The Dunedin Blue Jays are the team's high-A affiliate in the Florida State League. The team's top college prospects, from Russ Adams and David Bush to David Purcey and Adam Lind, usually begin their first full season there. With the move of the low-A affiliate from Charleston to Lansing, Dunedin also has the nicest spring climate of any of the team's minor league franchises. This makes it a natural destination for pitchers recovering from arm surgery.
The Florida State League is a famous pitcher's league. League averages for hitters in 2004 were .256/.332/.374. The D-Jays play in Knology Park, the big club's spring home. The dimensions of the park are: left field: 335 feet; left-center: 380 feet; center field: 400 feet; right-center: 363 feet; right field: 325 feet. It's a tough park for a right-handed hitter.
2004 season in review
The D-Jays cruised to their 4th Florida State Western Division title in 6 years in 2004. As has been the pattern for a number of years, the D-Jays had great pitching. Josh Banks blew 'em all away in the first half of the year, Shaun Marcum was almost as good in the second, and Ismael Ramirez stuck around all year and went 15-6 with a 2.72 ERA to garner the Most Valuable Pitcher award for the FSL.
The offence featured outfielder Ron Davenport and shortstop Raul Tablado, each of whom provided unexpected punch. Vito Chiaravallotti, Carlo Cota and Miguel Negron made noteworthy secondary contributions.
In 2004, as in 2003, the D-Jays exited quietly in the playoffs, losing 2 straight to Tampa. Now, there's something for the club to work on!
2005 club-pitching staff
Wow, what a rotation to start the season. Dustin McGowan, David Purcey, Davis Romero and Zach Jackson are likely to occupy the 1-4 slots. McGowan will be returning to action after almost a year off following Tommy John surgery. The success rate from TJ surgery has improved markedly in recent years, but recovery can be long and uncertain, so he will be watched with anxious optimism. David Purcey and Zach Jackson are first rounders from 2004, who pitched very little in Auburn last year. They get their first real test in Dunedin. Davis Romero is a short, thin lefty, who has been quietly making his way up the system and racking up great numbers, walking very few, giving up few home runs and striking out more than a batter per inning. Romero turns 22 this month, and has 5 minor league seasons under his belt. This is the year of decision for him and the Blue Jays. One hopes that he performs well enough that he gets a shot in double A to show what he can do. All four of the top starters are good prospects. The fifth starter may be DJ Hanson, who is also returning after surgery.
Down in the pen are likely to be closer Brian Reed, some combination of Danny Core, Tracy Thorpe and Andy Torres to fill the set-up and middle relief roles, and Justin James in long relief. James could very well find himself in the rotation quickly if Hanson or McGowan is unable to go, or if a promotion occurs.
Jordan's top 30 prospect list provides more information on Purcey, McGowan, Jackson and Romero, as well as hitting prospects Adam Lind and Robinson Diaz.
Player Age Draft Level IP H BB K HR % KBF ERA Core 23 7th-03 A 157.3 137 53 132 15 20.0 3.43 Hanson 24 6th-99 Did not play Jackson 22 S1st-04 Low A 15.0 20 6 11 1 15.5 5.40 James 23 5th-03 High A 50.0 59 19 41 2 18.0 5.40 A 78.0 67 24 83 2 25.5 3.00 McGowan 23 S1st-00 AA 31.0 24 15 29 4 22.0 4.06 Purcey 23 1st-04 Low A 12.0 6 1 13 0 30.2 1.50 Reed 24 27th-03 High A 31.3 38 8 31 4 22.3 3.16 A 26.0 17 5 28 0 28.0 0.35 Romero 22 AmFA-99 A 103.3 77 30 108 6 25.9 2.53 Thorpe 24 11th-00 High A 59.3 39 30 53 5 21.5 3.64 Torres 27 35th-02 AA 20.7 20 8 18 3 20.3 3.05 High A 78.7 64 16 71 7 22.6 2.52
2005 club-lineup
Minor league assignments have not been made yet, so we will make our best guesses about the everyday lineup of the 2005 D-Jays. Catching is Robinson Diaz, who played in low A Charleston in 2004. He's an adequate defender, who will hit for a good average with few strikeouts. It will help his career if he adds a few more walks or more power or both to his repertoire. It is possible that Curtis Thigpen, who we have ticketed for Lansing, will end up in Dunedin, either sharing the job with Diaz or with Diaz in Lansing. Ryan's Lansing preview has some notes on Thigpen.
At first base will be 2004 draft Adam Lind. Adam played the outfield in Auburn last summer and hit well. He will have to improve his hitting still further to make it as a first baseman, but he's only 21 so he has a little time.
Ryan Roberts will play second base. After dominating the South Atlantic League, he stagnated in the Florida State League. Playing both 2b/3b and with fine strike zone judgment, the possibility of a major league career as a utility infielder is still there for Roberts. Slick-fielding Juan Peralta plays short, with Eric Arnold at third.
The outfield is likely to consist of Christian Snavely, David Smith and Rodney Medina. Snavely showed increased power and strike zone judgment last year in Charleston. He turns 23 in May, so his clock is ticking. Smith and Medina both must take a leap forward if their major league dreams are to come true. Jayce Tingler will probably get some outfield time.
Player Age Draft Level AB HR BB K AVG OBP SLG Lind 21 3rd-04 Low A 266 7 24 36 .312 .371 .477 Snavely 23 6th-03 A 331 14 53 115 .254 .362 .459 Smith 24 15th-02 A 436 12 53 119 .278 .365 .431 Arnold 24 10th-02 A 378 5 29 114 .280 .329 .378 Tingler 24 10th-03 High A 447 1 74 25 .251 .373 .300 Peralta 22 AmFA-00 A 437 2 39 78 .229 .293 .281 Diaz 21 AmFA-00 A 407 2 27 31 .287 .341 .361 Medina 23 AmFA-98 High A 197 3 16 20 .259 .321 .386 A 103 1 4 10 .330 .352 .427 Roberts 24 18th-03 High A 205 7 36 51 .239 .350 .356 A 226 13 55 50 .283 .440 .496
2005 outlook
This team promises to allow and score few runs. Will they find themselves on the winning or losing end of 3-2 and 2-1 games more often? We'll see.
