Batter's Box Interactive Magazine

Sean Keys had four hits for Buffalo who won easily. New Hampshire and Vancouver were losers while Dunedin were rained out.

Lehigh Valley 2 Buffalo 10

New Hampshire 3 Erie 6

Vancouver 5 Eugene 6

Dunedin at Clearwater - cancelled

Three Stars

Third Star - Gable Mitchell

Second Star - Landen Maroudis

First Star - Sean Keys

Boxes

NOTES

Buffalo scored early and often, they finished with 15 hits. Several players had multi hit games but Sean Keys led the way with a 4-5 day. Rudy Martin, Jay Harry, Josh Kasevich and Peyton Williams had two hits each. Martin and CJ Stubbs homered.

CJ Van Eyk started and went four innings. He was responsible for the two runs. Five relievers followed including Ricky Tiedemann who walked two and struck out one in his inning. The threw 10 strikes and 13 balls.

Fresh off a two hitter NH did not do much better, they had six hits and lost again. Dub Gleed homered. Edward Duran had two hits, he is hitting .455 in his short time in AA after hitting .231 in Vancouver.

Nolan Perry started, his second time facing Erie this week. Erie took him deep twice and he gave up three runs total in 3.2 inning. He had just one K.

Like Perry, Maroudis was facing Eugene for the second time this week. Through five innings he held Eugene off the scoreboard on two hits allowed. He came back out for the sixth and gave up a one out home run. That was followed by a walk and a single and his day was done. One of those runners scored so two runs total. He struck out five. Reece Wissinger followed and he was charged with four runs.

Jaxson West, Gable Mitchell and David Calabrese combined for a run in the seventh. Jojo Parker, Maddox Latta and West combined for a second run in the eighth but the C's came to the ninth down by four. Mitchell and Calabrese homered back to back to make it 6-4. A hit batter and two walks loaded the bases with one out. Eugene walked in a fifth run but the C's couldn't get the tying or winning run across the plate. Vancouver outhit Eugene 13-8. Every starter had a hit with Austin Smith, Bryce Chance, Mitchell and Calabrese picking up two each.

Posted by Gerry on Sunday, August 23 2026 @ 07:11 PM EDT.

Keys Leads the Way | 35 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

92-93 - Monday, August 24 2026 @ 10:37 AM EDT (#483233) #

The only time Tiedemann has gone more than one inning was in his appearance with the big boys. The 27 pitches he threw in Toronto were his most pitches too. Presumably he'll be the arm they add in September, or earlier if need be.

Ryan Day - Monday, August 24 2026 @ 10:47 AM EDT (#483234) #

Tiedemann's only pitching one inning every 3-4 days at AAA. Unless the Jays are deliberately limiting his minor league innings so he can pitch more in the majors, it's hard to see how that helps the major league team. Chase Lee or Lazaro Estrada might be more useful on the roster right now.

92-93 - Monday, August 24 2026 @ 10:58 AM EDT (#483235) #

They don't really need a 2nd longman though with SWR around and an off day once a week the rest of the way. They should add the best arm they have, whoever that is.

Mike Green - Monday, August 24 2026 @ 11:42 AM EDT (#483237) #

Keys has now had almost the same no. of PAs in triple A, as double A. He's put up a better slash line in triple A, with a higher walk rate, a much lower K rate, a much higher line-drive rate (29%), a lower pop-up rate, a higher IsoP rate, and a slightly lower BABIP (.321). All of these things are good.

He's been spending a lot of time at DH. This makes sense for him, as it looks like he will be able to hit enough to fill the position of big scary bat once he gets feet thoroughly wet.

85bluejay - Monday, August 24 2026 @ 02:16 PM EDT (#483239) #

I'm excited Keys could be the Jays future 1B and six years of control - Crap! I forgot about the $500m man.

mendocino - Monday, August 24 2026 @ 06:44 PM EDT (#483240) #

Dameury Pena, Dax Dathe to Van

scottt - Monday, August 24 2026 @ 07:16 PM EDT (#483241) #

I think Keys can compete with Sanchez for the main DH spot next year.
Then they go after someone like Arozarena to play LF.

TamRa - Monday, August 24 2026 @ 09:39 PM EDT (#483242) #

Every time someone says "Arozarena" I feel obliged to say "Suzuki"

Most don't expect Sanchez to last out the winter on the roster, but the default for DH is surely Santander if he can answer the bell. A player like Keys would be nice as a fallback if he's not included in some trade.

TamRa - Monday, August 24 2026 @ 09:42 PM EDT (#483243) #

"Presumably he'll be the arm they add in September, or earlier if need be."

Unless it's related to someone being injured he can't come back until September (technically 8/31 but that's an off day anyway)

scottt - Monday, August 24 2026 @ 11:32 PM EDT (#483244) #

It's hard to expect anything of Santander.
He will be 32 next year and will have missed 2 years.
Sanchez will be 29 and his problem are defensive.
Santander has never been comfortable at DH.

TamRa - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 12:29 AM EDT (#483245) #

I don't dispute any of that but they are stuck with him, at least his contract, and their history indicates that if he is presumptively healthy they'll give him more run than he'll probably earn. They won't just accept him being a bench bat or whatever easily.

I'm not saying that I expect he'll be a healthy and productive hitter at DH for...say 120-130 games next year. I'm saying they will make their decisions based on that possibility in the knowledge that they have other options to turn to if he continues to fail them.

As for Sanchez, if your reason for keeping him and going to arb with him is that he's a potential fall-back DH, that seems unwise given that Keys (and maybe to a lesser extent Pinango) are sitting right there waiting for a shot.

There are scenarios where you might trade Keys but unless you really like the return, the smart play might be to keep him specifically because you don't have full confidence in Santander.

uglyone - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 12:35 AM EDT (#483246) #

his AAV is $13-14m iirc. Not an impossible contract to eat, or at least bench.

mendocino - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 01:27 AM EDT (#483247) #

BA Hotsheet

4. Jake Casey, OF, Blue Jays
Team: High-A Vancouver (Northwest)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .391/.444/1.043 (9-for-23), 7 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 13 RBIs, 2 BB, 7 SO, 2-for-2 SB
The Scoop: Casey missed time after he broke his hamate bone during the first game of the season, and he returned to Vancouver on June 23. After producing a .836 OPS in July, he has kicked it up a notch in August, posting a .976 OPS so far this month. This past week, Casey was a menace against the Giants’ High-A affiliate, as he had hits in all six games, including two multi-hit games. His best game came on Friday when he went 3-for-5 with two home runs, seven RBIs and 10 total bases. Casey, the son of long-time big leaguer Sean Casey, has plus power, strong swing decisions and a knack for the barrel. His below-average contact makes him a very different player from his father, but the younger Casey has notable skills in his own right. (GP)

uglyone - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 10:13 AM EDT (#483248) #

i am taking credit for casey's hot streak!

Ryan Day - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 10:27 AM EDT (#483249) #

Speaking of September arms: Daniel Guerra has apparently been promoted to Buffalo after just 4 AA innings. That looks a lot like a guy who's getting an audition.

Glevin - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 10:36 AM EDT (#483250) #

I absolutely would not be counting on Santander for anything but for me, it's just another reason to move on from Sanchez. You have to pay Santander, you don't have to pay Sanchez.

Gerry - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 10:38 AM EDT (#483251) #

Fernando Perez has been assigned to Dunedin, not on rehab, a straight assignment.

I wonder if this means that the Jays are trying a Halladay on Perez, rebuilding his delivery to get more movement on his pitches.

hypobole - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 11:35 AM EDT (#483252) #

You have to pay Santander, you don't have to pay Sanchez.

This.

92-93 - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 11:49 AM EDT (#483253) #

Thanks for explaining to everyone what "if need be" meant.

Arozarena and Suzuki are good fits, but will the Jays be willing to go into the 5/100 range that will be required? They may shy away from 32 year outfielders after the Springer experience.

The Jays have a lot of positionally flexibility for next year, which allows them to just add the best bat they can find at any position and take it from there. If Barger and/or Santander can come back healthy, it's easy to see them having a 9-man rotation for 8 spots.

uglyone - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 12:13 PM EDT (#483254) #

Jays are in a good position for a bulk for impact trade tbh.

Lots of solid mlb bats and youngish guys in aaa deserving of mlb playing time.

scottt - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 12:15 PM EDT (#483255) #

Springer has been excellent.
Obviously, aging outfielders have to move from CF to corners to possibly DH.
Barger has lots of flexibility, but is more likely to be replacement level than All-star.
Only non competitive clubs rely on non established hitters in the heart of their lineup.
What did Atkins say?
That they have failed to surround Guerrero with the support that was needed.

Sanchez makes 7M.
That's not a factor. That's Straw money.
Ideally you replace Straw with a cheaper younger defender.

SK in NJ - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 12:21 PM EDT (#483256) #

Missing a year and a half with a shoulder injury for a 32 year old DH with exactly one skill that heavily involves bat speed (something age + a shoulder injury probably won't help) is not something I'd be optimistic about. A scenario where they give Santander a shot in 2027 and he's released mid-way into the season wouldn't surprise me at all. Hopefully he proves me wrong and immediately opts out. I wouldn't bet on that though.

Hard to see where the Jays add offense in the winter. It goes against how they normally operate, but I'd look heavily into buying low on Ketel Marte now that he's presumably on the outs with the Diamondbacks. The Jays badly need impact bats, and there doesn't appear to be any obvious ways of getting there.

92-93 - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 12:53 PM EDT (#483257) #

They already did replace Straw with a cheaper, younger defender.

Glevin - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 01:27 PM EDT (#483258) #

"Arozarena and Suzuki are good fits, but will the Jays be willing to go into the 5/100 range that will be required? They may shy away from 32 year outfielders after the Springer experience."

Springer will have given the Jays between 15-16 WAR over the course of his deal which works out to be about 2.5 WAR per season, plus a great post-season and real good character, which for $25M a year is not bad at all and certainly don't think it would dissuade Jays from anything. Springer was a CF so had further to fall down the defensive spectrum and it is only in last couple of years where he really was best suited for DH. Jays badly need a middle of the order hitter and only way to get one is likely to spend.

uglyone - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 01:56 PM EDT (#483259) #

CF Bateman 25
RF Barger 27
LF Lukes 32
3B Okamoto 31
SS Gimenez 28
2B Clement 31
1B Guerrero 28
C Alejandro 28
DH Sanchez 29

UT Santander 32
OF Straw 32
IF Smith 29
C Valenzuela 26

UT Schneider 28 --- Mendoza 27
OF Cameron 30 --- Munguia 28
IF Urias 30 --- Sosa 27
C

Youngish guys who are either excelling in AAA already and deserve MLB time or are excelling in AA and deserving of being in AAA next year:

CF Clase 25
RF Schreck 26
LF Bohrofen 25
3B McAdoo 25
SS Kasevich 26
2B Harry 24
1B Keys 24
C Parker 24
DH Pinango 25

UT Gleed 24
IF Goodwin 25

92-93 - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 02:06 PM EDT (#483260) #

Regarding the roster above - the Jays have no business bringing back Straw or Sanchez unless their price is cut in half. That 17 million should be put towards a better bat.

uglyone - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 03:09 PM EDT (#483265) #

At the same time they're not valueless. A bulk for ompact trade makes sense.

uglyone - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 03:23 PM EDT (#483266) #

or maybe.... (with next year's ages)

Team 27+

CF Straw 32
RF Barger 27
LF Lukes 32
3B Okamoto 31
SS Gimenez 28
2B Clement 31
1B Guerrero 28
C Alejandro 28
DH Sanchez 29

UT Santander 32 --- Schneider 28 --- Mendoza 27
OF Cameron 30 --- Munguia 28 --- Martin 31
IF Smith 29 --- Urias 30 --- Sosa 27
C Simoneit 30 --- Stubbs 30

And I think all the starting lineups below are most all comprised of interesting kids. Even a few of the bench guys are a bit interesting.

Team 25-26

CF Bateman 25
RF Schreck 26
LF Clase 25
3B McAdoo 25
SS Kasevich 26
2B Goodwin 25
1B Bohrofen 25
C Valenzuela 26
DH Pinango 25

UT Williams 26
OF Cunningham 26 --- Vallee 26
IF Viera 26
C Planchart 25 --- Sharp 25

Team 24

CF Smith 24
RF Hernandez 24
LF Freethy 24
3B Gleed 24
SS Harry 24
2B Latta 24
1B Keys 24
C Parker 24
DH Perez 24

UT Chance 24
OF Calabrese 24
IF
C Carapellotti 24

Team 23

CF Cook 23
RF Casey 23
LF Arias 23
3B Coffey 23
SS Snow 23
2B Toman 23
1B Mitchell 23
C Duran 23
DH Lasaracina 23

UT West 23
OF Licourt 23
IF Franden 23
C Saum 23

Team 21-22

CF Shaw 22
RF Joseph 22
LF West 22
3B Ramon 21
SS Pena 21
2B Southisene 21
1B Gaxiola 21
C Sprock 22
DH Bennett 22

UT DeLosSantos 22
OF Bonilla 21
IF Martin 21 --- Cooney 22
C

Team -20

OF Bullard 20
SS Parker 20
SS Sanchez 19

92-93 - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 03:43 PM EDT (#483267) #

It's fairly easy to argue that Straw at 8MM and Sanchez at around the same have zero value but if someone wants to give something up for them, great!

Ryan Day - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 03:57 PM EDT (#483268) #

Sanchez only cost Joey Loperfido a year ago, and he's a year older and going to be more expensive. What's one notch lower than Joey Loperfido?

uglyone - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 04:02 PM EDT (#483269) #

you mean Joey "The Apple of Battersbox' Eye" Loperfido?

Gerry - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 04:07 PM EDT (#483270) #

The Jays signed Josh Winkowski in the off season and he hasn't played an inning for them. Until now, he will pitch for Dunedin tonight.

Gerry - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 04:13 PM EDT (#483272) #

Sann Omosako is also Dunedin bound.

Gerry - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 06:41 PM EDT (#483285) #

Josh Winkowski's first pitch of the season went for a home run. Ouch. He did get out of the inning after that.

Mike Green - Tuesday, August 25 2026 @ 07:24 PM EDT (#483287) #

Keys reminds me of Pete Alonso. Alonso had a very similar season split between double A and triple A at age 23 (Alonso was about 6 months older). Alonso had performed a lot better in his age 22 season, mostly in A+ ball. Alonso's K rate was much lower until triple A (where Keys has been better).

Keys Leads the Way | 35 comments | Create New Account

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