Comments on: Top 50 Blue Jays Prospects, Jays Journal Edition: #47 Nestor Molina

By: Nestor Molina: Beast Amongst Top Jays Pitching Prospect Thus Far in 2011 « Jays Journal | A Toronto Blue Jays Blog

Tue, 17 May 2011 15:45:49 +0000

[...] Say what you will about other highly touted Jays pitching prospects and their work so far in 2011, none of them can touch the numbers being put up by Nestor Molina. Prior to the 2011 season, and without much starting information to go with, we ranked Molina as the #47 prospect. You can read Jared MacDonald’s write up on him here. [...]

By: Complete Minor League Recap: April 16 « Jays Journal | A Toronto Blue Jays Blog

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:48:31 +0000

[...] runs and three walks, while striking out 3. Nestor Molina, another personal favorite of mine and no. 47 on our pre-2011 Top 50 Jays prospect list, allowed just 3 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs – neither of [...]

By: Mylegacy

Mylegacy — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:27:32 +0000

Speaking about “underrated” Latinos – on our DSL Blue Jays team the winner of the Howard Webster award was – wait for it – Eyerys Guerrero – WHO? – here’s a team that has Santiago Nessy and a pitcher with seemingly quite pedestrian stats ( 3.23 era, 39 ip, 40 hits, 6 bb and only 11 so) wins this award… just goes to show that management sees something in this kid that clearly doesn’t show in his stats.

Guerrero, Carmona, Nessy, Cardona, Cenas, Estrada, Diaz, Santana and others – too bad we don’t have an independent scouting source in the Dominican that can see these guy play as they come up through there and give us a better grip of their strengths, weaknesses and upside. Still – we’re clearly getting deeper and deeper at all levels. Very interesting and promising!

By: Jared Macdonald

Jared Macdonald — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 08:00:43 +0000

Mylegacy – Thanks always for your take and the support on the site. I’m also a BIG fan of Molina’s and I’m in agreement with you, especially regarding the fact that Latin pitchers are quite underrated just because of a lack of knowledge/track record on them.

As for my #4 or #5 starter assessment, the “depending on his development” line is immense in importance.

Molina has only started 4 games in his professional career so far and is currently still tagged as a reliever. Do I think he has ace potential for a pitching staff? Definitely, but his little experience as a starter makes me feel it would be too soon to say he’s a potential #1 or #2 starter…for now.

It’s very likely that Molina will get stretched out and become a starter in 2011, and WHEN he is successful (because I’m so sure he will be, his stuff is electric) then look for quite the update in next year’s edition of our Top 50 Prospect countdown.

It’ll be exciting to keep an eye on him that’s for sure!

By: Mylegacy

Mylegacy — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 19:45:18 +0000

You omitted one tiny fact about Nestor – whom I like a LOT – one of his four pitches – his fastball – is 94mph.

Four pitches – an “out” pitch in his cutter AND a 94 mph fastball. You say “4 or 5 starter depending on his development” _ I think if he stays in the pen he might be closer material and as a starter the only limit I can see now between him and a number 1 or 2 starter is – how he develops – and the 267 other terrific starting pitchers we have besides him. I see his “floor” as a number “4 or 5 starter.”

What a delicious piece of a Number 47 Prospect. One last point; I find young Latin pitchers are often highly UNDER RATED as we’ve little knowledge of their pre-pro career – unlike draftable players – many of whom we’ve had information on since they were 12 or 13.