Toronto Blue Jays prospect Sean Nolin warming up in Dominican Winter League

Toronto Blue Jays prospect Sean Nolin is pitching well in the Dominican Winter League. Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Fall League isn’t the only place to find Toronto Blue Jays prospects who are playing baseball right now. Starting pitcher Sean Nolin has been playing for Leones del Escogido in the Liga de Beisbol Dominicano, which is the Dominican Winter League.

Nolin, who turns 24 in December, earned his first league win yesterday with what was a very strong performance against Aguilas Cibaenas. He tossed six innings of shutout ball and allowed only two hits and two walks while striking out five.

It was Nolin’s fourth start in the Dominican League and has faced both Aguilas and Tigres del Licey twice. Licey features one of the best young players in all of baseball, infielder Jurickson Profar from the Texas Rangers. Friday was Nolin’s most effective outing after he allowed seven baserunners in 3.1 innings his first start and five earned runs his past two, which spanned 8.1 innings.

Nolin is currently second in the Dominican League with 19 strikeouts (in 17.2 IP) and has posted a tidy 3.06 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. He does have about three times as many air out compared to ground outs, which is a bit concerning especially since I noticed a trend of Nolin missing high in the zone to close out his MiLB season in Buffalo. He’s never been a ground ball pitcher but as he continues to move up the ranks it’s going to become harder and harder to get away with those high misses.

The 6’5 Nolin is considered a long-shot candidate for the Toronto Blue Jays starting rotation next season.