Danny Jansen

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #3 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: After a breakthrough 2017 season, Jansen took another step forward in 2018, posting a .390 on-base percentage for Triple-A Buffalo before getting called up to the majors in August.
  
  Scouting Report: Jansen is a high on-base threat with a sharp eye for the strike zone. He's a disciplined hitter who recognizes pitches early, stays balanced and doesn't chase much off the plate. He does a good job of putting himself into favorable counts and swinging at pitches he can damage with a compact swing. Jansen set a career-high with 15 home runs between Buffalo and Toronto in 2018, but he's more of a line-drive hitter with just enough pull-side power for average home run totals. Jansen earns high praise for his leadership and ability to manage a pitching staff. He blocks balls well, but his arm is fringe-average. He could improve his footwork and release to get rid of the ball faster after throwing out just 19 percent of basestealers in 2018.
  
  The Future: If everything clicks for Jansen, he could have a similar profile to fellow Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin. He's ready for a larger role in Toronto in 2019.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #7 prospect in 2018
  A broken left hand sidelined Jansen for three months in 2015 and a broken hamate bone in his left hand in 2016 put him out for two months that season. Healthy in 2017, Jansen broke through, hitting a combined .323/.400/.484 in a season he spent primarily at Double-A New Hampshire but finished at Triple-A Buffalo. Jansen's success stems from excellent strike-zone judgment. He walked (41) more often than he struck out (40) because he tracks pitches well, has a disciplined approach and doesn't chase much off the plate, enabling himself to get into advantageous counts and draw walks to get on base. Jansen makes frequent contact with a pull-minded, line-drive approach and enough power to hit 10-15 home runs, with his value coming more from his on-base skills than his power. Behind the plate, Jansen blocks balls well, but his arm strength is fringe-average and he threw out just 24 percent of baserunners in 2017. The Blue Jays added Jansen to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He should return to Triple-A to start 2018 and could be up by midseason.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #22 prospect in 2017
  For the second straight year, an injury to his left hand cost Jansen significant playing time. In 2015 his left hand was hit by a bat during a swing, breaking a bone and costing him three months. In 2016, he missed two months after breaking the hook of the hamate bone in his left hand while swinging the bat. This time, Jansen returned early enough to get some second-half reps and to play in the Arizona Fall League, where he played his way onto the 40-man roster. His injuries robbed him of some power, but he still has good strength and average power when healthy. He makes contact and isn't afraid to work a count. Defensively, Jansen needs development time to work on his game-calling and pitch-framing, but is adept at blocking balls in the dirt and is a sound receiver. He has a quick transfer with fringe-average arm strength. With Reese McGuire now in the system, Jansen must stay healthy and put together a solid 2017 season at Double-A to remain part of the Blue Jays' plans.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #22 prospect in 2016
  A former Jacksonville recruit, Jansen hails from Appleton, Wis., where his parents served as a host family for low Class A Wisconsin players. He signed for $100,000 as a 2013 16th-rounder and opened 2015 as the everyday regular at low Class A Lansing. He broke a bone in his left hand when he was hit by a swing in late May on a catcher's interference play and missed most of the season. He returned to play in late August and in instructional league but lost critical development time. A gym rat whose work ethic endears him to club officials, Jansen knows the strike zone and uses a strength-oriented swing to give him solid-average pull power. He doesn't have a pure feel for hitting but draws walks. Defensively, he has above-average potential as a receiver and blocker, but he must get better at calling games. He has fringe-average arm strength but good-enough throwing technique to produce average pop times in the 2.0-second range on throws to second base, and he caught 29 percent of basestealers in 2015. Jansen may return to Lansing to open 2016 but could jump to high Class A Dunedin during the season.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #20 prospect in 2015
  The Badger State has just four prep position players who have reached the major leagues in the last four decades, but Jansen has contributed immediately since entering pro ball and has the potential to become a two-way contributor behind the plate. He entered the 2014 season in tremendous shape and is a strong, physical and powerful presence. He offers plus bat speed from the right side along with the physical strength and leverage in his swing to hit at least 15 home runs annually. His bat-to-ball ability and knowledge of the strike zone have produced more walks than strikeouts. Jansen's stroke is geared to the pull side, and he is learning to use the opposite field. His defensive ability has improved and gives him the potential to remain behind the plate. He is working on his exchange and release, which should enable his fringe-average arm to play up. Jansen sustained a minor knee injury late in the season at Rookie-level Bluefield but is expected to be ready for spring training and could make his full-season debut in 2015.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #42 prospect in 2019

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  After a three-level rise in 2017, Jansen has continued his success this year in Triple-A. A high contact hitter with sharp strike-zone discipline and 10-15 home run power, Jansen has the on-base skills to carry him as a potential above-average regular with a chance to reach the big leagues by the end of this season.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: A broken left hand sidelined Jansen for three months in 2015 and a broken hamate bone in his left hand in 2016 put him out for two months that season. Healthy in 2017, Jansen broke through, hitting a combined .323/.400/.484 in a season he spent primarily at Double-A New Hampshire but finishing at Triple-A Buffalo. Scouting Report: Jansen's success stems from excellent strike-zone judgment. He walked (41) more often than he struck out (40) because he tracks pitches well, has a disciplined approach and doesn't chase much off the plate, enabling himself to get into advantageous counts and draw walks to get on base. Jansen makes frequent contact with a pull-minded, line-drive approach and enough power to hit 10-15 home runs, with his value coming more from his on-base skills than his power. Behind the plate, Jansen blocks balls well, but his arm strength is fringe-average and he threw out just 24 percent of baserunners in 2017. The Future: The Blue Jays added Jansen to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He should return to Triple-A to start 2018 and could be up by midseason.