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Project Ohtani? Toronto Blue Jays prospect will pitch and hit next season

Adam Laskaris
Adam Laskaris
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Aug 6 2025, 6:50 pm
Project Ohtani? Toronto Blue Jays prospect will pitch and hit next season
University of San Diego Athletics

The Toronto Blue Jays might finally be getting Shohei Ohtani after all.

Well, not quite.

But as per Dunedin Blue Jays broadcaster Eli Fishman, and relayed by Blue Jays Nation’s Ryley Delaney, Toronto prospect Austin Smith will be testing his hand at pitching and hitting next season.

The Blue Jays picked Smith in the 10th round of this year’s draft.

He had a 16-9 record, eight saves, and a 4.12 ERA in 53 college appearances and 28 starts while striking out 168 batters as a pitcher for the University of San Diego. As a batter, he put up a .353  batting average with six home runs in 250 plate appearances last season.

While pitchers hitting was commonplace for much of the National League’s history until it adopted the designated hitter rule in 2022, the Blue Jays themselves have never had a regular dual hitter and pitcher as part of their lineup, outside of interleague games.

When could Smith play for the Blue Jays?

Still in the early days of his professional career, the 22-year-old Smith has suited up for five games for Dunedin, registering three hits and three walks in 21 plate appearances.

Despite the obvious comparisons to the Los Angeles Dodgers star Ohtani due to the two-way nature of his game, it’s obviously quite unlikely that Smith ever nears the accomplishments of the three-time MVP.

And, of course, if Toronto felt like he’d be a future franchise cornerstone, there were nine earlier rounds to pick him in.

But if there’s anyone in Toronto’s system who might just be the greatest show on earth in a few years, Smith can throw his hat in the ring as arguably the most exciting up-and-coming Blue Jays talent to watch moving forward.

And with two different skill sets to try to perfect, he just might have upped his chances at impressing enough to get the call-up to the big leagues in the next few years.

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