2019 Minor Leagues/Prospect Discussion Thread

[Schad]

Okay, Dan Jansen might be good. Really, really good. Fourth home run in thirty-two games. Seems to do everything pretty well, and is a very good defensive catcher.

I had him around 10 in my hastily-constructed rankings, but bumped it down as it seemed crazily aggressive given the small sample. But his past ten games are insane...he's dominating at the moment, and a promotion might be in the offing.

Schad, what kind of reports have you seen on his defence? The bat is interesting, you want to see him do this against (granted he's a young 19 year old) slightly tougher competition but its hard to deny there's something intriguing here.

He was considered a defense-first catcher with a promising bat when we drafted him. He's throwing out over 40% of runners (though runners in rookie ball are sometimes easy pickings) and gets great reviews for his receiving and footwork.

He's a long way away, but statistically there aren't any holes. He's hitting for average, and for power. He's taking walks, and he isn't striking out at a high rate. He plays a premiere defensive position well. Higher levels will be telling, but if he was a player drafted in the top couple rounds putting up these numbers at his age, he'd make the top 50 pretty easily.

His line thus far, including tonight: .292/.390/.491 (top five in the Appy, I believe), 9.8% BB, 13.8% K, 38.9% CS.

[Graham's Cracker]

Miguel Castro has a runner reach third in the 5th with none out and then goes on to strike out the side and strand him.

Through 5IP/3H/0ER/2BB/7K

This guy is legit.

[Graham's Cracker]

Fans can see just how much has changed when the new Top 100 is unveiled on Sunday night, and MLBPipeline.com prospect expert Jim Callis breaks down the top 50 players during an hour-long special at 9 p.m. ET on MLB Network and MLB.com.

In addition to the Top 100, MLBPipeline.com's Top 20 Prospects lists for each club and Top 10 Prospects by position have been updated and will be released on Sunday, as well.

The new lists for the first time include players who were selected in the 2014 Draft. Eleven players from this year's Draft class have immediately jumped into the Top 100, and every team's Top 20 list includes at least one player selected last month.

[Schad]

Miguel Castro has a runner reach third in the 5th with none out and then goes on to strike out the side and strand him.

Through 5IP/3H/0ER/2BB/7K

This guy is legit.

Now 6IP/3H/0ER/2BB/8K.

Full-season awaits; I don't think he's likely to find anything challenging in Vancouver.

[dagger]

Miguel Castro has a runner reach third in the 5th with none out and then goes on to strike out the side and strand him.

Through 5IP/3H/0ER/2BB/7K

This guy is legit.

Now 6IP/3H/0ER/2BB/8K.

Full-season awaits; I don't think he's likely to find anything challenging in Vancouver.

Max Pentacost with a night to forget (unless he does something the rest of the way). Has twice come up with the bases loaded, grounding into a DP and lining out. Game remains scoreless after 7.

[There There]

Miguel Castro has a runner reach third in the 5th with none out and then goes on to strike out the side and strand him.

Through 5IP/3H/0ER/2BB/7K

This guy is legit.

His time in Vancouver is indeed very reminiscent of Osuna's time there.

I said it before, but that Lansing staff next year is shaping up to be a hell of a lot of fun to follow.

[There There]

Its crazy how hot Pompey has been since that 0-21 start, he's OPSing around .900, obviously you can't just ignore the bad start in AA but if he keeps up this pace he should start 2015 in AAA and be ready for a midseason promotion.

Pompey's slash over the last 11 is .405/.457/.595

If he keeps this pace up, he may be due for a month long trial in Buffalo before season's end.

Even after that start, his numbers at NH are basically the same as his FSL numbers, outside of the lower BABIP.

BB and K rates have held steady.

His ISO is the same.

I liked Pompey as a sleeper coming into the season but the way he has quickly adjusted to each level is really impressive ( he also got off to a slow start at Dunedin ).

[Graham's Cracker]

Just looking through our pre-season top prospect list (used Sickels since it covers 20) and thought it would be fun to make an attempt at determining who has improved, regressed or flatlined
1. Sanchez A- - equal.
A case could be made for regression, however, he has gone through three levels and is in the majors at 22.

2. Stroman B+ - much improved
Not much needs to be said here. He's been sensational.

3. Nay B - equal
Despite posting a good average and showing good contact skills, the power hasn't come yet. I think he'll breakout but he hasn't yet.

4. Norris B - much improved
Numbers speak for themselves. Is giving up more walks and has given up some HR's at AA, but he's having a great season.

5. Nolin B - regressed
Hampered by injuries and he'll turn 25 this off-season. I think he can be an effective major league pitcher, but I don't think Rogers Centre will be the right environment for him. If we were making an acquisition of Denofria, I'd ask for him if I were the Padres.

6. Barreto B- - improved
Continues to hit. Does strikeout a little too often and then there are question marks about his final position but he looks like he'll be a great hitter.

7. DJ Davis B- - regressed
His K rate is 5 times higher than his BB rate. His SB success rate is 44%. He's showed some power this year, but that won't mean much if he can't make contact. He's still young, but it's not looking good.

8. Tirado C+ - even
Too many walks, but the Jays agressively put in Lansing as a 19 year old to start the year. Confident he'll rebound.

9. Osuna C+ - even I guess
Today is the 1 year anniversary of his TJ. Just 19 still.

10. Lugo C+ -even
Average up, power down. Still hasn't proven that he can take a walk, although his BB rate is up ever so slightly from last year.

11. Burns C+ - even
Would have said regressed but he's turned it on in the 2nd half. Overall his numbers in 2014 are exactly the same as his year in AA in 2013. Slow start skews those numbers though.

12. Robson C+ - regressed
Going under the knife and he wasn't particularly effective in A. He'll be 22 when he starts to rehab his way back from TJ.

13. Stilson C+ - regressed
Hasn't pitched since June. Expectation was that he'd be in the Jays bullpen this season.

14. Jimenez C+ - even
Working his way back from injury and is starting to hit better in AAA but he's getting older now.

15. Labourt C+ -even
Like Tirado, I'm discounting his struggles at Lansing due to age. Struck out a lot of batters, but walked a lot too. He's been better at Vancouver, although he's had a few games where control has gone to hell.

16. DeJong C+ - even
Showing nice control and a decent K rate. Giving up too many home runs but he's still young. Gives up a lot of flyballs.

17. Smith Jr. C+ - improved
The knock against him coming in to the year was that he couldn't hit lefties. He's actually hit better against LHP this season and looks like he's ready for a promotion to AA. He can hit some, swipe a few bags and play good defence. A solid all-round player.

18. Dantzler C+ - regressed
After a great year at Vancouver last season, he had a sub-par start to the year with Lansing. He was promoted to Dunedin and has been even worse there. Currently injured.

19. Boyd C+ - improved
Dominated A+ and but struggled at AA. Still racking up strikeouts and keeping walks to a minimum, he's just getting hit. He's been better since going back to AA, but still has work to do.

20. Urena C+ - improved
Hitting really well as an 18 year old in Bluefield. Only thing you can pick out is that he isn't hitting well against LHP.

Feel free to pick this apart or offer your own thoughts.

[Lateral Quicks]

It's funny that Pompey wasn't even on that list. A 21-year-old player with all kinds of tools and coming off a solid age-20 year in Lansing (especially the second half) wasn't seen as ahead of guys like Dantzler? Incredible.

[Graham's Cracker]

It's funny that Pompey wasn't even on that list. A 21-year-old player with all kinds of tools and coming off a solid age-20 year in Lansing (especially the second half) wasn't seen as ahead of guys like Dantzler? Incredible.

He included Pompey in a group of guys that he considered 'too far away or too raw to be fully confident in'. Turns out he was neither of those things this year. To his credit too, Dantzler looked liked a really polished hitter last year.

I think the other trouble with the system from an evaluators perspective was the depth. Although we didn't have the 'impact' prospects, we did have mind-boggling depth.

This year will be no different with Jansen, Borucki, Castro, Evan Smith, Graveman, Lane Thomas, SRF, Brentz and others emerging. Many more guys next season with serious breakout potential.

[-MetA4-]

To his credit too, Dantzler looked liked a really polished hitter last year.

I never understood the Dantzler hype. He was a middle round college senior who was beating up a college-aged league. It was good performance, but it seemed like a huge stretch to make a big deal out of it. You'd expect someone like Sickels to not overreact.

[dagger]

On Sportsnet they were interviewing Mel Didier who was just in from Vancouver to promote his Sportsnet bio which was shown for the first time last week. He had the usual effusive praise for a couple of prospects, said there were two bona fide major league pitchers there, both Latins. I presume one was Castro. He mentioned an 18 year old SS, we know it's Barreto. Then he went on and on about a CF who he called the first OF he has seen in four years with the Jays who is a legitimate leadoff hitter, and whom they plan to invest a lot of time in developing, including winter ball this year. It could be Chris Carlson who has a .448 OBP, but more likely it's Roeman Fields, the regular leadoff hitter and CF. He's got a .376 OBP and 31 stolen bases in 41 games. He's 23, in fact he was out of baseball for a year, working as a letter carrier, because he went undrafted in 2013. He was discovered by chance on a barnstorming tour.

Not saying he will amount to anything, but the organization is intrigued. If it happens to work out, that would be a nice coup. Good organizations in every sport find the hidden gems.

[Schad]

Poor Jo-Jo Reyes. Made his comeback five days ago against Buffalo...7 ER over 5 IP. Made his second start of the year today against Buffalo...7 ER over 2.2 IP.

[vaff87]

Poor Jo-Jo Reyes. Made his comeback five days ago against Buffalo...7 ER over 5 IP. Made his second start of the year today against Buffalo...7 ER over 2.2 IP.

Not everyone can pitch against that Buffalo powerhouse.

Brad Glenn? Kevin Pillar? Adron Chambers? Studs.

[Graham's Cracker]

Its crazy how hot Pompey has been since that 0-21 start, he's OPSing around .900, obviously you can't just ignore the bad start in AA but if he keeps up this pace he should start 2015 in AAA and be ready for a midseason promotion.

Pompey's slash over the last 11 is .405/.457/.595

If he keeps this pace up, he may be due for a month long trial in Buffalo before season's end.

Even after that start, his numbers at NH are basically the same as his FSL numbers, outside of the lower BABIP.

BB and K rates have held steady.

His ISO is the same.

I liked Pompey as a sleeper coming into the season but the way he has quickly adjusted to each level is really impressive ( he also got off to a slow start at Dunedin ).

2-2 so far again today in PA, the other ended in a walk. He has been caught stealing again though.

[SCF99]

i donno,,the last month or two really has me excited about the Jays minor leagers, it seem that there is isnt even enough room on a top 20 list lol. Maybe it cause the jays to me, had a solid draft and have added to a strong system. Reading the last 10 pages or so on this thread it seems like alot of the young jays are starting to come around and starting to show alot of promise. Are we finally gonna have a few players come through our system and actually contribute to the big team?? The last one i was excited about doing that was snider, to me its more would make it more exciting being a fan, seeing some of these guys make it through.

[Lateral Quicks]

i donno,,the last month or two really has me excited about the Jays minor leagers, it seem that there is isnt even enough room on a top 20 list lol. Maybe it cause the jays to me, had a solid draft and have added to a strong system. Reading the last 10 pages or so on this thread it seems like alot of the young jays are starting to come around and starting to show alot of promise. Are we finally gonna have a few players come through our system and actually contribute to the big team?? The last one i was excited about doing that was snider, to me its more would make it more exciting being a fan, seeing some of these guys make it through.

It's great that we now have at least one position prospect in AA ball or above that could be in position for a call-up as early as sometime next year. That's a huge improvement to the system by itself. Same on the pitching side with the emergence of Norris, not to mention the Stroman and Sanchez call-ups this year. We have the realistic prospect of real help coming from within the system next year.

But yes, I agree, the depth in the lower leagues is really starting to shine through this year. Let's just hope these guys progress so that in 2016 AA and AAA is full of guys looking for that last promotion to the bigs.

[There There]

Pompey's 3-4 now, including another triple, with a walk.

He may need to work on his baserunning and his bat against lefties is still very suspect.

That said, his stay in NH should be short if he keeps this up. I'd love to see him in Buffalo for the majority of August.

[dagger]

Pompey's 3-4 now, including another triple, with a walk.

He may need to work on his baserunning and his bat against lefties is still very suspect.

That said, his stay in NH should be short if he keeps this up. I'd love to see him in Buffalo for the majority of August.

I hope he isn't hurt. Was lifted in the 9th for a pinch runner in a very close game, in fact the pinch runner came in with the lead run. Pompey had singled, evaded a wild pickoff attempt to move to second and was sacrificed to third. Then lifted for the PR.

[Avenger]

Pompey's 3-4 now, including another triple, with a walk.

He may need to work on his baserunning and his bat against lefties is still very suspect.

That said, his stay in NH should be short if he keeps this up. I'd love to see him in Buffalo for the majority of August.

I don't think so though, if i remember correctly he had better numbers against lefties in Dunedin, its a SSS issue