Some strong pitching performances overshadowed a lacklustre night for the affiliates hitters. A few players who have been in the MLB had nights to show that they may be back before long. There were several close games, though only one that seemed particularly exciting. Here is your minor league update.

It was Jeff Hoffman night in Dunedin, as the 2014 first round draft pick made his professional debut. I’m telling ya folks, this is the kinda night you circle on a calendar as a minor league baseball junkie. However, like this minor league update, it leaves a lot to be desired.

It seems a lot of us are thinking the same thing right about now...

Box contributor Eephus, who just happens to have my cellphone number, has sent me a text message. In which he asks a question aimed at Older Fellows like myself.

"Did 1999 Doc Halladay look anything like Aaron Sanchez now?"

A whole pile of quick ball games on Wednesday for the affiliates, with some top pitching prospects taking the hill. The affiliates went 2-3. Some bonus stuff as I chatted with Keith Law about a prospect he thinks will be a big leaguer for the Blue Jays. I tried to cleverly weave some Bob Dylan references into this one, but most likely you'll roll your eyes (and I'll roll mine).

The affiliates won two out of three Thursday as Buffalo stormed back for a come-from-behind victory while Lansing stayed ahead from inning one on. Both the Bisons and Lugnuts share identical 14-7 records. New Hampshire had the night off.

The affiliates batters struck out 29 times in 3 games, but managed two wins. Strong pitching performances for both the good guys and the bad guys, as only 11 total runs were scored on Wednesday night. Three right handers in the high minors showed up with strong outings that have them knocking on the Blue Jays door. Here is your minor league update.

Allow myself to introduce, er, myself. My name is Al (better known here as acepinball), and today I’m making my debut on the Batter’s Box roster. It’s a pleasure, as I’ve been a reader here for over 10 years, and it’s good to contribute to what I view as the premiere site for Blue Jays prospect discussion. Thanks to the bauxites who’ve greeted me already. Please forgive any growing pains I have publishing my first few stories. Now let’s PLAY BALL! Or, y’know, WRITE about minor league BALL.

The pitching match-ups for this three-game series.

Monday at 1:05pm ET — Drew Hutchison vs. Masahiro Tanaka
Tuesday - Day Off
Wednesday at 7:05 pm ET — R.A. Dickey vs. Michael Pineda
Thursday at 7:05 pm ET — Daniel Norris vs. C.C. Sabathia

New uniform numbers this season — Justin Smoak has #14, Josh Donaldson will don #20 (SWIDT!), Danny Valencia is now #23, Marco Estrada will wear #25, Devon Travis has #29, Colt Hynes wears #49, Miguel Castro has #51 and Roberto Osuna is going with #54. Russ Martin has #55 and Michael Saunders, who wore #55 in Seattle, will get #21 when he gets off the disabled list, sometime in late April.

After the jump, the Batter's Box 2015 Roundtable Preview!

The Jays have 14 games left in their grapefruit league schedule. Then it is two games in Montreal before they head to New York. The games so far in spring are less meaningful than the next two weeks. Starting pitchers have been pitching two, three or four innings and a lot of innings have been thrown by minor leaguers. But over the upcoming two weeks the starters will be going five, six or seven innings and most reliever innings will be thrown by major leaguers or almost major leaguers.

Lets hope for a better March Break week than what the past week gave the home team.  Ugh.  No more injuries - lets bubble wrap the players.

Well, it's been a year. Lets see how way off we are so far...

Woohoo!  Games! Starting today.- Click here to see Gameday - live coverage of the game via MLB.com.  Jays vs Pirates to start off spring.  1:07 PM on RSN.  Pirates tomorrow at 1 as well, then the O's for 2 and Phillies for 2.  Makes one want to fly to Florida doesn't it.

Pitchers and catchers reported today to the Jays camp.  March 3rd is game #1 of the spring - less than a week away.  woohoo!

The final arbitration case is done - Donaldson lost so the Jays pay him $4.3 instead of $5.75 mil which is a big relief to the bean counters I'm sure.  Estimated payroll for 2015 is now at $127.3 million, pending any other signings (via BR)