Blue Jays 2013 Top Prospects: 30-21

Tuesday, October 22 2013 @ 07:01 AM EDT

Welcome to the Batters Box top 30 Blue Jay prospects for 2013. Five of your trusted minor league correspondents pooled their votes to come up with the list. The same trusty five shared the task of writing the prospect descriptions you see below.

The system has seen a lot of movement since 2012.  Travis d'Arnuad, Noah Syndergaard, Jake Marisnick, Adeiny Hechavarria, Justin Nicolino and Sam Dyson were traded.  Five of last years top six prospects were moved to get that extra win from the major league team.

In total, forty prospects received at least one vote.  Twenty three of the top thirty were named on all five ballots.  There was plenty of agreement over who the top twenty prospects were, in name at least.  After those top 20 there are a mixture of players at AAA who might or might not get more than a cup of coffee in the major leagues and on the other side there are a ton of kids in the lower levels who haven't shown much yet.  Do you value Deck McGuire or Ryan Goins higher than Jacob Brentz or LB Dantzler?  The former will probably play a limited role in the major leagues, the latter could develop into all-stars or they could flame out.  

As usual we have split the top 30 into three installments, running Monday through Wednesday. 

We hope you enjoy the list and the discussion.

30. Adonys Cardona | RHP

It was only just over three years ago that the Blue Jays gave 16-year-old international free agent Adonys Cardona $2.8 million to sign with the club. However, it also kind of seems like ages ago since Toronto signed the right-handed pitcher to a record bonus for a Venezuelan amateur free agent.

Cardona spent his first two years in North America with the Gulf Coast Blue Jays. Over those two seasons, Cardona combined for 47.1 innings pitched, given his 2012 season was shortened by injury. As a 17 and 18-year-old, he struck out 55.

In 2013, Cardona threw 25.1 innings for Bluefield before being shut down in the first week of August for precautionary reasons due to an elbow issue, which is not expected to impact him going forward. Cardona posted a 6.75 ERA for Bluefield over five starts and three relief appearances. He struck out batters at a strong clip with 27 punch-outs in 25.1 innings. However, Cardona also displayed his trademark lack of control by walking 13 batters in that stretch. We also knew that Cardona threw at least 28 innings in extended spring training this year, where he posted a 10.4 K/9 and a 6.4:1 K:BB ratio.

He throws a plus potential fastball that sits in the low 90s, which he still struggles to control on a consistent basis. Cardona also features a curve and a change with the potential to be at least average major league pitches. Again, he struggles with control and consistency with his secondary offerings.

Cardona’s age still gives fans reason to remain optimistic. He’s still only 19 and has plenty of time to realize his potential. He was one of seven Blue Jays named as one of the Top 20 prospects in the Appalachian League by Baseball America. He possesses as much potential as any player in the lower half of the list, although there may be more questions after this season about whether his future may lie in the bullpen.

29. Deck McGuire | RHP

Deck was the first draft pick of the Alex Anthopolous regime back in 2011, 11th overall out of college from Georgia Tech.  He was supposed to be a safe, but low-upside pick that would move through the minors fast and profile as a mid to back-end starter in the majors. 

After a strong 2011 in Dunedin, Deck had a rough 2012 in New Hampshire and the beginning of 2013 was no different.  But in the second half of 2013, Deck’s numbers across the board were much better with a 3.88 ERA in comparison to the 5.51 ERA he had in the first half. 

Given his pedigree as a former 1st-round pick, and strong finish to 2013, Deck is likely to be added to the 40-man roster this winter to be protected for the upcoming Rule-5 Draft. 

28. Jeremy Gabryszwski | RHP

The 78th overall pick of the 2011 amateur draft, Jeremy Gabryszwski enjoyed a tremendous start to the 2013 campaign with the Vancouver Canadians. His earned run average was 0.99 as of late July, which earned him a trip to Everett for the Northwest League All-Star Game. A rough start in Eugene July 28 started a downward trend for Gabryszwski as his ERA ballooned to 4.35 for the month of August. He did earn the victory in Game 2 of the Northwest League semi-final by going five innings but giving up four runs on eight hits with one walk and one strikeout. That start was a microcosm of his season in terms of his strikeout and walk totals. He struck out only a few batters but walked even fewer, issuing just 11 free passes in 81 2/3 innings in the regular season and post season combined.

Gabryszwski is a four-pitch pitcher with the ability to throw all four pitches for strikes. His fastball did touch the low 90’s but was usually in the 87-89 miles per hour range. His curveball clocked in at 77-78 miles per hour, his changeup was in the low-80s and his slider was around the mid-80s. Using the weighted ball program championed by Jays reliever Steve Delabar, Gabryszwski needs to increase his strikeout total as he makes his way up the minor league ladder. He is expected to make the jump to full-season ball in Lansing in 2014. The 6-4 ,195 pound native of Crosby, Texas turns 21 on March 16.

27. Kenny Wilson | OF

From 2008 through 2011 Kenny Wilson did not hit. His highest batting average in those years was .216 in Lansing in 2010. Wilson was a switch hitter when he first signed with the Jays but by 2011 that was over, he became a right handed hitter exclusively. The other issue affecting wilson has been injuries. In 2011 and again in 2013 Wilson has missed time.

Now we are at the end of 2013 and Wilson is a 23 year old with a half season of AA experience. Wilson is still not a great hitter, he hit just .259 in AA this season. But his hitting has been getting better and his strikeout rate has improved since he gave up switch hitting. And Wilson still has speed, good for stealing bases and playing centre field. At this stage of his development Wilson is looking like a utility outfielder, a strong defender who can play any outfield position, a guy who can pinch run in games. But Wilson needs to continue to improve at the plate to get into Rajai Davis territory.

Wilson has played well in the first week of the AFL. He is the type of player who could be a rule 5 selection. His defense and speed could let a team hide him away for a season on their roster. But it probably would not be good for Wilson as he needs another 500 minor league at-bats to work on his hitting. The Jays might take that risk of losing him with their other options up the middle.

Assuming Wilson is still a Jay he will return to AA to get those at-bats.

 

26. Rowdy Tellez | 1B

I don’t know if I’m allowed to say this, but I don’t get the love for Tellez. Sure, the Jays haven’t had a legitimate power threat come through the system in a while and those YouTube videos of him crushing balls at Tropicana with a metal bat sure do look cool. But that is one hell of a long swing and I’m not at all convinced he has elite bat speed. All this and he’s confined to first and not reported to be one of those Gold Glove-type defenders has me asking why?

Well, the reports out at draft time said he had some of the best power in the class and power like this, much like the left-handed power pitcher, does not come around all to often. These same reports say he has potential for an above average approach. Anyways, put those two together and you have a very exciting prospect on your hands.

After signing, Tellez played in 34 games in the Gulf Coast. The numbers aren’t great and one would hope it gave Mr. Tellez an idea of what he needs to do this offseason to get ready for the competition. The hope will be he does show progress at camp and extended spring training to warrant the first base job at Bluefield.

25. Jairo Labourt | LHP

Signed out of the Dominican Republic with a $350,000 bonus in 2011, Jairo Labourt made impressive strides with Bluefield in 2013. He was able to increase his groundball percentage while not losing too much on his strikeout rate. His groundball percentage was 56 percent, an increase from 38 in the Gulf Coast League last season. His groundout/airout ratio checked in at 3.1 while striking out 45 batters in 51 2/3 innings. He had a WHIP of 1.03 but he had some help from the BABIP gods with a .248 average. An ERA below 2.00 with Bluefield earned Labourt a call up to Vancouver for Game 1 of the Northwest League final in Boise. Though he came out on the short end of a pitching duel with Cubs prospect Dillon Maples, Labourt was able to rack up 10 strikeouts and permitted just three runs in 5 2/3 innings. Labourt’s effort allowed Vancouver to line up their rotation with Kyle Anderson and Tom Robson for Games 2 and 3 and they went on to win their third Northwest League title.

At 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, Labourt is said to be a good athlete with a solid delivery that helps him throw strikes. His fastball registered in the 89-92 MPH range, touching 94. His slider was around 83-85 and his changeup, said to be a work in progress, was around 77-79. Labourt was rated the #12 prospect in the Appalachian League by Baseball America, who also named him the league’s top lefthanded pitcher. Labourt may be in line to make the transition to full season ball in Lansing next season. He will turn 20 on March 7.

24. Santiago Nessy | C

Santiago Nessy is a catcher and that is the main reason why he is on this list.  In many ways Nessy has been a disappointment.  he has been injured a lot, this years 224 at-bats are a career high.  He strikes out close to 30% of the time and this year his batting average was just .241.

So why is he on the list?  First, he is a catcher and that position takes a toll on players and their performance.  second Nessy played in the Midwest league this year as a 20 year old.  And finally Nessy has good power, he had 54 hits this year and 20 were for extra bases.

Nessy still needs to put it all together, he needs to play hard on defense and improve on his hitting.  I can see Nessy returning to the MWL as a 21 year old next year to focus on improving his skills.

23. Ryan Goins | SS/2B

The Jays' 4th round pick out of Dallas Baptist in 2009, Ryan Goins made quite a splash in his major league debut. Called up from Buffalo in late August after Maicer Izturis went on the disabled list, Goins tied Jesse Barfield’s 1981 club record for hitting in eight straight games to begin his major league career. However, his biggest impact came with the glove as he helped tighten up the defence at second base. His range, poise and instincts were widely praised as the Jays began to turn more double plays upon his arrival. It could be argued that Goins may have played the best second base in Toronto since the halcyon days of Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar.

Unfortunately, the 5-foot-10 lefthander hitter is nothing like Alomar with the bat. His OPS barely cleared .600 during his 34-game trial with the Jays and it was only .679 with the Bisons. His batting eye also suffered as his walk rate dipped from 6.9 percent in Buffalo to 1.2 percent in Toronto. His running game in terms of stolen bases took a step back. After stealing 15 bases with New Hampshire in 2012, he was only successful thrice in Buffalo and he didn’t even bother attempting to swipe a bag with the Jays. Still, he has managed to win back-to-back R. Howard Webster awards as the top Blue Jays minor leaguer in New Hampshire and Buffalo. Goins will vie for the second base job with the big club in 2014. He will turn 26 on February 13.

22. Clinton Hollon | RHP

While Hollon may have been a surprise pick to some, he fits the profile of what the Jays have been drafting in recent years. At one point in the cycle, Hollon had some serious follow. He was up into the high-90s with an electric fastball and showed real promise with the breaking ball. He remains athletic and has a good, albeit on the small-side frame. An elbow issue hit and teams took notice that his spring stuff leading up to the draft was not what they saw in the winter and previous summer. The Jays though follow these kids pretty extensively and where teams clearly balked, the Jays look to have gotten a steal in Hollon in the second round, and at a highly discounted bonus.

Much like Smoral last year, I thought Hollon would sit out the rest of the summer. It turns out the elbow injury was not as bad as reported and he pitched a very impressive dozen innings at Rookie ball and a short stint with Bluefield after signing. I’m going to go out on a limp here and say the Jays probably did a bit less tinkering with Hollon than they did to Tyler Gonzales. The two have somewhat similar stuff and deliveries. Where the Jays have completely retooled Gonzales to disastrous effect so far, I doubt very much they’ve changed Hollon to the same degree.

Hollon pitched a couple innings at a time in Florida this past season, so look for Hollon to continue to be stretched out for a rotation spot somewhere in short season next year. Video and reports on Hollon are sparse, so hopefully he pitches his way to Vancouver.

21. Dalton Pompey | OF

Dalton Pompey is a Canadian outfielder drafted out of John Fraser Secondary School in Mississauga in the 16th round of the 2010 draft. Pompey had struggled with injuries until this year, when he finally made it through a season healthy. Despite this, the Jays had promoted Pompey relatively aggressively, particularly in light of his injury history, as he had reached Lansing at the end of 2012.

As it was predicted in last year’s Top 30, where he ranked 28th, Pompey returned to Lansing this year and spent the entire year in the Midwest League and finally had an injury-free season. Pompey held his own for Lansing, batting .261 with a .358 on-base percentage and a .394 slugging percentage.

Pompey’s always demonstrated a good batting eye in the minors and there is a little bit of power potential there, which he may grow into as he matures. Pompey’s best two tools are his speed and defense. After the hammate injury that limited him in 2012, Pompey got back to running on the bases and racked up 38 stolen bases. In 175 games between 2011 and 2012, Pompey has gone 61 for 72 in stolen base attempts. He’s a true center fielder, where he spent nearly all of his time this year, and he made it through 2013 without committing an error.

Although he doesn’t come with the same pedigree as some of the other names on this list, Pompey is intriguing as a plus defensive center fielder with speed and a good batting eye. He has power potential and if he can continue to hit for a reasonable average as he progresses, he has a chance to be a useful major leaguer. After a full season at Lansing, Pompey will probably go to High-A next year and hope for another similarly healthy and promising season

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