Welcome to the Batter's Box Top 30 Blue Jay prospects for 2014. 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. Come back tomorrow for numbers 20 through 11.
There is turnover from 2013. Marcus Stroman, Kevin Pillar and Ryan Goins have all graduated. Aaron Sanchez still qualifies as he was called up in mid-July, giving him less than 45 days service before September. Tom Robson, Clinton Hollon and Adonys Cardona were injured and didn't pitch enough to make it on this year's list. Kenny Wilson and Deck McGuire were traded. They make room for a new crop of exciting prospects who shot onto the scene in 2014, starting with a holdover at number 30.

An artist rendering of the Nat Bailey Expansion Project was unveiled at the stadium during the Vancouver Canadians World Series Party for Nat Pack and season ticket holders.



Scott Copeland won Pitcher of the Month honours for August/September by earning four first-star selections to give him 20 points. Franklin Barreto and Rowdy Tellez earned 14 points apiece to share the Hitter of the Month hardware with two first-star selections as well as a second and a third. The 3 Stars voting by the Batter's Box Minor League Crew is done on a 5-3-1 points system.
The Canadians fell behind early 4-0, they managed to score 3 runs, but it wasn't enough, as they fell 4-3, losing the series 2 games to none.

Ryan Borucki warms up in the pen with pitching coach Jeff Ware looking on. The Illinois native stranded two singles by striking out the side in order to end the first inning and survived a leadoff triple. The 15th round pick of 2012 stranded all six runners over seven shutout innings by giving up just five hits. He plunked a batter but struck out four. He also got some help from left fielder Jonathan Davis with three of the best catches I've seen a left fielder make live since the days of Reed Johnson.
After a very strong season in Lansing and Dunedin, Taylor Cole had one of his most disappointing starts of the year, giving up 6 runs. Dunedin was unable to come back from the early deficit, and lost the game, which gave Daytona a 2-0 series win.
Vancouver won a pitching duel in game 1 of their series versus Spokane, as Ryan Borucki and the bullpen were brilliant.

In a tradition that has taken place over the last few seasons, the Canadians players, coaches and other on-field personnel sing O Canada for the last regular season game at Nat Bailey Stadium. Among the players in the choir include #6 Richard Urena, #9 Justin Shafer, #16 Phil Kish and #47 Jairo Labourt. The tallest of the group is 6-foot-8 Matthew Smoral.

Matthew Smoral was given the start for the C's and he gutted his way through five innings, surrendering just two first-inning runs. The Ohio lefty had trouble finding the plate with his array of 77-94 MPH pitches by walking five batters. He received a visit from pitching coach Jeff Ware who presumably told Smoral to re-establish his fastball after going offspeed for a number of pitches. Smoral was able to induce two double plays and pick off a runner at first base to minimize the damage. His best inning was his last as he struck out two of the three batters he faced, including a swinging strikeout on an 82 MPH offering. He allowed three hits and struck out five.