Moderator: JaysRule25
SharoneWright wrote:Blue Jays prospect Kacy Clemens beaten in ugly bar brawl in Houston, lawsuit claims baseball career in jeopardy
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/mlb/blue-jays-prospect-kacy-clemens-beaten-in-ugly-bar-brawl-in-houston-lawsuit-claims-baseball-career-in-jeopardy/ar-BBT0pm1?ocid=spartandhp
For those guaranteed a spot on the roster, spring training means getting back into the swing of things. Other players are hoping to leave a lasting impression before being optioned to the minor leagues, while those on the cusp of the majors will fight to earn a coveted spot on the 25-man roster.
It is this last category in which centre fielder Dalton Pompey finds himself. In fact, this spring represents his last opportunity to make the team out of spring training as he is out of options and would need to be placed on waivers before the Blue Jays could relegate him to the minors. For Pompey, it’s go big – or likely go elsewhere.
“This year I'm out of options so it's either I make the team or I don't and, you know, it's just black or white now,” the 26-year old Mississauga, Ont. native said recently at Baseball Canada’s annual awards banquet and fundraiser. “So, I'm looking forward to that challenge."
Pompey found himself on the outside looking in when he did not receive a call-up during September’s roster expansion. Aside from five games with the Blue Jays in May, during which he batted .200/.273/.200 with six strikeouts in 11 plate appearances, Pompey spent his time in the minors. He struggled with injuries, suffering a sprained wrist at the beginning of the season and a torn thumb ligament in June, resulting in him playing just 50 minor league games.
“I'm going to be honest, I just wasn't happy,” Pompey said of the exclusion. “I wish I was there. I turn on the TV and I see all the guys that I'm playing with. They're there and I’m not. But, you know, it's partly my responsibility because of the actions that I took so I understand that.”
It was a tough pill to swallow for someone once so highly touted within the organization. Once the heir-apparent to the Jays’ starting centre fielder job (he won the job out of spring training in 2015 before being replaced after just 23 games), his future with the organization is unclear.
“I'm pretty much still here, so that's all I know. I had a meeting with [Blue Jays GM] Ross [Atkins] during September, just talking about the year that I had, like all the stuff that happened and, you know, from my impression it was that, you know, they weren't going to DFA me unless they had an opportunity to get something back for me. He said that, you know, the team and himself and people in the organization still value me.”
1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B Video
Signed: July 2nd Period, 2015 from Dominican Republic (TOR)
Age 19.9 Height 6′ 1″ Weight 215 Bat / Thr R / R FV 70
Tool Grades (Present/Future)
Hit Raw Power Game Power Run Fielding Throw
65/70 80/80 65/70 40/30 45/45 60/60
The best prospect in baseball, Guerrero hit a superhuman .381/.437/.636 across 95 games (mostly at Double and Triple-A) despite being about six years younger than the other athletes in the Eastern and International Leagues. The ball doesn’t just sound different off of his bat; when he really lays into one, you can feel a thump inside your chest, as if someone set off a firework at home plate.It’s explosive, beautiful, and paradoxically violent considering that Vladimir is so childlike in his shape and demeanor. He plays with a vivacious enthusiasm, totally unashamed of his own at times bizarre mannerisms, as if the way he feels when playing elite pro baseball is how most of us did with a wiffle ball in our hands during adolescence. (Late during Fall League, he was cranky and petulant with umpires.)
But his is not a childlike stature. His listed 6-foot-1, 200 pounds is a farce, and on the few occasions that Guerrero and Peter Alonso (who is listed at 6-foot-3, 245) were standing near one another during Fall League, Vlad was clearly the larger human being. While he reaches an almost shocking top speed on the bases given his size, Guerrero does have lateral mobility issues that impact his range at third base. He is very likely to move to first base or DH at some point in his early 20s, but leaving him at third, even if he’s not very good there, might help motivate him to keep his weight in check for as long as possible, something that could be more important than the quality of his play in the field since Vlad had knee issues during the 2018 season.
Really though, it matters very little where he ends up playing. This is the best hitter in the minors and the stick will play anywhere. For at least two years now people around baseball, including the late Mel Didier, swore that Guerrero would be ready for and competing in the majors before he turned 20. Toronto’s desire to maintain control of his talent for as long as possible scuttled that notion late last summer when they chose not to promote him, and Vlad will turn 20 in March before this season even starts. He should be up early this year, and immediately become one of the game’s most exciting, productive hitters. He is the cornerstone of the Blue Jays franchise, and perhaps a cornerstone of our sport.
Heheheheheh Lolz! 
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!A shortstop by trade, Espinal is going to eventually provide Jays manager Charlie Montoyo another moving infield part – perhaps as soon as this summer.
“They asked me the same thing, and what I told them was, ‘To me, it doesn’t matter,’” Espinal said of where he plays defensively. “I feel comfortable at second, short, and third. It really doesn’t matter to me. I can play all positions and I feel comfortable doing it. It doesn’t matter where they put me, I’ll be ready to play.”
After monitoring Espinal in the Arizona Fall League for a few weeks, Blue Jays director of player development Gil Kim came away believing the 24-year-old will be able to contribute sooner rather than later, setting him up for an important spring training in his first big-league camp as a non-roster invitee.
Despite a logjam of veteran infielders and Bo Bichette slated for everyday work as the Triple-A shortstop, Espinal is viewed as a player who’s close.
“Santy can be a dynamic player,” Kim said. “He’s a solid shortstop, good hands, good arm, and he can bounce around to second, third, short, and he can put the bat on the ball and make things happen. He did good things in Double-A for us and contributed to that championship."
“We’re seeing strides with his ability to square up the baseball and defend at any spot. We’re definitely excited about him [in 2019].”
2. Toronto Blue Jays
Life's good when you have baseball's top prospect. In his third pro season, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued to put up monster numbers, and he has the tools -- including a very rare 80-grade hit tool -- to prove it's not a fluke. While his defense remains a question, Guerrero made strides at third base last year but could move to first or DH down the line; his bat still would make him an All-Star. While Bo Bichette was going hit-for-hit with Guerrero in 2017, he came back to earth last year. The shortstop still piled up 61 extra-base hits, 74 RBIs and 32 stolen bases at Double-A. Catcher Danny Jansencollected a career-best 12 homers and 58 RBIs in 88 games en route to his Major League debut, while fellow backstop Reese McGuire, first baseman Rowdy Tellezand outfielders Anthony Alford, Jonathan Davis and Billy McKinney also made it to Rogers Centre. Aside from Guerrero -- who missed six weeks with an injury -- Cavan Biggio was the most electric hitter in the system last year. The left-handed batter led the organization with 26 homers and 99 RBIs and topped the Eastern League with an .887 OPS. In their first full seasons, 2017 picks Kevin Smith and Logan Warmoth climbed to Class A Advanced, though the latter battled injuries. Last year's second-rounders, Jordan Groshans and Griffin Conine, along with 2017 international signee Miguel Hiraldo started off with a bang but were challenged after promotions. Toronto added depth by trading for shortstop Santiago Espinal (from Boston) in June, outfielder Forrest Wall (from Colorado) in July and shortstop Ronny Brito (from the Dodgers) in January, as well as signing shortstop Orelvis Martinez. It's easy to hang your hat on having the top prospect, but the Blue Jays have a great deal more -- and Guerrero really is that good.
Rikelvin de Castro, SS, Dominican Republic
A lean, 6-foot shortstop, de Castro is a high-energy, hard-nosed player with a chance to develop into a plus defender, making challenging plays look easy. He's a righthanded hitter with a quick, loose stroke and gap power. Castro trains with Angel Perez and is expected with the Blue Jays, likely for north of $1 million.
-MetA4- wrote:Don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, but Ben Badler has posted his initial IFA projection. We have one guy linked to us, ranked #18, for a $1+ mill bonus. It seems like they alternate years between blowing all of their allotment on one "big" signee (last year) and years where they choose to sign multiple mid-range guys.Rikelvin de Castro, SS, Dominican Republic
A lean, 6-foot shortstop, de Castro is a high-energy, hard-nosed player with a chance to develop into a plus defender, making challenging plays look easy. He's a righthanded hitter with a quick, loose stroke and gap power. Castro trains with Angel Perez and is expected with the Blue Jays, likely for north of $1 million.
The mere presence of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. -- MLB's No. 1 overall prospect and one of the most vaunted hitting prospects in baseball history -- makes the Blue Jays’ farm system noteworthy. But it’s the organization’s deep crop of potential impact talent -- both hitters and pitchers -- that has its system up three spots from last year’s preseason list. The Blue Jays' commitment to scouting and player development is reflected by the number of homegrown players on the club’s new Top 30. In total, 24 players have entered the system via the Draft or as an international signee, and that includes every player in the top 13 spots on the list.
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 80 – Guerrero
Power: 70 – Guerrero
Run: 60 – Anthony Alford (Samad Taylor)
Arm: 60 – Chavez Young (Guerrero, Jordan Groshans, Kevin Smith, Griffin Conine)
Defense: 60 – Reese McGuire
Fastball: 75 - Pearson
Curveball: 60 – Eric Pardinho (Trent Thornton)
Slider: 55 – Reid-Foley (Pearson, Adam Kloffenstein, Hector Perez)
Changeup: 55 - Kloffenstein
Control: 55 – Pardinho (Thronton)
TORONTO — Eric Pardinho, a top Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect, is experiencing mild soreness in his right elbow that will delay the start of his 2019 season. Pardinho is not currently throwing, and Blue Jays director of player development Gil Kim says the club does not yet have a timeline for when he could get back on a mound.
“He’s progressing well,” Kim said. “He’s really focusing on taking advantage of each day. We’ll continue helping him develop routines, his body, nutrition — all around helping him be the best he can be.”
The 18-year-old began experiencing symptoms early in camp, causing the Blue Jays to shut down his throwing as they conducted tests and gathered information. When minor-league seasons begin next month, Pardinho will remain in Dunedin, Fla., at extended spring training.