How Blue Jays top prospect Arjun Nimmala is turning confidence into results

The Toronto Blue Jays are on fire right now, posting an MLB-best record of 22-10 in their last 32 games, but so are the Vancouver Canadians, their High-A affiliate. The Canadians are winners of seven straight, and a huge part of that success has been the play of 2023 first-round draft selection Arjun Nimmala.

Nimmala hit his team-high 10th home run of the season in an 8-4 win on Wednesday night against Spokane to become just the second teenager this season to reach the double-digit homer mark.

Toronto’s top-ranked prospect joined Friday’s episode of Jays Talk Plus with Blake Murphy and Julia Kreuz to discuss his time on the developmental list last year and what he carried over into his preparation coming into this season to get a better feel at the plate.

“It was just getting up early and going in there and using the Trajekt Lab that we have, seeing pitches, just talking with the hitting coaches, just getting mentally prepared for guys, as well as just physically getting better on the baseball field,” Nimmala explained when asked what his day-to-day work was like.

Nimmala’s power at the plate has been much more evident this season, while his strikeout rate has also been way down. It’s something he credits to being able to take a break from game action during that period last year.

“I think it’s a little easier when you get that little step back and you’re like, okay I’m not playing, so now I can really hone in on just being confident in the skills that I have,” said Nimmala, who won’t turn 20 until October. “I’ve always been a pretty confident guy, I would say, but it’s just really trusting the ability that I have and just allowing that to translate into game action.”

With Nimmala continuing to get better while also seeing many of his Canadians teammates progress through the ranks, the allure of a future in the majors can start to look enticing. The prospect knows, though, the importance of staying ahead of each major leap.

“Every jump is a big jump, whether it’s the pitching (getting) better, or the guys are older, anything like that. I think it’s just trying to learn and adapt every single day,” Nimmala said when discussing how he approaches future possibilities. “I’m trying to stay focused on today’s game and then tomorrow’s game — the only things I can control (are) what I do on the field.”

Nimmala has also gotten the opportunity to spend time training with New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, which has provided him with a huge opportunity to learn from an all-star player at his position.

“I kind of become like a sponge; I just try to take everything out of him and apply that to myself, so I think just having that has been a huge stepping stone in my career,” the young prospect said.

When drafted, Nimmala became the first first-generation Indian-American to be selected in the first round of the MLB draft, which is an achievement he carries with pride.

“I’m super proud of that, and I think that another big goal of mine is to help inspire other Indian athletes to play not only baseball but sports in general,” he explained. “I think it’s a huge part of life, and it’s very inspiring and motivating for me.”

All of these factors have led to a lot of hype and talk that follows Nimmala everywhere he goes, but the shortstop isn’t backing down from the expectations being placed upon him.

“For me, it’s always just staying in control of what I can control, and that’s just putting my best effort out there every day on the field, off the field, (and) just doing the little things that I do every day to help put myself in the best position,” he said.

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