TORONTO — These are the names you already know the most about, but that doesn’t make them any less interesting.

Some of these players will eventually help accentuate the core in Toronto that’s already in place, while a handful could be used as trade chips to get something they need — pitching.

Figuring out which is which will depend on what trade partners are interested in, but there are a few redundancies in the system — lots of catching is one of them — that can be capitalized on.

After taking a look at 31-50 on Tuesday and 11-30 yesterday, here are my top 10 Blue Jays prospects for 2021, led off by a very familiar name that I can guarantee you will not see at No. 1 next year.

Enjoy!

TOP 50 BY POSITION
Catchers: 7
Corner infielders: 4
Middle infielders: 10
Outfielders: 5
Pitchers: 24

HOW THEY WERE ACQUIRED
Trade: 5
MLB Draft: 21
International free agency: 22
Rule 5 Draft: 1
Undrafted free agent: 1

GRADUATED (3): LHP Anthony Kay (6); SS Santiago Espinal (18); RHP Thomas Hatch (20).

GONE (8): RHP Kendall Williams (11; traded to Los Angeles Dodgers in Ross Stripling deal); OF Griffin Conine (13; traded to Miami Marlins in Jonathan Villar deal); RHP Josh Winckowski (22; traded to New York Mets in Steven Matz deal); OF Anthony Alford (27; claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh Pirates); RHP Hector Perez (32; traded to Cincinnati Reds for cash/PTBNL); RHP Yennsy Diaz (33; traded to New York Mets in Steven Matz deal); OF Alberto Rodriguez (HM; traded to Seattle Mariners in Taijuan Walker deal); LHP Travis Bergen (HM; traded to Arizona Diamondbacks in Robbie Ray deal).

FELL OFF (7): LF/1B Ryan Noda (34); 2B/SS Logan Warmoth (38); OF Forrest Wall (39); SS Kevin Vicuna (42); 3B/2B Cullen Large (43); RHP Kyle Johnston (44); OF Robert Robertis (49).

2021 AFFILIATE LEVELS
Triple-A: Buffalo Bisons
Double-A: New Hampshire Fisher-Cats
High-A: Vancouver Canadians
Low-A: Dunedin Blue Jays
Dominican Summer League: One full affiliate/one shared affiliate
Complex league in Florida: Replacing short-season affiliates

 

1. RHP Nate Pearson
Last year’s ranking: 1
2019 ranking: 4
Age: 24 (08/20/96) Acquired: Drafted 28th overall in 2017
Expected starting affiliate: MLB Toronto

 

2. INF/OF Austin Martin
Last year’s ranking: Not eligible
2019 ranking: Not eligible
Age: 21 (03/23/99) Acquired: Drafted fifth overall in 2020
Expected starting affiliate: High-A

 

3. 3B Jordan Groshans
Last year’s ranking: 2
2019 ranking: 7
Age: 21 (11/10/99) Acquired: Drafted 12th overall in 2018
Expected starting affiliate: Double-A

 

4. 3B/SS Orelvis Martinez
Last year’s ranking: 3
2019 ranking: 14
Age: 19 (11/19/01) Acquired: IFA 2018 ($3.5 million)
Expected starting affiliate: Low-A Dunedin

 

5. C Alejandro Kirk
Last year’s ranking: 7
2019 ranking: 43
Age: 22 (11/06/98) Acquired: IFA 2016
Expected starting affiliate: MLB Toronto

 

6. C Gabriel Moreno
Last year’s ranking: 8
2019 ranking: 37
Age: 20 (02/14/00) Acquired: IFA 2016 ($25,000)
Expected starting affiliate: Double-A New Hampshire

 

7. RHP Simeon Woods Richardson
Last year’s ranking: 4
2019 ranking: Not eligible
Age: 20 (09/27/00) Acquired: Trade with New York Mets, July 2019
Expected starting affiliate: Double-A New Hampshire

 

8. RHP Alek Manoah
Last year’s ranking: 5
2019 ranking: Not eligible
Age: 23 (01/09/98) Acquired: Drafted 11th overall in 2019
Expected starting affiliate: Double-A New Hampshire

 

9. 3B/2B Miguel Hiraldo
Last year’s ranking: 10
2019 ranking: 15
Age: 20 (09/05/00) Acquired: IFA 2017 ($750,000)
Expected starting affiliate: Low-A Dunedin

 

10. RHP CJ Van Eyk
Last year’s ranking: Not eligible
2019 ranking: Not eligible
Age: 22 (09/15/98) Acquired: Drafted 42nd overall in 2020
Expected starting affiliate: High-A Vancouver