Blue Jays 2026 40-Man Roster Review: Jonatan Clase’s Ceiling Depends on His Ability to Seize Power in the MLB

During the 2017-2018 international free agency period, the Seattle Mariners signed Clase for a $35,000 bonus. He had some good seasons in the minor leagues, including a 2022 in Single-A where he hit 13 home runs and slashed .267/.373/.463 with 55 steals in 65 attempts. That stat line, along with his 2023 season in which he hit 20 home runs and stole 62 bases in 73 attempts, is pretty telling of how high Clase’s ceiling is.

Regardless, Clase hasn’t been able to showcase what makes him such an interesting talent since joining the Blue Jays. He played 35 games with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons to finish the 2024 season, where he slashed .244/.288/.363 with two home runs in 146 at-bats. The outfielder earned a gig with the Blue Jays at the end of the season, where he hit his first home run in the seven games he played.

But once again, Clase struggled to stand out for the Bisons in 2025. In 87 games, the speedy outfielder hit just 255/.335/.403 in 352 at-bats, hitting just seven home runs while striking out 25.6% of the time. Additionally, Clase got a look at the big league team and hit two home runs in 112 at-bats, although one of those home runs was a game-tying one in the ninth off Ryan Helsley.

Although Clase has been on a bit of a hiatus since joining the Blue Jays, his speed was on full display last season, stealing 30 of 34 bases in the minor leagues, and another three in four tries in the big leagues. Clase is a solid defender because of his speed, but his ceiling depends on whether or not he is able to command power at the big league level. Then there is a possible daily starter.