Baseball Player Development: Lessons from our friend Bob File’s journey

The Toronto Blue Jays’ farm system has been a talking point among fans and analysts, as questions linger about its ability to produce major-league-ready talent. While the organization has seen success with players like Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the depth beyond their top names has sparked concerns about scouting and development.

On a recent episode of Jay Bird Watching Podcast, former Blue Jay Bob File shared insights into his unlikely journey to Major League Baseball, reflecting on how scouting, player development, and minor league structure have changed over the years. On this episode and in this article we do the state of player development.

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Blue Jays’ Farm System: Struggles and Missed Opportunities

Toronto’s farm system ranking has declined in recent years, as the organization struggles to develop impact prospects. In the episode, the team discussed how scouting has evolved, noting how teams once relied on experienced scouts rather than analytics-heavy evaluations. Analytics being commonplace in this generation of baseball.

Bob File himself was discovered by a veteran scout who saw potential despite File being primarily a third baseman, not a pitcher. This type of scouting approach—a reliance on instinct and firsthand evaluation—was once common but has shifted toward data-driven recruitment. The eye test does not weigh as heavy in an evaluation as much as it did previously. Especially for pitchers when everyone is obsessing over velocity and spin rates.

Today, Toronto’s minor league affiliates are finding fewer late-round success stories like File’s. In addition to the fact that there are not as many rounds in the draft anymore! Instead, concerns grow over whether the organization is doing enough to nurture and develop talent beyond its top-ranked draft picks. Where do you find the talent to grow a team? It has been proven time and time again that the best teams in baseball grow from the farm and add talent via trades and free agency to add to that core.

Bob File’s Journey: A Testament to Strong Development

File’s path to the majors was unconventional and inspiring. Unlike most MLB pitchers, he didn’t follow a traditional path through elite baseball academies or Division I programs. Instead, he played at a Division II school, before making the transition to professional baseball.

The Blue Jays initially drafted File as a third baseman, but upon arriving in Medicine Hat, Alberta, he was abruptly shifted to pitching full-time. He recalled sitting in the bullpen for weeks before getting his shot, highlighting the trial-and-error nature of early player development.

Despite limited pitching experience, File worked tirelessly to refine his mechanics, eventually earning a spot in Toronto’s bullpen in 2001. His story underscores the importance of strong coaching and individualized player development, something the current Blue Jays system has struggled to replicate. File would go on to pitch in 74.1 innings throwing a 3.27 ERA while holding hitters to a .220 batting average in 2001.

Challenges Facing Toronto’s Minor League Development

The podcast team examined how scouting and recruitment have changed while talking with Bob File, particularly in travel baseball and minor league restructuring. File pointed out that today’s young athletes face intense pressure to commit to year-round travel teams, often burning out before reaching their full potential. Compounded further by the minor league contraction which has reduced opportunities for under-the-radar players like File. Many short-season leagues have disappeared or went independent, making it harder for teams to take flyers on overlooked prospects and to even find them to develop them in their now smaller farm systems.

The Blue Jays must adjust their approach by refining scouting strategies, investing in player coaching, and ensuring that lower-ranked draft picks receive the support they need to develop properly. In addition to this they need to find the proper support systems to ensure the on-field success is just as important as the off-field activities. Keep these players mentally fit not just physically. File and the podcast team discussed the importance of mental strength/ training all the way down to young players just picking up the game. We all quoted Yogi Berra during this discussion, "Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical".

Bob File’s journey is a success story, proving that talent development and hard work—not just raw ability—can create major-league players. The MLB farm systems face serious questions about their ability to repeat these kinds of success stories in the current era of baseball. If Toronto hopes to remain competitive in the AL East, it must reevaluate its scouting and development model, ensuring that hidden gems like File don’t get lost in a system focused solely on top prospects.

For more on this incredible conversation with Bob File please check out the entire episode at this link. Click here for full interview!