2019 Minor Leagues/Prospect Discussion Thread

[Lateral Quicks]

FFS. If he's not injured he's pissing off his manager du jour.

You'd think a guy with good speed, defense, and OBP (in the minors, anyway - including .369 in Buffalo this year) could earn a job. But alas, apparently not. What a shame.

Edit: But on a positive note, Jonathan Davis has put himself in the mix for a future 4th OF role with his impressive year. Hasn't skipped a beat in Buffalo so far.

[Lateral Quicks]

I realize Groshans has a small sample in the GCL, but it's a mighty impressive sample without any obvious holes. I'm all for an early promotion.

[Schad]

I realize Groshans has a small sample in the GCL, but it's a mighty impressive sample without any obvious holes. I'm all for an early promotion.

Think he has performed sufficiently that Lansing is a likely destination next year; don't think they're going to pack him off to Vancouver this season, but I'm curious whether they move him up to Bluefield, as it's a more advanced league and they stand a good chance of playing a few extra games in the playoffs.

[dagger]

I realize Groshans has a small sample in the GCL, but it's a mighty impressive sample without any obvious holes. I'm all for an early promotion.

Think he has performed sufficiently that Lansing is a likely destination next year; don't think they're going to pack him off to Vancouver this season, but I'm curious whether they move him up to Bluefield, as it's a more advanced league and they stand a good chance of playing a few extra games in the playoffs.

He hasn't played in two days, so he's either injured or being relocated, although if the latter were the case, we'd likely have heard about it by now.

Moreno had two walks today!

[dagger]

Looks like Pompey has burned his last chance with the Jays
https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-pompey-suspended-altercation-triple-manager/

[vaff87]

He was hitting well in his limited sample this year, but at 25 and in his four partial season at the level, he should be hitting at least that well.

Bon voyage, Dalton; we will always have that grainy Youtube video of you chasing fly balls in Mississauga.

And the two steals that should have led to tying Game 6 of the ALCS

[vaff87]

Was reading John Sickels updated comments on his pre-season Jays top 20 list. He mentioned in the comment section, he would give Groshans a B+ grade at this point.

[dagger]

Like Rowdy Tellez, Max Pentecost has been largely written off in prospect evaluation by fans (if not the Jays who left him off the 40 man roster last winter). But he has had three three-hit games in his last five. If he were to come around, that would be a nice add in an area - catching - where the Jays have quite a bit of minor league depth.

[-MetA4-]

The Cardinals released J.B. Woodman.

Strong trade, and what a terrible draft pick LMAO.

[manjusaka]

These are the 10 best farm systems in baseball
by: MLB.com

1. Padres
2. Braves
3. White Sox
4. Rays

5. Blue Jays

Guerrero is the best prospect in baseball and Bichette isn't far off. While those sons of former big league stars hog most of the spotlight in the Jays system, there's also plenty of promising pitchers such as Pearson and RHPs Eric Pardinho, Sean Reid-Foley and recent trade acquisition Hector Perez. 3B/SS Jordan Groshans and RHP Adam Kloffenstein, teammates at Magnolia (Texas) High, highlight a strong 2018 Draft.

[phillipmike]

Was reading John Sickels updated comments on his pre-season Jays top 20 list. He mentioned in the comment section, he would give Groshans a B+ grade at this point.

Read on Twitter

Jordan Groshans, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays: One of my favorite players in the 2018 draft class was Jordan Groshans, high school infielder from Magnolia, Texas. In the pre-draft report I mentioned that he seemed lost in the shuffle of high school bats when it came to mock drafts but that his power, defense, and overall athleticism really stood out, noting that “Jordan is generally mocked in the supplemental or second round but it would not surprise me to see him go earlier than that.”

Indeed, that happened, with Groshans going 12th-overall to the Toronto Blue Jays. And so far that looks like a terrific choice: he’s hitting .380/.439/.593 with four homers, 12 walks, and 19 strikeouts in 108 at-bats in the Gulf Coast League. I put a “young David Wright” comp on Groshans a few days ago. It seems early to make that sort of call, but, well, I believe. Your mileage may vary.

[phillipmike]

The Cardinals released J.B. Woodman.

Strong trade, and what a terrible draft pick LMAO.

Read on Twitter

2M, 28 year old SS with a 0.9 WAR with 5 more years of control with average defense. I gladly take that for "free"

St. Louis has made some questionable moves in the last 2 years.

[I_Like_Dirt]

2M, 28 year old SS with a 0.9 WAR with 5 more years of control with average defense. I gladly take that for "free"

St. Louis has made some questionable moves in the last 2 years.

They really lucked out that the Jays were too busy winning this season to have traded them Donaldson last offseason like the apparently wanted.

[phillipmike]

2M, 28 year old SS with a 0.9 WAR with 5 more years of control with average defense. I gladly take that for "free"

St. Louis has made some questionable moves in the last 2 years.

They really lucked out that the Jays were too busy winning this season to have traded them Donaldson last offseason like the apparently wanted.

Lot of ifs;

Rogers told them to contend so the front office's hands were tied. Even after that it would be interesting to see what the offers were and even after that if Donaldson would have passed a physical. I recall him not being able to throw on opening day, then went to DH for the next 4 games, tried to play 3B then went on the DL for almost a month.

Donaldson has been nagged by many injuries, i dont think its a slam dunk that passes a physical to be traded in the off-season - missed a bulk of spring training then when he did come back he was DHing and playing 3B and his at bats werent very good hitting below .200. Probably made good sense not to trade him when he was hurts and the offers maybe werent good. Try to get him healthy and compete or deal him at the deadline but when dealing with people nothing always works out to plan perfectly and he kept getting hurt and having set backs.

Unlike the M's and Angels the Jays had a good plan - try to contend; if you win great and if you dont then you can sell at the deadline. They still have a top 3 or 5 farm depending who you ask. They had a built in plan B, got to take some risks for the most part it didnt work but they still are accomplishing plan B.

[polo007]

https://www.therecord.com/sports-story/8800434-blue-jays-prospect-rowdy-tellez-plays-on-as-mother-fights-brain-cancer/

BUFFALO — On the inside of Rowdy Tellez's left wrist, there is a new tattoo.

"Proverbs 31:25," it reads in fresh black ink, an off-season addition for the Buffalo Bisons' 23-year-old first baseman.

" 'She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future,' " Tellez explained in the dugout of Coca-Cola Field this week.

It is for his mom, Lori, who is battling cancer. After discovering a lump in her armpit, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma around December 2016. Little more than a year ago, she called from Tellez's childhood home in Elk Grove, Calif., to tell her son she was cancer-free. But twice since spring training — once in March and once for 10 days in early July — Tellez has travelled more than 4,000 km home to be with his family as the cancer fought back. Today, the Toronto Blue Jays farmhand is rarely away from his phone. Every time he steps on the field — for 90 games this season, heading into play on Friday — he wonders: "When we get back, is my mom going to be alive?"

"Between 2017 and 2018 it's taken a dramatic bad turn for my family with my mom," Tellez said. "She was cancer-free as of, like, June of last year and now we're working with probably a fatal form of brain cancer so we're seeing a different change in all of us in the family and it's affecting me on and off the field, for the better I would say. I know it's a struggle to have my mom in the state that she's in, but everything happens for a reason and I accept that."

Tellez wouldn't say he manages his emotions. He doesn't get to the field and turn them off.

"It's one of those things, you're never going to get away from," he said.

[vaff87]

Riley Adams has thrown out 36 of 76 base stealers this year.

[vaff87]

Why haven’t the Jays assigned Kloffenstein to any team? Has he already reached his inning limit for this year?

[JaysRule25]

Man, I really feel for Tellez. Really tough to focus on baseball or anything else when dealing with a situation like that. Hopefully, it all works out for the best.

[dagger]

Why haven’t the Jays assigned Kloffenstein to any team? Has he already reached his inning limit for this year?

I'm sure they are putting his time to good use. They also could put Pearson back into the Dunedin rotation but the plan is to make absolutely sure of his recovery and pitch him in the instructional league this fall. Kloffenstein might follow a similar pattern.

[IceBelly05]

Rowdy Tellez crushed a pitch to CF for his 11th homerun.

.297 with 11 homeruns since his terrible April