TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays’ minor-league system will be in the spotlight in two weeks, regardless of how the big-league team fares. Either prospects will be used to acquire help at the Aug. 3 trade deadline, or the farm system will represent hope for a turnaround in 2027. After Monday’s 7-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays dropped Toronto to eight games under .500, the latter scenario appears more likely.Here are notes from across Toronto’s farm, from JoJo Parker’s early development to Jay Harry’s surge, and more:JoJo Parker’s progress and comparison to a Silver-Slugger shortstopAcross four years and four minor-league levels, Ryan Casteel watched Trevor Story blossom into a future All-Star and core piece for the Colorado Rockies. A decade later, Story has two Silver Sluggers on his mantel and Casteel is nurturing the next wave of young stars as manager of the Blue Jays Single-A affiliate in Dunedin, Fla. Casteel sees similarities between Story and top Jays prospect JoJo Parker.Thoughts on the All-Star Game & pitchers being too goodKeith Law“The professionalism and the maturity for his age,” Casteel said. “It rivals Trevor’s.”There are certainly plenty of differences between Story and Parker. The young infielder isn’t as thin or raw as Story, despite both entering professional baseball as first-round picks out of high school. Story had more raw speed, while Parker relies on intuition to steal bases. At the plate, Casteel said, Parker has Story beat.“JoJo is a way better hitter, I think,” Casteel said. “I saw Story when he was really good and really bad. JoJo has a way better eye, controls the zone better, way less whiff than (Story) did at that age. That’s still with working through different mechanical adjustments.”In his first professional season, Parker has a .802 OPS with nine homers and 21 stolen bases. In Baseball America’s midseason rankings update, he ranks 56th among all prospects. Parker’s debut season didn’t start so hot, though. The 19-year-old, the youngest player on Dunedin’s Opening Day roster, hit around .230 in his first two months with just three homers. Struggles were expected as he faced college pitchers and international arms consistently for the first time.“We knew there was going to be struggles,” Casteel said. “But one thing that really just stands out to me is his even-keeledness through the whole process.”After some mechanical adjustments and increased familiarity with the minors, Parker found his form in July. He rattled off a six-homer month with a 1.092 OPS. He struck out less, walked more and hit for power. His defence at shortstop also continued to improve and, according to Toronto player development director Joe Sclafani, it’s been better than many expected.