Yesterday every team lost. On Sunday Vancouver and Dunedin reversed course and won. Buffalo were one hit. For Vancouver Rafael Lantigua hit two home runs.
I have not tried to compile an updated Blue Jays top 30 list and I do not keep a running list. But it struck me recently that by some measures this has not been a great year for the Blue Jays minor league system. By one measure it has been good, Alek Manoah, Alejandro Kirk, Reese McGuire and Santiago Espinal have contributed at the major league level. Outside of those players, when we look at the future, how many minor leaguers from last years top 30 have made significant strides forward? Obviously Gabriel Moreno is one. Orelvis is another. Kevin Smith, Samad Taylor, maybe Otto Lopez. But several have not had good years. Nate Pearson probably tops this list. But who pushes into the top ten? Miguel Hiraldo, Anthony Kay, CY Van Eyk, Adam Kloffenstein, Estevan Machado, Eric Pardinho, Rikelbin De Castro, Dasan Brown, Joey Murray, Manuel Beltre, Tanner Morris or Will Robertson? All of them were in a top 30 and none have really a great season. Time is still on most of their sides but when you combine this lack of advancement with the prospects lost in trades, I think the system takes a hit in the post season farm system rankings.
So who is in your top 10, if we exclude this years draft picks? Assume Pearson loses his eligibility. Moreno, Smith, Lopez, Orelvis, Groshans, Samad Taylor, possibly Leo Jimenez. and then the list gets thin.
Syracuse 10 Buffalo 2
New Hampshire at Reading - cancelled
Spokane 4 Vancouver 8
Dunedin 4 Tampa 2
This is what I noted from yesterday's games.
Buffalo were one hit. The only hit was an infield single by Kevin Smith.
Bowden Francis allowed five hits, five walks and four runs in 5.1 innings.
Rafael Lantigua homered twice. He hit a solo home run in the third to get the C's on the board and followed that with a three run shot in the fifth to give the C's a 4-2 lead, a lead they would not relinquish. Trevor Schwecke, who just came off the IL, went 3-3 with a walk. Davis Schneider doubled in two runs. Andres Guerra and Will Robertson had two hits each.
Alejandro Melean just missed getting through five innings for the win. He fell an out short. Hagen Danner pitched a shutout ninth.
The Jays pitchers held Tampa to four hits. Starter Naswell Paulino only went 4.1 innings and was charged with both runs, one of them unearned. He had six K's. This years 18th round pick, Jimmy Burnette, has a 1.69 ERA for Dunedin in six games. He has 15 K's in 10.2 innings. 13th round pick, Matt Svanson, has a 2.45 ERA. He has 21 K's in 14.2 innings.
PK Morris and Addison Barger had two hits each. Barger hit his 18th home run.
Three Stars
Third Star - Naswell Paulino
Second Star - Trevor Schwecke
First Star - Rafael Lantigua
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