Now that everyone has had a chance to recover from the minor league season, the news flow is starting again. This week the Jays announced their award winners and Baseball America have started publishing their League their top 20's.
The Webster Awards will be presented at tomorrows game. The winners are:
AAA - Kevin Pillar
AA - Jon Berti
High A - Dwight Smith Jr
A - Mitch Nay
SS A - Franklin Barreto
Rookie+ - Richard Urena
Rookie - Juan Kelly
DSL - Enmanuel Morreta
Some of these players will be on TV and on the radio tomorrow.
Baseball America has started publishing their league top 20's, starting at the lower levels.
GCL - Sean Reid-Foley #8
For SRF the scouting reports a FB sitting 92-95, an above-average slider and a developing change-up. Many scouts wonder about his arm action, whether it is a future injury waiting to happen.
In his chat Ben Badler said he liked lane Thomas, called him an explosive athlete. He also still likes Yeltsin Gudino and Freddy Rodrigues, both very young, even though they didn't have great statistical years.
Appy League - Richard Urena #3; Matt Smoral #7; Ryan Borucki #12; Dan Jansen #16.
In his chat Clint Longenecker says he likes Jesus Tinoco even though he didn't make the list. He reminds scouts of Henderson Alvarez. His FB has a lot of sink, and he adds a change and a curve. Tinoco has problems repeating his delivery at the moment.
Also Josh Almonte is noted as having good tools but Longenecker points out Almonte's high BABIP as a reason for downplaying his 300 BA.
Rowdy Tellez was under consideration for the list but scouts needed to see more power.
Northwest League - Franklin Barreto #1; Jairo Labourt #3; Miguel Castro #4; Max Pentecost #8; Roemen Fields #20.
Two interesting things for me. One, Labourt is rated ahead of Castro. And 2, Fields made the list. Fields production tailed off in August and it looked like the league was catching up with him. But given that it was his first professional season he might have tired. A Lansing outfield of Fields, Alford and DJ Davis would be fun to watch.
John Manuel handled the chat. Ryan McBroom didn't make it, he needs to shorten his swing and he is following LB Dantzler who was comparable to McBroom last year but scuffled this year.
Barreto might stay at short, some managers knocked his ability to make the routine play but he has infield actions and should be able to stay in the infield.
Alberto Tirado suffered from a lack of command and not showing his secondary pitches. He did mention Tirado's lively arm but commented on his smaller stature and lack of command.
He was asked about Labourt ranking ahead of Castro. The answer was they were very close but Labourt is a lefty and was able to dominate with just his fastball.
Midwest League - The Jays were shutout
In the chat JJ Cooper said that some scouts still like DJ Davis but they felt his development path would be long and slow. Some scouts thought is would take 3-5 years for Davis to put it together.
Florida State League - Daniel Norris #3; Dalton Pompey #5; Dwight Smith #19
Most of the comments under the reviews were known already. Of note was the comment that some scouts gave Pompey an 80 grade in centrefield. Smith's speed was questioned meaning he could end up in left field and will his bat be good enough for left?
John Manuel in the chat: (Cole's) 90-92 with athleticism and a plus changeup. He needs to trust his fastball and breaking ball more consistently. Boyd is more deceptive from an unusual delivery, though he has four pitches he throws for strikes. I didn't get any plusses on Boyd. Graveman, we've chronicled fairly well of late, but he's a 90-92 mph sinker-slider guy who took off as he threw more fastballs, commanded the pitch well and gave hitters a different look with the cutter. I like all three and would rank them Cole, Graveman, Boyd.
Eastern League - Aaron Sanchez #5
There were no Jays questions in the chat
International League - Jays were shut out
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20140926154822649