Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Spencer Miles making a case for an Opening Day roster spot
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Toronto Blue Jays Rule 5 selection Spencer Miles is quickly turning heads in his first spring training with the organization, especially after working his way back from injury.
There's been noticeable buzz around 25-year-old right-hander Spencer Miles early in camp.
Still, a strong first impression doesn't automatically translate into a spot on the Toronto Blue Jays Opening Day roster.
Originally drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2022, Miles climbed to No. 28 in the club's prospect rankings in 2023.
The Giants left the right-hander unprotected in this years Rule 5 Draft and Toronto scooped Miles up.
At his best, he profiled as a potential rotation piece, a power arm capable of sitting in the mid-to-upper 90s with a heavy sinker that induces plenty of ground-ball contact.
Miles' fastball typically ranges from 96 to 98 mph, and he impressed evaluators during a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League last year.
Durability, however, has been the lingering concern. He has yet to complete a fully healthy professional season.
He made his Grapefruit League debut against the Boston Red Sox and wasted little time making an impact.
Miles delivered a scoreless outing, highlighted by a sharp curveball that froze Trevor Story for a strikeout and immediately grabbed attention.
Spencer Miles dispatches Trevor Story with a nasty hook
Even after undergoing Tommy John surgery, his velocity looked encouraging, topping out at 96 mph in the appearance.
He threw 55 percent strikes across 20 pitches in the fifth inning, showing flashes of both power and poise.
Miles worked around trouble, stranding a double by Jarren Duran and issuing a pitch-clock walk to Wilson Contreras before retiring Wilyer Abreu and Caleb Durbin to escape the inning unscathed.
Perhaps most intriguing was the effectiveness of his curveball. Generating whiffs on 33.3 percent of swings, the breaking pitch proved to be a legitimate weapon against big-league hitters.
If that trend continues, it could earn him additional innings as the spring progresses.
The pitch, already a standout in his arsenal, may become even more central to his approach as he looks to induce more chase swings.
Yimi Garcia's timeline for return may play a part in Mile's chances of breaking camp
Miles is still building back from Tommy John surgery performed in the summer of 2024 and has yet to pitch above Single-A.
Despite the limited experience, he's demonstrating that his raw stuff could translate to the major-league level.
If he ultimately breaks camp with Toronto, it may come at the expense of a bullpen arm with minor-league options such as Mason Fluharty or Braydon Fisher, or if Yimi Garcia, who underwent elbow surgery in August, isn't ready for Opening Day.
Garcia remains in rehab and has not yet thrown a bullpen session in camp. With plenty of relief depth available, the Blue Jays have little incentive to rush his return.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 28|84 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Spencer Miles making a case for an Opening Day roster spot Do you think Toronto Blue Jays Rule 5 pick Spencer Miles will break camp? | ||
| Yes | 29 | 34.5 % |
| No | 30 | 35.7 % |
| Too early to tell | 25 | 29.8 % |
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