Toronto Blue Jays Top 25 Prospects

BlueJayWay Top 25 Blue Jays Prospects
By Marc Hulet
Minor League Columnist
BlueJayWay.ca

The Blue Jays have a promising crop of minor leaguers. The quality hitters are sprinkled throughout the system while the Jays have some impressive pitchers almost ready for the majors in triple-A and double-A. They also have some intriguing arms in the lower minors who are not quite as polished. The biggest weakness in the system is a lack of power hitting position players.

Pitchers’ Stats: ERA, Innings Pitched, Hits Allowed, Walks-Strikeouts
Hitters’ Stats: Average, On Base Average, Slugging Percentage, Homers, Stolen Bases

1. SS – Aaron Hill (Syracuse)
Height: 6’0’’ Weight: 200
Age: 23 Signed: 2003
2004: .280 .369 .411 479 11 3 (AA)

Notes: Since his college days, Hill as been an excellent leader on the fielder and he has a hard-nosed attitude that managers love. He has a good arm but lacks above-average range at shortstop, which could necessitate a position change to either third base or second base. He doesn’t hit a lot of homers right now, but Hill projects to add power as he matures as a hitter. He handles the bat extremely well.


2. RHP Francisco Rosario (Syracuse)
Height: 6’0’’ Weight: 195
Age: 24 Signed: 1999
Repertoire: 92-97 fastball, plus change, slurve
2004: 4.31 48 48 19-45 (AA)
4.67 17 16 11-16 (A+)

Notes: There is no arguing that Rosario has dominating stuff, but he needs to be more consistent. Improved fastball command would also help. He could end up in the bullpen if he does not improve his breaking ball.


3. Brandon League RHP (Syracuse)
Height: 6’2’’ Weight: 180
Age: 22 Signed: 2001
Repertoire: 94-96 fastball, slider, change
2004: 3.38 104 92 41-90 (AA)
0.00 5 3 1-2 (MLB)

Notes: League, who can occasionally hit 100 on the radar, is a native of Hawaii. He made the Jays out of spring training this year but really struggled. He needs better command, a more consistent off-speed pitch and confidence if he hopes to succeed.


4. C Guillermo Quiroz (Syracuse DL)
Height: 6’1’’ Weight: 210
Age: 23 Signed: 1999
2004: .227 .309 .404 255 8 0 (AAA)
.212 .263 .250 52 0 1 (MLB)

Notes: Quiroz was considered a good field, no hit catcher early on in his career but his bat caught up with the rest of his game in 2003. Despite a strong arm, Quiroz showed some weaknesses in his overall defence during a short major league stint in 2004. He may not hit better than .250-.260 in the majors but he has good power. A collapsed lung will keep him on the disabled list for most of 2005.


5. RHP Dustin McGowan (Rehabbing)
Height: 6’3’’ Weight: 190
Age: 23 Signed: 2000
Repertoire: 94-96 MPH fastball, slider, curve, change
2004: 4.06 31 24 15-29 (AA)

Notes: McGowan was the Jays best prospect and probably only a few of months away from the major leagues when he blew out his elbow and needed Tommy John surgery in 2004. He should begin pitching in games very soon and will hopefully return to his old form and showcase his blazing fastball.


6. OF/1B Adam Lind (Dunedin)
Height: 6’2’’ Weight: 190
Age: 21 Signed: 2004
2004: .308 .367 .474 266 7 1 (NYP)

Notes: Perhaps the best overall hitter in the system, Lind could move quickly. He doesn’t have the power that scouts look for from a first baseman or left fielder, but he has the potential to hit a lot of doubles and maintain a .300 average. He also has a good eye at the plate and doesn’t strikeout much. His defence needs work.


7. RHP Josh Banks (New Hampshire)
Height: 6’3’’ Weight: 195
Age: 22 Signed: 2003
Repertoire: 91-94 fastball, plus split, 80-82 slider, curve, change
2004: 5.03 91 89 28-76 (AA)
1.80 60 49 8-60 (A+)

Notes: Banks had some trouble adjusting to the better hitters in double-A after a mid-season promotion in 2004. So far in 2005, however, he has dominated. He gets into trouble when he doesn’t have good command of his fastball. His slider needs some work, as it can get slurvy at times.


8. Gabe Gross OF (Syracuse)
Height: 6’3’’ Weight: 210
Age: 25 Signed: 2001
2004: .294 .381 .454 377 9 4 (AAA)
.209 .311 .310 129 3 2 (MLB)

Notes: Gross got off to a hot start in spring training in 2005 by showing more power than he has in his career to date. He made the Jays opening day roster but was soon sent back to Syracuse to work on his game and get consistent playing time. He possesses a football mentality and works hard but he will have to continue to hit homers to be a productive left fielder in the major leagues.


9. LHP David Purcey (Dunedin)
Height: 6’5’’ Weight: 240
Age: 23 Signed: 2004
Repertoire: 88-94 fastball, plus curve, change
2004: 1.50 12 6 1-13 (NYP)

Notes: Already 23 - after being a senior college pick – Purcey needs to move quickly but he is considered unpolished by many scouts. He has a very good fastball for a left hander, but his control is suspect and he is still more of a thrower than a pitcher.


10. DH - John-Ford Griffin (Syracuse)
Height: 6’2’’ Weight: 215
Age: 25 Signed: 2001
2004: .248 .330 .454 467 22 1 (AA)

Notes: Griffin may play some first base this season because he has a very poor throwing arm. A former first round pick by Yankees, Griffin has struggled against good pitching. He hit more than .400 in college so potential is there, but his average dropped significantly as his power increased. He needs to balance out the two aspects of his game better.


11. RHP Vince Perkins (New Hampshire)
Height: 6’5’’ Weight: 220
Age: 23 Signed: 2001
Repertoire: 93-95 fastball, 87-89 slider, change
2004: 3.95 55 53 24-47 (A+)

Notes: Perkins, a Canadian, is a former teammate of Oakland’s Rich Harden. Perkins’ most pressing areas for improvement are his conditioning, to stay healthy, and his command. His blazing fastball makes him a candidate for the bullpen if his command and secondary pitches do not improve.


12. RHP Shaun Marcum (New Hampshire)
Height: 6’0’’ Weight: 175
Age: 23 Signed: 2003
Repertoire: 87-92 fastball, plus slider, curve, change
2004: 3.12 69 74 4-72 (A+)
3.19 79 64 16-83 (A-)

Notes: Marcum spent most of college career focusing on shortstop, while also pitching out of the bullpen. He is still learning how to pitch but the results so far have been excellent. He has great control and a plus slider.


13. LHP Zach Jackson (Dunedin)
Height: 6’5’’ Weight: 230
Age: 22 Signed: 2004
Repertoire: 89-92 fastball, change, slurve
2004: 5.40 15 20 6-11 (NYP)

Notes: He doesn’t throw as hard as Purcey does, but Jackson has a better idea how to pitch and his command is more consistent. He could move quickly through the minor leagues.


14. C Curtis Thigpen (Lansing)
Height: 6’1’’ Weight: 200
Age: 22 Signed: 2004
2004: .301 .388 .518 166 7 1 (NYP)

Notes: Thigpen was a bit of a surprise as a second round draft pick in 2004, but he has impressed the Jays with his hitting. He needs to work on his defence though and overall consistency.


15. RHP Ismael Ramirez (New Hampshire)
Height: 6’3’’ Weight: 200
Age: 24 Signed: 1999
Repertoire: 90-92 fastball, change, slurve
2004: 2.72 165 151 25-131 (A+)

Notes: Ramirez biggest weakness is his lack of a consistent out pitch. He may be better suited for the bullpen in majors but he has definitely improved his stock in the past year.


16. RHP Jason Arnold (Syracuse)
Height: 6’3’’ Weight: 210
Age: 26 Signed: 2001
Repertoire: 87-90 fastball, plus change, below average slider
2004: 3.65 37 40 12-15 (AAA)
3.15 20 17 5-14 (AA)

Notes: The former second round pick was almost out of chances coming into 2005. He was switched to the bullpen and his early numbers have been very impressive. Arnold, who was a reliever in college, could be a valuable piece of a major league bullpen.


17. LHP Chi-Hung Cheng (Lansing)
Height: 6’1’’ Weight: 195
Age: 20 Signed: 2003
Repertoire: 86-90 fastball, curve, change
2004: 4.50 2 1 0-3 (NYP)
2.82 61 47 35-74 (Rookie)

Notes: Despite a below-average fastball, Cheng has carved up hitters in the low minors. He has OK command and a good curveball. Cheng is young enough to add some zip on his fastball, which could make him an even better prospect.


18. CF Yuber Rodriguez (Lansing)
Height: 6’1’’ Weight: 192
Age: 21 Signed: 2001
2004: .309 .396 .502 249 7 9 (R)

Notes: Rodriguez is one of the rawest hitters in the Jays’ system but he also possesses the best potential of any hitter. He flashes five tools and could end up hitting a lot of home runs in the majors if he continues to develop.


19. Raul Tablado SS (New Hampshire)
Height: 6’2’’ Weight: 170
Age: 23 Signed: 2000
2004: .303 .354 585 323 21 0 (A+)

Notes: Tablado turned the corner in 2004 after three dismal seasons with the bat. 2005 will be a telling year and we should find out if his power surge was for real. He could end up playing third base in the major leagues. He strikes out a lot and does not walk much.


20. RHP Casey Janssen (Lansing)
Height: 6’4’’ Weight: 210
Age: 23 Signed: 2004
Repertoire: 87-92 fastball, curve, slider, change
2004: 3.60 50 46 10-43 (NYP)

Notes: The secret to Janssen’s success is that he has a large repertoire of pitches and he has excellent command. His ceiling is somewhat limited by the fact he doesn’t throw very hard on a consistent basis.


21. RHP Jamie Vermilyea (New Hampshire)
Height: 6’4’’ Weight: 195
Age: 23 Signed: 2003
Repertoire: 88-92 fastball, plus slider, splitter, curve
2004: 3.09 55 54 13-37 (A+)
2.47 58 43 12-39 (AA)

Notes: Vermilyea doesn’t throw hard but he has done nothing but get guys out since signing. He threw a seven-inning perfect game in double-A last season.


22. C Robinzon Diaz (Dunedin)
Height:5’11’ Weight: 180
Age: 21 Signed: 2001
2004: .287 .342 .361 407 2 10 (A-)

Notes: Diaz has always been a fairly good hitter and makes solid contact. However, he needs to be more patient at the plate and his defence needs improvement. He has excellent speed for a catcher and has experiment playing other positions to improve his value.


23. LHP A.J. Wideman (Lansing)
Height: 5’11’’ Weight: 195
Age: 20 Signed: 2003
Repertoire: 88-91 fastball, curve. change
2004: 1.81 44.6 26 13-38 (NYP)

Notes: A Canadian, Wideman has a good curveball but his fastball is no more than average. Despite his young age and inexperience, he knows how to pitch and has had success in the low minors. He needs pinpoint control to survive and may end up as a situational lefty in the majors.


24. 1B Vito Chiaravalloti (New Hampshire)
Height: 6’3’’ Weight: 220
Age: 24 Signed: 2003
2004: .267 .378 .439 446 14 0 (A+)

Notes: Chiaravalloti was hitting very well last season until he faded and his numbers plummeted in August. He needs better conditioning to survive the long season. Chiaravalloti also needs to improve his consistency and especially his power output if he is going to play first base in the major leagues.


25. IF John Hattig (Syracuse DL)
Height: 6’2’’ Weight: 210
Age: 25 Signed: 1999
2004: .296 .391 .532 406 22 2 (AA)

Notes: Hattig gets on-base fairly well, as seen in 2004, but he struggles against good pitching. Despite his age, Hattig needs more time to develop consistency. His power continues to develop as he gets older and stronger.