So much so, that I decided to divide the pitchers into separate posts for starters and relievers for this affiliate. Outside of Colby Broussard, there will likely never be any buzz in the future surrounding the majority of the relievers that the GCL Jays used this season because of their ages relative to the level or their transition from the Dominican Summer League. The starters, however, are quite different, since there are some recognizable names in that group, so here’s a look at them on their own.

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#20: Adonis Jose Cardona

Right Handed Pitcher / 17 years old / 6’4″ 180 lbs

image courtesy of ignacio-serrano.blogspot.com

Born: January 16th, 1994 in La Sabana Venezuela

Bats Right   Throws Right

High School Team: NA

College: NA

Signed: as an International Free Agent for $2,800,000, his agent is Carlos Gavidia

Jersey Number: None yet, will be updated on season start

Quick Facts: 

• Baseball America first listed Adonis Cardona as being 6’1″ and 170 lbs here. I’m not certain when they posted that, but a more up-to-date listing by Ben Sadler, available here, has him listed at 6’4″ 180 lbs. The kid is still growing, and is doing so at a very quick pace!

Key Stats from 2010: (more…)

image courtesy of TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images

“Anthopoulos added that the savings from the Wells deal — even after the Blue Jays apparently included US$5 million in the trade to the Angels — can potentially be used this year on international free agents and in the draft, further strengthening a farm system he described as the “lifeblood” of the franchise.”

…and it got me thinking… Japanese uber sensation pitcher Yu Darvish!

And here’s why:

The Jays and Alex Anthopoulos just saved a massive amount of cash. We’re not talking $1, $2, $10, $20, or even $50 million here, we’re talking over $70 million when all is said and done. I don’t care how much talent is in the 2011, 2012, and 2013 drafts, the Jays are extremely unlikely to spend anywhere near that amount on all of those drafts put together. The Jays spent $11.6 million on the 2010 draft even while exceeding the recommended bonus amount made by MLB and were one of the biggest spenders in that draft (3rd, courtesy of Baseball America, only behind the Nationals and Pirates who handed their top picks in the draft massive deals). It was more than what the Jays spent on both the 2008 and 2009 bonuses added together, and a significant shift in club policy. And there’s more… (more…)

Just imagine what that rotation would have looked like if Roy Halladay had stuck around…….ugh. Can you say first place?

The following are my “Top 20 Jays Minors Starting Pitchers” that are stepping up the ladder and are providing wave after wave of pitching for the Jays. I have discounted Rzepczinsky and Mills as we know what they have to offer. As we all know, you can never have too much pitching, and health issues can quickly unravel even the best season.

1 – Kyle Drabek, 23 years old (this month), AA New Hampshire, 6’1″ 190 lbs, RHP (#1-3, 2011)

• 12-9/ 2.92 ERA/ 142 IP/ 110 hits allowed/ 54 walks/ 110 Ks/ .213 average against
• There is no doubt that Kyle may very well be one of the most highly touted Jays SP prospects to bless our system in quite a long time. Others who came up the ranks, such as Roy Halladay and Chris Carpenter, had a rougher time getting established. Kyle has the potential to be a true #2 pitcher, with the chance of being a #1. He has swing and miss stuff that drops off and tails away from hitters. RHB are hitting .198 against him, showing just how dominant he is against them, while lefties are only hitting a lowly .228 – not too shabby. There’s a reason Drabek was untouchable for a long time in the Doc Halladay deal, he’s a top fo the rotation starter that will be ready to take that role on full time -and for a full season innings wise – in 2011.

2 – Zach Stewart, 23 years old, AA New Hampshire, 6’2″ 205 lbs, RHP (#2-#4, 2011)

• 8-2/ 3.67 ERA/ 115.1 IP/ 108 hits allowed/ 48 walks/ 92 Ks/ .251 average against
• Sure, the Jays gave up Scott Rolen in acquiring Stewart, a player that could have helped bring the Jays to the playoffs this season, but the Jays will get many years of performance from Zach. He’s getting better as he gains confidence after being swithed from a RP to a SP, and now has a 2.54 ERA over his last 10 games with a lower .237 average against. He may need a little more seasoning than Kyle does in order to be successful in The Show, but he should be a more than adequate #3-4 once all is said and done.

3 – Asher Wojciechowski, 21 years old, SS Auburn DoubleDays, 6’4″ 235 lbs RHP (#2-3, 2012)

• 0-0/ 0.75 ERA/ 12 IP/ 6 hits allowed/ 4 walks/ 11 Ks/ .146 average against
• I’d love to slide Noah Syndergaard in here, but simply due to playing at a higher level and being more seasoned and closer to the majors, I went with Asher. He’s a big guy, strong, a workhorse that pounds the bottom of the zone on a great downward plane. He’s currently on the DL and will hopefully return before the season ends, but everything he showed after signing points to the fact that he could begin the 2011 season as high as HiA Dunedin, possibly AA New Hampshire. He’s more seasoned than the other 2 sandwich picks, and if Deck McGuire doesn’t sign, he will be the first 2010 drafted SP to make an impact with the Jays.

4 – Noah Syndergaard, 17 years old, GCL Blue Jays, 6’5″ 200 lbs, RHP (#2-3, 2013)

• 0-1/ 0.82 ERA/ 11 IP/ 7 hits allowed/ 4 walks/ 5 Ks/ .194 average against
• Noah is already big and strong and will only turn 18 at the end of August, leaving him plenty of time to add an inch or two and lots of strength. Of all of the pitchers taken in the 2010 draft, Noah and Aaron Sachez come with the highest ceilings and greatest tools. His fastball is dominant, a true power pitcher, and his curve ball and change ups are already showing above average potential. Although it may take him a little longer to get up the ladder, Noah should be ready for LoA Lansing at the very young age of 18 in 2011, making him a very impressive SP in the Jays system. (more…)

How do I know he’s a big talent? Well, the Jays spent $750,000 to sign Gustavio Pierre, and spent the same amount on Santiago Nessy. If the figure reported on MLBTR of $2.8 million is correct, this will be the biggest international pitching signing the Jays have ever completed and will be yet another sign of their aggressiveness in getting in-house talent developed instead of relying on trades and Free Agency.

I am a huge fan of these deals, but I have to reserve my enthuisiasm for Adonis until he actually pitches in the U.S. As Michael Ynoa has proven, it can take a while for that to happen sometimes when injuries and other issues occur. However, I do expect that if the Jays liked this guy enough to spend $2.8 million on him, that he’ll be sent to the GCL within the next year or so. Therefore, it shouldn’t be long before we get a glimpse of what kind of arm the new Jays management deems worthy of 7 figures before they reach 18 years of age. He’ll get all of the time he needs to develop as he sits well behind the likes of Henderson Alvarez, Kyle Drabek, and Chad Jenkins. The future of the rotation is getting brighter with every SP prospect acquisition, and Adonis should fit right in – so long as the new Jays scouts are as good as expected!