Drew Hutchison, Deck McGuire, Chad Jenkins and Joel Carreno all return to the rotation, and all four hurlers will be knocking on the major-league door by season’s end. Right-hander Ryan Tepera is the only new starter after making 23 starts for High-A Dunedin in 2011.

A.J. Jimenez, considered the best defensive catcher in the Jays’ minor league system, makes his Double-A debut after putting together a breakout year on both sides of the ball with Dunedin last season. Brian Jeroloman, who spent the majority of last season with Triple-A Las Vegas, will return to New Hampshire to be the backup.

The infield will look very familiar, as all the players outside shortstop Ryan Goins were with the Fisher Cats last year. One new addition from outside the organization is first baseman Koby Clemens, a true power hitter that is indeed the son of former Blue Jays pitcher and Cy Young winner Roger Clemens.

Outside of John Tolisano, a second baseman that can dabble in the outfield, the Fisher Cats’ outfield will be made up entirely of players who spent all or most of the 2011 campaign with High-A Dunedin: Brian Van Kirk, Brad McElroy, Brad Glenn and familiar face Justin Jackson, who appeared in two separate stints with the Fisher Cats last season.

Here’s the full list:

Pitchers

RHP Drew Hutchison

RHP Deck McGuire

RHP Chad Jenkins

RHP Joel Carreno

RHP Ryan Tepera

RHP Yohan Pino

RHP Ronald Uviedo

LHP Evan Crawford

LHP Danny Farquhar

RHP Boomer Potts

RHP Matt Daly

RHP Fernando Hernandez

LHP Aaron Loup

Catchers

A.J. Jimenez

Brian Jeroloman

Infielders

1B Mike McDade

1B Koby Clemens

2B John Tolisano

SS Ryan Goins

3B Kevin Howard

3B Mark Sobolewski

SS Jonathan Diaz

Outfielders

LF Brian Van Kirk

CF Brad McElroy

RF Brad Glenn

OF Justin Jackson

-JM

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Perez, 21, worked primarily as a bullpen catcher and only saw the field in one game as a defensive replacement. The Valencia, Venezuela native is looking to rebound from a down year with Lansing in 2011, where he dealt with colder weather while playing full-season ball for the first time.

After being claimed by the Pirates off waivers earlier in the offseason before being re-claimed by the Jays, Jeroloman caught the ceremonial first pitch in the Jays’ spring opener back on March 3. The 26-year-old appeared in six games for the Jays this spring, going 2-for-8 at the plate with one double and three RBI.

Bocock, 26, was a relatively unknown name heading into spring training but he made the most of his opportunity. Not considered a top prospect by any means, he went 6-for-13 at the plate in 11 games with one triple, one home run and five RBI. His best game would likely have been when he earned the start at third base in the road half of the Jays split-squad schedule back on March 7.

Nanita, 30, reported to spring training after a very busy 2011 campaign. The Dominican Republic native spent the first half of last season with Double-A New Hampshire before closing the year out with a strong 51-game showing with Triple-A Las Vegas and playing winter ball. This spring, Nanita appeared in 10 games and went 4-for-12 at the plate with two RBI.

Tepera, 24, spent the 2011 season as a member of the Dunedin Blue Jays starting rotation. He held his own in his first big league spring training this year, giving up three earned runs on five hits in seven and 2/3 innings of work.

Richmond, 32, tossed three scoreless innings in his two spring appearances this year. The right-hander returned from injury last season to throw 113 innings for Triple-A Las Vegas, managing a 7.33 ERA and 1.814 WHIP.

- JM

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Added to the Jays’ 40-man roster at this time last year to get protected from the Rule 5 Draft, Jeroloman was ranked No. 46 on our pre-2011 top 50 prospects list. Touted as the best defensive catcher of the 2006 draft class, the New York native made it to all the way up to Triple-A in his third minor league season in 2008. Now 26 years old, though, Jeroloman has flip-flopped between Double-A and Triple-A ever since then.

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Jimenez, a native of Puerto Rico, often gets overlooked on many standout prospect rankings because, like many other non-American players, there’s not as extensive of a background on him. I wrote an in-depth scouting report on him (which includes an interview and videos) back in February when he ranked 17th on our pre-2011 top 50 prospects list, and given his torrid pace out of the gate this season with Dunedin, it’s a realistic possibility he could silently emerge as Toronto’s catcher of the future.

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It’s hard to say how big of a trade we’d be talking about here since nothing has been expanded upon since Farrell made the comment, but the obvious thing is that if it’s only Cabral included, it should be a minor move. However, what if this is only part of a bigger deal? Here are some thoughts on what could be in play in terms of possible Jays-Sox trade targets: (more…)

1B Kila Ka’aihue

6’4″ 235 lbs / Bats Left, Throws Right / 26 years old (more…)

The Jays offense finished 2010 with the following rankings in all of MLB: (more…)

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Catcher / 25 years old / 6′0″ 200 lbs

Born: May 10th, 1985 in Suffern, New York, USA

Bats: Left   Throws: Right

High School Team: Wellington Wolverines

College: University of Florida

Drafted: By the Toronto Blue Jays in the 6th round (180th overall) of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft

Jersey Number: #8 for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Quick Facts:

• Recently named to the 2010 USA Pan American Qualifying Team roster
• Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star in 2008, 2009, and 2010 (more…)