2019 Minor Leagues/Prospect Discussion Thread

[dagger]

The Athletic - Bowden - has an article today highlighting the most underrated prospect of each team. His entry for the Jays

Leonardo Jimenez, 2B/SS

Age: 19 B: R T: R HT: 5-11 WT: 165

Scouting grades:

HIT: 50 PWR: 40 RUN: 55 ARM: 55 FLD: 55]

Jimenez slashed .294/.372/.371 in 2019 at both Lansing of the Midwest League and Bluefield of the Appalachian League with 13 doubles in 251 plate appearance. He has played second base and shortstop and plays them both above average, but he profiles as an everyday second baseman when fully developed. He’s fundamentally sound who does everything average or above outside of his power tool. His short, compact swing is consistent and repeatable, which will lead to very few slumps. He sprays the ball all over the field, owning the gaps with line drives. He has the instincts and intellect to overachieve.

[polo007]

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[polo007]

Top 100 MLB prospects of 2021: Keith Law's rankings revealed – The Athletic

5. Nate Pearson, RHP, Toronto, Age: 24

Pearson’s debut in the majors was tantalizing, but as with his first full pro season in 2018, it was interrupted by injury, leaving him still eligible for these rankings. Pearson averaged 96.3 mph on his four-seamer, showed a full four-pitch mix, all three of which at least missed bats, although he leaned most on his slider and the pitch wasn’t as consistent as it has been in the past. He’s 6 feet 6 inches and 250 pounds, with a good delivery that he has learned to repeat since the Jays signed him, so in theory he should be durable. Still, he had several fluky injuries in 2018 that limited him to one inning, and a flexor strain sent him to the injured list in late August, after which the Jays used him for just a single relief appearance. If he can stay healthy, there are very few starting pitching prospects who can match his stuff and size, which give him the ceiling of a No. 1 starter.

14. Austin Martin, SS, Toronto, Age: 22

The best prospect in the 2020 draft class slipped to the Blue Jays, who picked fifth and were probably delighted to have a player with his kind of potential get to their selection. Martin has exceptional hand-eye coordination and plus-plus bat speed, striking out only 36 times with 50 walks in 392 PA over his last year-plus at Vanderbilt. He’s probably best suited to third base, but the Jays intend to try him out at shortstop — which he has the athleticism and foot speed to handle — with third, second or even center field all possibilities. He did have some throwing trouble in the brief college season in 2020, but it’s not supposed to be a long-term issue and the Jays seem comfortable with his throwing post-draft. This bat at a skill position is pretty unusual and gives him some MVP upside, although we should be a little cautious since he has yet to take a pro at-bat.

79. Alek Manoah, RHP, Toronto, Age: 23

Manoah was the top college right-hander in the 2019 draft but the Blue Jays got him with the 11th pick on some concerns about his size and minor health issues before his draft year. It looks like a steal now as Manoah continues to stay healthy and throw hard, while improving his conditioning over the course of 2020 and the last two offseasons. Manoah sits 93-94 and can touch 98, with an above-average slider and above-average changeup as well as a curveball he can land for strikes. He is big, 6-6 and 260 in college, and only pitches from the stretch, but he throws strikes and attacks guys consistently with his fastball, an approach that should continue to serve him well as he moves up the ladder. He does have to keep his body in shape, but if he stays healthy he should be in the Blue Jays’ rotation within the next two seasons, with mid-rotation upside.

92. Alejandro Kirk, C, Toronto, Age: 22

Kirk got a surprise call-up to the majors and was very impressive for a kid who’d never played above High A, and had just 151 professional games total before he reached the big leagues. His bat-to-ball skill and swing decisions are both excellent, leading to very low strikeout rates, while he’s got explosive acceleration at the plate and showed in the majors he can hit for power the other way and turn on 97 in. He’s a solid catcher who can frame, block and throw well, but he’s on the big side already for a catcher at age 22 and has to maintain his conditioning. He was listed at 5-8 and 265 pounds last year, and while he’s apparently lost weight heading into spring training, that’s going to be an ongoing issue for him so he can stay behind the plate, as there’s no other position for a player with his build. His bat will make him a longtime regular as a catcher, with a chance to be a star if he keeps his body in shape for it.

98. Orelvis Martinez, SS, Toronto, Age: 19

Martinez is still just 19 but finished the summer at the Blue Jays’ alternate site, impressing the team with his production against older pitching. The ball explodes off his bat thanks to his plus bat speed and present power, while he has already shown glimpses of advanced plate discipline. In the field, he’s got a plus arm and great hands, still playing shortstop but with a body that might eventually push him to third base. I noted last winter that he might be the Jays’ best prospect in a year, but with no minor league season to show progress and the addition of the best player in the 2020 draft in Austin Martin, Martinez has to wait a year for any such coronation. He has an enormous ceiling as a strong OBP guy with 25-30 homers and plus defense at third. We just need to see how the bat plays at higher levels.

[The_Hater]

Groshans? SWR?

[rarefind]

Groshans? SWR?

Yeah... seems like some guys are missing. Perhaps there being no minor league baseball led to some oversights.

Orelvis Martinez on this list makes me happy though... I hope he isn't fodder for a future trade to fuel win now.

[Schad]

Groshans is still well-regarded, but suffers from having gotten so little action. It's approaching two years since he played in a real-by-god game, and while the reasons for that (plantar fasciitis and COVID) aren't really long-term concerns, I can understand why he got passed over for dudes who have played baseball in recent years.

SWR is surprising though. THE BOARD! has him as our third-best prospect, behind Pearson/Martin. Prospect ranking is particularly weird in an era where the minors aren't really a thing, though, and it could be that more emphasis was placed on reports that his velo was down.

[vaff87]

Groshans is 46th on MLB Pipeline’s new top 100.

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Eric Longenhagen's evaluations on Blue Jays' prospects

January 31, 2021

FanGraphs' Lead Prospects Analyst, Eric Longenhagen breaks down the value of the Blue Jays this year, the league’s prospect evaluations, and what to expect from Austin Martin and Jordan Groshans.

[polo007]

Toronto Blue Jays Top MLB Prospects, Rankings - Baseball America

Preseason Top 30 Prospects

1. Nate Pearson RHP

2. Austin Martin SS

3. Jordan Groshans SS

4. Simeon Woods Richardson RHP

5. Alejandro Kirk C

6. Orelvis Martinez SS

7. Alek Manoah RHP

8. Gabriel Moreno C

9. Adam Kloffenstein RHP

10. Miguel Hiraldo SS

11. C.J. Van Eyk RHP

12. Otto Lopez SS/2B

13. Estiven Machado SS

14. Eric Pardinho RHP

15. Thomas Hatch RHP

16. Leonardo Jimenez SS

17. Victor Mesia C

18. Rikelvin De Castro SS

19. Patrick Murphy RHP

20. Anthony Kay LHP

21. Santiago Espinal SS/2B

22. Will Robertson OF

23. Nick Frasso RHP

24. Trent Palmer RHP

25. Dasan Brown OF

26. Joey Murray RHP

27. Tanner Morris SS

28. Yosver Zulueta RHP

29. Sem Robberse RHP

30. Philip Clarke C

Best Tools

Best Hitter for Average: Austin Martin

Best Power Hitter: Riley Adams

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Alejandro Kirk

Fastest Baserunner: Dasan Brown

Best Athlete: Dasan Brown

Best Fastball: Nate Pearson

Best Curveball: Patrick Murphy

Best Slider: Nate Pearson

Best Changeup: Simeon Woods Richardson

Best Control: Simeon Woods Richardson

Best Defensive Catcher: Gabriel Moreno

Best Infield Arm: Jordan Groshans

Best Defensive Outfielder: Dasan Brown

Best Outfield Arm: Chavez Young

[ItsDanger]

Not sure what Jays plans are with recent moves but Austin Martin is a rare talent that translates easily to MLB level. Normally guys like this skip AA or AAA and get to the majors really fast.

[JaysRule25]

Skipping AAA is one thing, but most guys don't entirely skip AA. Even college guys taken high in the draft. Ideally, you'd want a guy like Martin to spend at least close to 1.5-2 years in the minors at the A-AA level before coming up here. But with last season being wiped, I wonder what the plan is.

[polo007]

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[The_Hater]

So we really have 7 top 100 prospects, it just depends who’s list you look at. So probably 7 in the top 120 at worst.

Gotta be impressed that we just brought up Vlad, Biggio, Jansen and Bichette, watched Pardinho fall a bit and Kevin Smith flame out, and still have such a deep farm.

[JaysRule25]

Something is probably gonna give soon with our catching situation. Fewer minor league teams and a couple of these guys are getting close. Our next big trade probably involves a catching prospect going the other way.

[Schad]

Something is probably gonna give soon with our catching situation. Fewer minor league teams and a couple of these guys are getting close. Our next big trade probably involves a catching prospect going the other way.

The downside is that our minor league catchers were heavily tipped to break out but didn't really get the opportunity: for Moreno to show that he's an all-around catching prospect, and for Kirk to show that he's not just a spheroid batsman. I'd imagine that we'll trade from that strength at some point, but there might be more value doing so later.

[Fairview4Life]

The round mound of bash town? Don't like the ending. Someone work with that.

[SharoneWright]

The round mound of bash town? Don't like the ending. Someone work with that.

The Round Mound of Pound

The Plump Lump of Thump

The Corpulent Corporal of Clout

The Tijuana Tank

#Fear the Sphere

The Buff Boffer

The Stout Man of Swat TM

[JaysRule25]

It's funny how Vladdy is absolutely crucified for his weight by the entire fanbase, but we're able to have fun with Kirk's weight issues lol. Just goes to show how much under the microscope you are as a former top prospect.

[SharoneWright]

TSN doing a Top50 prospect list -- so a few of the lesser lights are noted. Today they list #31-50:

https://www.tsn.ca/tsn-s-top-50-toronto-blue-jays-prospects-31-50-1.1590291