Blue Jays prospects Thread

[SLAM]

Lets talk about the jays prospects here.

Here's our top 10 peospects

1. Dustin McGowan - RHP - DOB: 03/24/82 - ETA: Aug. 2006
0-1, 4.29 ERA, 21 H, 20/5 K/BB in 21 IP for Single-A Dunedin
0-2, 3.34 ERA, 35 H, 33/10 K/BB in 35 IP for Double-A New Hampshire
1-3, 6.55 ERA, 49 H, 30/17 K/BB in 44 IP for Toronto

McGowan’s return from Tommy John surgery went about as well as the Blue Jays could have hoped. He made his 2005 debut on June 1, 12 ½ months after landing on the surgeon’s table, and reached the majors less than two months later. He wasn’t very effective for the Jays, but that was to be expected. With a fastball that reaches the mid-90s and a hard curve, McGowan possesses No. 2-starter ability. He figures to spend at least half of 2006 at Triple-A and then maybe return to the majors as a reliever. The Jays should hope they don’t need him as a starter again before 2007.

2. Ricky Romero - LHP - DOB: 11/06/84 - ETA: June 2007
0-0. 0.00 ERA, 2 H, 2/1 K/BB in 2 IP for SS Single-A Auburn
1-0, 3.82 ERA, 36 H, 22/7 K/BB in 30 2/3 IP for Single-A Dunedin

Romero was the first pitcher taken in last year’s draft, getting selected sixth overall out of Cal State Fullerton. He lacks the upside one might expect from someone drafted so early, but Romero is a polished pitcher with a very good chance of developing into a long-term No. 3 starter. He works at 89-92 mph and records strikeouts with a terrific curveball. His changeup is a quality third offering. If the Jays had an opening for him, he could conceivably contribute in the second half of this season. As is, it doesn’t look like he’ll be needed until 2007 at the earliest.

3. David Purcey - LHP - DOB: 04/22/82 - ETA: Aug. 2007
5-4, 3.63 ERA, 80 H, 116/56 K/BB in 94 1/3 IP for Single-A Dunedin
4-3, 2.93 ERA, 32 H, 45/25 K/BB in 43 IP for Double-A New Hampshire

Purcey, a product of the University of Oklahoma, experienced plenty of success despite some command difficulties in his first full pro season. The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder displays excellent stuff for a left-hander, throwing 90-94 mph with a plus curve and an adequate changeup. He’ll likely always walk too many batters, so he’s more of a third or fourth starter than a No. 2. The Jays have enough pitching ahead of him that he shouldn’t reach the majors before mid-2007.

4. Josh Banks - RHP - DOB: 07/18/82 - ETA: May 2007
8-12, 3.83 ERA, 159 H, 145/11 K/BB in 162 1/3 IP for Double-A New Hampshire

The brilliant K/BB ratio doesn’t make Banks a top prospect, but he should have enough stuff to go along with the command to have success in the majors. He can throw in the low-90s when he needs to and his splitter is an impressive second pitch. He also has a pretty good slider. Because he is around the strike zone so frequently, he’s always going to be hittable. A reasonable expectation is that he’ll have some seasons like Josh Towers did last year. After a full year in Triple-A, he could compete for a job in 2007. However, it’s possible he’ll be in another organization by then.

5. Adam Lind - OF - DOB: 07/17/83 - ETA: April 2008
.313/.375/.487, 12 HR, 84 RBI, 77/49 K/BB, 2 SB in 495 AB for Single-A Dunedin
.238/.297/.333, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 14/7 K/BB, 0 SB in 84 AB for Peoria Saguaros (AFL)

Lind is shaping up as the Jays’ left fielder of the future. He will, though, have to keep hitting, as he doesn’t offer much in the way of defensive value. Lind has been a doubles machine in the minors, delivering 65 of them in 761 at-bats since being drafted in the third round out of the University of South Alabama in 2004. The Jays will hope some of those turn into homers as he matures, but he may hit for a strong enough average that he’d be OK as a 15- or 20-homer guy. It’s possible that he’ll be a replacement for Frank Catalanotto in 2007, though that would require an excellent season in Double-A this year. It’s more likely that he’ll require a year in Triple-A, too.

6. Casey Janssen - RHP - DOB: 09/17/81 - ETA: 2008
4-0, 1.37 ERA, 27 H, 38/4 K/BB in 46 IP for low Single-A Lansing
6-1, 2.26 ERA, 46 H, 51/12 K/BB in 59 2/3 IP for Single-A Dunedin
3-3, 2.93 ERA, 49 H, 47/4 K/BB in 43 IP for Double-A New Hampshire

Janssen blew through three levels a year after being taken in the fourth round out of UCLA, going 13-4 with a 2.18 ERA, 122 H and 136/20 K/BB in 148 2/3 IP overall. He’s a lot like Banks as a pitcher, though he is the older of the two by a year. Janssen doesn’t throw much harder than 92 mph, and he has great command. He lacks a secondary pitch as strong as Banks’ slider, but he has enough weapons to keep a batter off balance. That he’s been a moderate groundball pitcher might give him more long-term upside than Banks, but he’s also likely the bigger injury risk of the two. Since he’s stuck behind some pretty talented arms, it doesn’t figure that he’ll reach the majors until 2007 at the earliest.

7. Francisco Rosario - RHP - DOB: 09/28/80 - ETA: Sept. 2006
2-7, 3.95 ERA, 111 H, 80/42 K/BB in 116 1/3 IP for Triple-A Syracuse

Rosario hasn’t found much in the way of consistency since returning from Tommy John surgery in May 2004, and the Blue Jays made the decision to move him into the pen last year as a result. It wasn’t necessarily a permanent switch, but Rosario would seem to have a far better chance of making a contribution in the near future as a reliever. He should have no trouble throwing in the mid-90s with regularity while working an inning or two at a time, so if his slider ever consistently returns to pre-surgery form, he could develop into a closer someday. The Jays will probably have him spend most of the season in Triple-A.

8. Guillermo Quiroz - C - DOB: 11/29/81 - ETA: Now
.237/.326/.421, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 8/2 K/BB, 0 SB in 38 AB for Single-A Dunedin
.229/.309/.482, 6 HR, 18 RBI, 19/9 K/BB, 0 SB in 83 AB for Triple-A Syracuse
.194/.256/.240, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 13/2 K/BB, 0 SB in 36 AB for Toronto
.294/.333/.412, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 12/3 K/BB, 0 SB in 51 AB for Peoria Saguaros (AFL)

Quiroz is now out of options and the Jays still aren’t convinced that he’s ready, mostly because his history of injuries has prevented from getting as many at-bats as he’s needed. Last year, he hurt his shoulder in spring training and then underwent a second surgery to repair a collapsed lung. Especially concerned about his struggles in Venezuela over the winter, the Jays signed Jason Phillips as an alternative to serve as Gregg Zaun’s backup. If Quiroz isn’t carried by the Jays, a team like the Marlins would be smart to pick him up. He probably won’t ever hit for average in the majors, but he has 20-homer power and he’s a fine defender. It’s still rather likely that he’ll settle in as a starter someday.

9. Vince Perkins - RHP - DOB: 09/27/81 - ETA: July 2007
7-7, 4.03 ERA, 124 H, 111/51 K/BB in 131 2/3 IP for Double-A New Hampshire

Still a tough call. Perkins ranked sixth on this list two years ago after posting a 2.24 ERA and a 129/75 K/BB ratio in 128 2/3 IP for two A-ball teams. He then failed to make the top 10 last year after missing time with elbow and back problems. Relatively healthy again, he had a decent first year in Double-A and was especially successful in the second half. Perkins has a 93-95 mph heater, an above average slider and a solid changeup. Health is a big question mark, though if he stays with the Jays, he may soon become a reliever, something that would help him stay healthy. He has plenty of potential as a starter, but the Jays have no shortage of arms ahead of him.

10. Ryan Patterson - OF - DOB: 05/02/83
.339/.386/.595, 13 HR, 65 RBI, 53/21 K/BB, 5 SB in 274 AB for SS Single-A Auburn

Patterson, a fourth-round find out of LSU last year, finished third in the New York-Penn League in average and first in slugging in his pro debut. Although he was primarily a center fielder initially, he’s nearly certain to end up in a corner. The Jays could choose to test him in the Florida State League this year, which would likely result in a major offensive decline. He still has to be viewed as quite the sleeper.

[SLAM]

Seems like Romero is invited to the Jays spring Training
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/NASA...=.jsp&c_id=tor

[redsrbetter]

Has any of you guys seen McGowan pitch? Does he have any good stuff at all?

[Halladay_is_God]

Has any of you guys seen McGowan pitch? Does he have any good stuff at all?

he was up with the Jays last season for some time, his stuff is no question top notch, great fastball and good curveball, lack control as a starter but was great as a reliever, he has control problems, well anyone coming off 12 ½ months of Tommy John's surgery will do.

as a reliever 0-0, 0.83 ERA, 6 games, 11 IP, 1 BB, 11 K's
as a starter 1-3, 8.13 ERA, 7 starts, 34.1 IP, 16 BB, 23 K's

hopefully another year in AAA will really help re-gain that control

if any injury does happen he will be the 1st one called up, either him or a vet like Weber or Baldwin

I could see McGowan taking over for Josh Tower or Ted Lilly in 1 or 2 seasons

[redsrbetter]

yeah thats what I figured he would be lined up for. Good to hear this team has a good system. Purcey is another coveted starter isn't he?

[Halladay_is_God]

yeah thats what I figured he would be lined up for. Good to hear this team has a good system. Purcey is another coveted starter isn't he?

yes he is, he's start in AAA this season

when I look at the future of the rotation, I'm so excited, with prospects like McGowan, Romero, Purcey, and Banks, I do think JP will trade one of them if he sees he could improve the current teams as it is near the deadline.

[Fishercat]

I still can't get over seeing names on top prospects lists for a team in my city. Awesome stuff. I'm not surprised a lot of NH Pitching Prospects are on the list, that was the only was the Fishercats could win. Outside of Ryan Roberts and Rob Cosby, and at times, Chip Cannon, it didn't seem like there was a lot of htiting. Purcey and Banks (and Jackson, who's in Milwaukee) were pretty sweet.

[Halladay_is_God]

hopefully you have a great time watching Rickey Romero this season, he will be starting with the Fishercats.

I know what you mean with the lack of hitters, when I look at the Jays' prospects, there's not much in the hitting department at least in top end talent

[Foster]

By the looks of this list ... 2008 = AWSOME

Now is this gonna be a problem. Is there gonna be a log jam effect.
We've seen it already happen to one of our prospects, though Quiroz's problem has been more injjury related. But still, I think you get the idea, guys will want jobs, when they're not aviliable with the big club.

[Fishercat]

Hate to bump an old thread, but Lind is RAKING in New Hampshire, almost .300 OPS points better than the next best FC (Cannon). Ramirez and Romero have been nice too

[Halladay_is_God]

great to hear