of right-hander Gage Stanifer.
Drafted out of high school in 2022, Stanifer’s progression through the minor leagues followed a steady, traditional path.
After debuting in Rookie ball in 2023, he climbed the ladder in 2025, logging time at Single-A, High-A, and finishing the season with a brief stint at Double-A.
Stanifer opened the year in Dunedin, where he was dominant while piggybacking starts with fellow prospect Trey Yesavage.
Over 26 innings, he posted a remarkable 0.69 ERA, showcasing both efficiency and poise.
The duo was promoted together to High-A Vancouver, where they continued to share games before Yesavage earned a promotion to Double-A New Hampshire.
With Yesavage gone, Stanifer transitioned into a full-time starting role in Vancouver and didn’t miss a beat.
Gage Stanifer registers 10 K's in 5 IP 🔥 The Blue Jays’ No. 5 prospect matches his career high in strikeouts for the High-A Vancouver Canadians. The 21-year-old is climbing the ranks in 2025: http://atmlb.com/4lnz8GJ
His continued dominance earned him a late-season promotion to Double-A, capping off a breakout year.
Stanifer shares his thoughts on his pitch mix, progress, and outlook in interview
On Wednesday, Blue Jays Nation’s Damon Normohammadi caught up with Stanifer to discuss his season, development, and outlook moving forward.
When asked how he would describe himself, Stanifer emphasized his competitive nature.
“I’d say I’m a competitor, no matter the role, on or off the field,” he said. “I enjoy being active, being outdoors, meeting people, and being involved in the community. Most importantly, I want people to know that I always give everything I have.”
Stanifer also reflected on his time piggybacking with Yesavage, a role that was new but rewarding.
“It was some of the most fun I had pitching last year,” Stanifer explained. “It was a different role I’d always been curious about. Following Trey, letting him set the tone early, then coming in to finish games — it was a great experience and a lot of fun just going out there and competing.”
When discussing his arsenal with Normohammadi, Stanifer clarified that while he’s always referred to his primary breaking pitch as a slider, it likely fits more into the curveball category.
His pitch mix features a sinker, curveball, and changeup, with the sinker and curve producing elite swing-and-miss rates throughout the season.
Looking ahead to 2026, Stanifer told Normohammadi his offseason focus has been on refining his splitter and sharpening command.
“The biggest thing this offseason was getting comfortable again with my splitter and staying in the zone with my fastball and curve,” he said. “I made big progress with it last year but lost some feel because I wasn’t throwing it consistently. Getting that confidence back in the grip makes me feel like it can be just as effective as my curveball against both left- and right-handed hitters.”
In total, Stanifer threw a career-high 110 innings across three levels, posting a 2.86 ERA with a 2.70 FIP while striking out 35.5 percent of opposing hitters — the highest rate among all qualified minor league starting pitchers.
At just 22 years old, Stanifer delivered a truly dominant season. He’s expected to spend most of the upcoming year with Double-A New Hampshire, where he now slots in as the organization’s top right-handed pitching prospect behind Yesavage.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 29|33 ANSWERS Interview: Toronto Blue Jays top pitching prospect Gage Stanifer Do you think Gage Stanifer will make his big league debut in 2026? | ||
| Yes | 7 | 21.2 % |
| No, Buffalo Bisons for 2026 | 26 | 78.8 % |
| List of polls | ||