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…)

Top Batting Averages

1. Bradley Glenn – LoA Lansing – .389
2. Raul Barron – HiA Dunedin – .366
3. Brian Jeroloman – AA New Hampshire – .348
4. Mark Sobolewski – LoA Lansing – .333
5. Travis d’Arnaud – HiA Dunedin – .328

To have 2 catchers in the top 5 AVG players in the minors for the Jays is yet another indication of just how strong they are at the position all the way through the minors. the one name most people probably don’t recognize much is Raul Barron, a 24-year old 2nd baseman who is a little over age at his level, but is having an impressive year nonetheless.

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Here is a review of the major events in the minors for the Jays on Saturday, 17th of April:

AAA Las Vegas – Postponed

AA New Hampshire – Won 13-8  vs Binghamton

• Bobby Bell had an outing to forget, lasting only 5 innings and giving up 7 ER through 8 hits and 2 walks, but he was picked up by a potent offensive display by the Fishercats hitters, as well as from 4 strong innings by Adrian Martin (1 ER over 2 IP) and Tim Collins (2 IP, no hits or walks, 4 Ks).
• Doubles and walks were the key to this game for New Hampshire, as they managed 11 walks and 6 doubles in the game. Eric Thames (.306)led the way with a 3 for 5 day including a double, while David Cooper (.270) went 2 for 3 with a double and 2 walks.
• C Brian Jeroloman (.308) also had a good day at the plate with a 2 for 3 day and a walk. Both of his hits were doubles.

HiA Dunedin – Won 10-1 vs Brevard County

• SP Henderson Alvarez impressed once again by going 7 strong innings on Saturday, allowing 5 hits, no walks, 1 ER, and striking out 3. He has definitely made the most of his promotion to HiA and may very well get another promotion before the season is through if he keeps pitching like this. Hie ERa is now a meager 0.64 through 2 starts.
• Tyler Pastronicky must be feeling the heat from the Adeiny Hechevarria signing and his pending arrival in HiA because he turned it on big time Saturday. He went 4 for 4 with 2 doubles, 2 walks, and 4 runs scored. That bodes well for his chances of getting a look in AA.
• OF Dan Perales was the other offensive star for Dunedin as he went 4 for 5 with a triple and a HR.
• Meanwhile, Travis d’Arnaud continued to hit, going 2 for 5 with a double and now holds a .425 average.

LoA Lansing – Won 7-1 vs Bowling Green

• Ryan Tepera has an outstanding outing, as he lasted 7 innings, allowed only 3 hits and 1 walk, and struck out 4 for his first win of the season. His ERA now sits at 2.61 and he is making me look good for pointing him out as a prospect to watch in 2010.
• Youngster Kenny Wilson is starting to come out of his shell, going 2 for 4 with a triple and a SB. He now has a .257 average on the season but has been getting better the more he plays.
• 3B Mark Sobolweski (.303) was great once again, as he finished the day a perfect 3 for 3 with 2 doubles and a SB.
• 23 year old OF Bradley Glenn went 2 for 3 to bring his average up to a very impressive .366.

Calix Crabbe was the only NH hitter to get 2 hits in the game, while the remainder of the squad could only manage 4 of their own. Darin Mastroianni got one of those and stole a base thereafter, while Adam Calderone was thrown out in his steal attempt after earning himself a walk.

Meanwhile, Domonic Brown led the way for Reading with 2 hits including a double. Reading scored all 4 of their runs in the 3rd inning, an indication of just how efficient NH pitching was the remainder of the game.

New Hampshire take on the Reading (PHI) squad once again today.

• Bobby Bell threw 5 shut out innings, K’d 8, and only allowed 1 hit, showing that he’s in fine form to begin the season;
• Amazingly, C Jonathan Jaspe and OF Adam Calderone each hit a grand slam HR in the same inning (the 5th);
• CF Darin Mastroianni went 2 for 4 with a triple and a SB;
• OF Eric Thames went 1 for 3 with a double and a sacrifice fly;

The Fisher Cats open the regular season with a 4 game series against the New Britain Rock Cats, AA affiliate for Minnesota, Thursday night April 8th at New Britain Stadium.