Exclusive: Arjun Nimmala Blazing Trail as Indian-American Star in Blue Jays Farm System

Arjun Nimmala, a 19-year-old shortstop with the high-A affiliate of the Vancouver Canadians, is making a name for himself in the Northwest League (NWL) and has the numbers to back it up. 

Hitting for the fences

To date, the Tampa, Florida native has nine home runs and 26 RBIs for an .291 AVG in 46 games played and a .382 OBP which has made him a leader on the team in HR’s, RBI’s and runs scored. 

This performance on the field earned him accolades to be named NWL Player of the week for May 19th-25th, where Nimmala went 9-for-25 (.360 AVG) where six runs scored, had six RBI with two HR in six games. 

“It feels good any chance I can to get to help the team offensively or on the field defensively or anything,” said the top-rated prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system speaking to SportsBoom.com. 

“It is a big moment and I think last week was a pretty good week for me and I am glad to have gotten that losing streak out of the way as a team and start to get rolling and get some wins. Continuing to put good at bats together individually and as a team I think we are in a good spot.” 

Statically speaking looking at the overall picture, the Canadians in 51 games the team has collectively produced 286 runs, had 49 HRs, and 260 RBIs for a team .236 AVG and Nimmala has played a part in that. But, right now he is just focused on continuing to improve and get better as a professional baseball player and prove why he belongs in the NWL. 

“It’s just taking it day by day and getting better every single day and helping the team win,” he said in an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com at Nat Bailey Stadium with Queen Elizabeth Park nestled in the background in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 

“You know I think it is the same motto every day in day out so those expectations aren’t really worrying me because I know if I stay on my process I will be in a good spot.”

Being the best, he can be

Born to Indian parents, Nimmala wants to continue to improve to be a better overall baseball player and models his game after New York Mets shortstop Franciso Lindor speaking to SportsBoom.com on a Friday morning before a scheduled 1:05 pm afternoon game day start where the home team beat the visiting Hillsboro Hops 8-1. 

“I think personally I think I can get better at every aspect of the game you know I think continually getting better at every part of the game whether it is hitting, defensive, base running anything, it’s just getting better at the same rate and you know if I think I can do that it’s going to be pretty good,” he said. 

“I think just having him around.  Just being able to practice around him in the off season is big I’m not trying to be another Franciso Lindor I am trying to be the first Arjun Nimmala and you know he does a lot of things right. He is always smiling helping people giving back and you know just doing the right things so you know just doing that. He does a lot of things on and off the field right and just being able to learn from that and make it my own is going to be a big aspect,” said the 6’ 1” 170-pound Vancouver Canadians infielder who wears number 18 on the diamond. 

“You know like I said, leadership I think he does a great job like leading around the clubhouse and helping younger guys I think you know that’s something that I would like to adapt and get better at and just also having a positive mindset and you know I think that he has a very positive mindset up there and you know every a bat is a different at bat and every time on defensive is different so you know just having that type of mindset.” 

Excelling in a new league

Nimmala credits his success to his family who have been very supportive of his baseball endeavours who encouraged him to get involved and be active in the sport.

"My family is super proud you know I have very supportive parents a supportive brother you know they love the game of baseball and they you know will always be there to support me and I got to thank them for that I can’t thank them enough," Nimmala said, who had an RBI, went 3-6, and one run scored on May 27th, 2025 which helped the Canadians to a decisive 15-4 win to open the first-game of a six game home stand against the Hops and more importantly get the team a win on South Asian heritage night at The Nat. 

The right-handed hitting Nimmala was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2023 MLB amateur draft out of Strawberry Crest in Dover, Fla. who received a 3-million signing bonus from the club has exceled making the jump from single-A Dunedin where he had 17 home runs in 90 games, where 16 of those home runs were with the Dunedin Blue Jays in 83 games which led all minor leaguers age 18 or younger. 

Nimmala hopefully wants to follow in the footsteps of Texas Rangers right-hander Kumar Rocker who was pegged as the first player with Indian roots to appear in the big leagues when he debuted last season. 

“I take a lot of pride in playing shortstop you know I go day in day out practicing what I can moving throwing everything just you know to play that position at a high level,” Nimmala concluded.