We wrapped up our 2026 top 40 last week, but before we go we wanted to briefly note a few more guys who we find to be of some interest. Today, it’s the last cuts from the main list, and later Matt and I will each list a few guys we personally find interesting as sleepers.
Jared Spencer was the team’s 11th round pick in the most recent draft. The lefty was a stud reliever for three years at Indiana State before transferring to Texas and posting a 3.27 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 10 starts and 52.1 innings.
That level of performance, while stepping way up in competition and moving into the rotation, jumped him into top three round consideration. Then he blew out his shoulder. If he comes back healthy, it’s a plus fastball that touches 98 paired with a nasty slider and a promising but still developing change-up paired with fringy command that might force him back to the bullpen as a pro. It was a high risk, high reward profile even before he suffered one of the scariest pitcher injuries, and we’ll be in wait and see mode this year.
Hayden Juenger was a sixth round pick back in ‘21. He popped onto lists by jumping all the way to AAA in his first full pro season, working as a multi-inning reliever. Things have stalled there, though. He gets some strikeouts, but walks too many and generally hasn’t found the consistency he needs to join the major league staff. He deserves a nod here because, with a nice rising fastball that sits 94, a promising cutter and a good change-up he has the repertoire to work as an MLB long reliever. So far this season he’s shelved his slider and emphasized the cutter, which has helped him avoid walks so far.
Alex Amalfi, an undrafted free agent signed in 2022 out of U-Mass, worked his way up to AA New Hampshire for last season. He had been a long reliever, but transitioned to the rotation in August. He boasts a three pitch mix including a 94mph fastball with plus vertical carry, a nice slider around 86 that draws a lot of swings and misses, and a yakker curve at 77 that’s mostly a weapon to steal strikes. His command need work, but it’s a repertoire that could work in long relief.
Jace Bohrofen popped up with a strong junior season at Arkansas in 2023, leading the Jays to grab him in the sixth round that year. He had a strong pro debut in 2024, but ran into a bit of a wall last year after reaching AA, striking out 34% of the time. He’s got a good eye and solid average to plus raw power with a lift and pull swing that allows him to get to it. That keeps him interesting, but he’ll need to take a huge step forward with his contact to have any chance of working out.
Charles McAdoo was the last cut from out list. The trade return for Isiah Kiner-Falefa repeated AA last year with mixed results. He hit for some power but struck out too much (28%). That’s basically McAdoo’s game. He swings hard, with a bat path geared to maximize fly balls at the expense of contact. It might work, because he has plus power and enough feel for the barrel to make acceptable if below average contact rates, but it’s a narrow path. There will also be a lot of pressure on the bat, because he’s a below average defender at third base and a below average runner, so first base might be the ultimate destination.
