The Toronto Blue Jays are paying close attention to a 17-year-old pitcher from Brazil during the WBC.
Joseph Contreras, the son of former MLB all-star José Contreras, who spent 10 seasons in the majors and won the 2005 World Series with the Chicago White Sox, debuted at the WBC on March 6 against Team USA. The 17-year-old got Aaron Judge to ground into a double play. Before that, the high schooler he got the reigning AL MVP to swing through a 96.9 m.p.h. fastball.
Before his impressive showing, Blue Jays insider Bob Elliott of Canadian Baseball Network reported on X that the team has been scouting Contreras ahead of the MLB Draft.
“Blue Jays scouts have been evaluating Georgia HSer RHP Joseph Contreras, son of former big leaguer Jose Contreras (78-67, 4.57 ERA in 11-year career). Joseph will pitch for Brazil as youngest player in WBC,” Elliott wrote.
Contreras is currently ranked 34th on Baseball America‘s list of top prospects for the 2026 MLB Draft. So, Toronto could very well select him with their first pick in the 2026 MLB Draft and add another promising right-hander to the organization.
However, if Contreras continues to pitch well in the WBC, he could rise up the draft ranks. But, for now, the Blue Jays have shown interest in the high school arm.
Aaron Judge Praises Joseph Contreras
Despite being in high school, Contreras didn’t seem intimidated by Team USA and the All-Star hitters.
The right-hander got Judge to ground out into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second. After the game, Judge couldn’t believe Contreras is 17 and in high school as he was impressed by him.
“I know I wasn’t doing that at 17 years old, that’s for sure,” Judge said post-game. “Just great stuff. I feel like he had some poise on the mound. He’s throwing up to 100 miles-per-hour. He’s facing Team USA, a lot of guys he’s probably seen on TV. It was just impressive to see him control himself out there and get out of a big jam.”
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa, meanwhile, was also impressed by Contreras.
“It’s a big heater, you see it. It’s 95 to 97,” Team USA manager Mark DeRosa told Fox’s Ken Rosenthal of Contreras on the broadcast. “He’s got his dad’s split, obviously. What a position for him to be in right there. Bases loaded, (facing) Aaron Judge, and he’s able to get out of it.
“I would have liked to see another ball go over the fence. But definitely impressive what he’s able to do.”
Contreras ended up going 1.1 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits.
Blue Jays Farm System is Getting Better
Toronto has traded away plenty of top prospects in recent years, but the team’s system is vastly improving.
The Blue Jays’ system is starting to have marquee Top 100 prospects, and MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson believes it’s on the cusp of being a top-10 system.
“You won’t find the Blue Jays ranked as a top-five system anywhere, but you also won’t find many organizations that have traded from the top of their system as effectively,” Matheson wrote. “You can look back to trades like José Berríos and Matt Chapman, but last year alone offers up its own examples.
“In 2025, the Blue Jays dealt righty Khal Stephen (then the club’s No. 5 prospect), lefty Kendry Rojas (No. 6), righty Juaron Watts-Brown (No. 10) and homegrown outfielder Alan Roden in trades to acquire Shane Bieber, Louis Varland and Seranthony Domínguez. If those pitchers were still with the Blue Jays, you’d see this system cracking the top 10, at the very least. But all of these deals serviced the big league club. That’s a farm system’s job, and this player development group has done an excellent job at giving its front office ammunition to use on the trade market.”
Toronto’s system is ranked 15th by MLB Pipeline.
Blue Jays Linked to 17-Year-Old Brazilian WBC Pitcher After USA Game