By: Brian Frank
Jonatan Clase is part of an exciting group of young players who came to the Blue Jays' organization at this season’s major-league trade deadline. Toronto acquired 14 new players in late July in a series of eight trades. Clase, a 22-year-old outfielder, was acquired from the Seattle Mariners along with minor-league catcher Jacob Sharp on July 26 in return for fireballing reliever Yimi García.
“I was in the big leagues at the time and we were in Chicago,” Clase recently told The Herd Chronicles through an interpreter. “When I got to the field, the manager (Scott Servais) called me into the office and let me know that I was being traded to the Blue Jays. At that moment, I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it. But then I got my mind right – and now I’m here.”
Clase hit 20 home runs last season. Photo Credit: Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles
Clase grew up in the baseball hotbed of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the birthplace of numerous current Bisons and Blue Jays, including Steward Berroa, Orelvis Martínez, Génesis Cabrera, and José Cuas. It’s also where former Blue Jays greats like José Bautista, Juan Guzmán, and Alfredo Griffin grew up, and home to baseball legends like Albert Pujols, David Ortiz, Adrian Beltré, Manny Ramírez, and Juan Soto.
“The days that I remember are playing in the streets with all the kids from my childhood,” Clase said of growing up in Santo Domingo. “Playing every day with them.”
Clase signed with the Mariners as an international amateur free agent when he was 16 years old and began playing for the Mariners’ Dominican Summer League affiliate when he was 17 years old. In 63 games that season, he slashed .300/.434/.444 and stole 31 bases.
“I enjoyed it,” he said. “I had a lot of fun. I learned a lot from the players and coaches there.”
After the COVID pandemic shut down the 2020 minor-league season, Clase came to the United States for his first professional season in 2021 as a 19-year-old.
“It was hard at the beginning because it was a new culture, a new language, and new food,” he said. “Everything was new. So, in the beginning it was hard, but I was just focused on improving my game and trying to get better in all the different aspects like understanding and learning the language, and getting used to the food. It was hard, but I got used to it quick.”
Clase has already made numerous diving catches for the Herd. Photo Credit: Brian Frank
He only played 14 games that summer for the Mariners Arizona Complex League affiliate due to various injuries. However, he took advantage of the time he missed to reintroduce an important aspect of his game.
“When I was 14 years old, before I signed, I was a switch hitter,” he explained. “But before I signed my professional contract I stopped switch hitting and just started swinging left handed. In 2021, the season I was hurt, I started practicing hitting right handed again and became a switch-hitter once again.”
Clase moved up to Low-A Modesto in 2022. He slashed .276/.392/.455 with nine home runs in 371 plate appearances while batting left-handed and .232/.312/.438 with three home runs in 125 plate appearances while batting right handed for the first time in his professional career. He also led the California League with 55 stolen bases.
In 2023, he completely broke out at the plate. playing across two levels – 21 games at High-A Everett and 108 games at Double-A Arkansas. Clase posted an .802 OPS, belted 20 home runs, and stole 79 bases, becoming the first minor-league player since at least 1961, when records began being tracked, to hit at least 20 home runs and also have at least 70 stolen bases.
“The key was being healthy for a full year – and I was having fun all year too,” he explained. “Those were the most important things last season, being healthy and having fun.”
One of the highlights of his 2023 season was getting to play in the Futures Game during Major League Baseball’s All-Star week festivities. The fact the game was played at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park made the honor extra special.
“It was awesome because I signed my first professional contract with the Mariners,” he said. “Going to the Futures Game at the same field that the Mariners play at was awesome. It felt like a dream come true. I enjoyed it a lot.”
This season, Clase slashed .274/.373/.483 with 10 home runs and 26 stolen bases in 59 games at Triple-A Tacoma. He also made his major-league debut on April 15 in a game in Seattle against the Cincinnati Reds.
After flying out in his first two major-league at-bats, Clase stepped to the plate against Reds reliever Nick Martinez with one out and runners at the corners. Clase grounded a ball into left field to collect his first big league hit and RBI.
“I can’t even describe the moment,” he smiled. “It was like I was in a dream. All the work that I put in during my career, all the time I spent on the field – all of it paid off. That was awesome.”
Now, the exciting young outfielder has brought his electrifying style of play to the Bisons. He’s already amazed Buffalo baseball fans with his play in the outfield, making numerous diving catches, and he's also put his daring base running on display.
“I am excited because I know I have the opportunity here to show my ability to play the game of baseball,” he said of joining a new organization. “I’m excited because I know I will have a shot here with the Blue Jays.”
“It’s really nice,” he said of his initial impression of his new team. “I have a lot of good teammates – players who want to get better and work really hard every day. That motivates me to work hard too and improve my game.”
Already rated as the Blue Jays seventh ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, Clase said he believes he can take his game to the next level by being “more consistent.” With his unique combination of speed and power, the sky’s the limit for the Bisons’ new young star.
Clase squares to bunt in a recent game. Photo Credit: Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles
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