Chris Hawkins at a Perfect Game showcase event (Image courtesy PerfectGame.org)

Name: Chris Hawkins

Position: Corner Outfield

Date of Birth: 8/17/1991 (21)

Acquired: Selected in the 3rd round of the 2010 draft ($350,000 USD)

High School: North Gwinnett (Sugar Hill, Georgia)

College: Had commitment to Tennessee

Height/Weight: 6’2”/195 lbs

Bats/Throws: L/R

Awards and Accomplishments:

• Ranked 15th on 2012 Top 30 prospects list
• 2012 Midwest League Mid-Season All Star
• 2011 #11 prospect in Appalachian League (Baseball America)
• 2011 Appalachian League Post-Season All Star
• 2010 Southeast All Region 2nd Team

2012 Statistics and Analysis

491 AB, .269/.331/.332 (.663 OPS), 17 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 43 RBI, 11 SB, 46/78 BB/K

After a breakout 2011 season with Bluefield, expectations were raised for the follow up in Lansing. The year started off quite well for Hawkins, as in the first two months of the year, he put together a .321/.355/.409 slash line. Things then fell of precipitously, particularly in the power department. Over the remaining 76 games, Hawkins would manage only nine doubles, one triple, and one home run, for a .282 slugging percentage and 47 ISO. It was a very puzzling development, as in 68 games for Bluefield in the previous season, he had a .492 slugging percentage and 174 ISO. While the disappearance of the power was disappointing, Hawkins made improvements with his plate discipline, and continued to excel o the base paths.

Scouting Report

Video (via MLBProspectPortal.com)

Swing Mechanics

Hawkins sets himself at the plate with his front foot open and a crouched stance. His swing is very simple and clean, without any obvious hitches. The swing path is short, allowing Hawkins to be quick to the ball while possessing good, but not great bat speed. He has a very shallow swing angle, as his game isn’t focused on generating loft. Hawkins covers the outer half of the plate well, and has shown a willingness to use all fields as opposed to focusing on pulling everything.

Tools Breakdown

Hawkins has a very well rounded set of skills. The bat is the premium tool in the workshop, as while he possesses merely average bat speed, he has an advanced plate approach and excellent plate coverage. A potentially plus tool, the bat needs a greater contribution from the power to reach its ceiling. Hawkins is eager to put the ball in play, and while he has the ability to do so and find grass, he might be better served waiting for a more ideal pitch that he could drive with authority. Despite a strong frame the power is presently well below average, and it’s hard to project anything beyond average at this point.

With plus athleticism and good instincts, Hawkins is an excellent base runner. It could be argued that his athleticism is his most valuable trait, as it’s allowed him to make a smooth transition from shortstop, to third base, to the outfield corner. The reasoning behind the defensive shift is that while Hawkins has the aforementioned athleticism, his movements aren’t as smooth as those required by an infielder. In the outfield, he can cut loose and use his natural ability to be an above average defender. His arm is focused more towards accuracy than raw strength, but he sets up well for his throws and has excelled at throwing out base runners. Hawkins could play in right field, but ultimately unless the power makes big strides he has more of a left field profile.

Projection

The perfect world projection for Chris Hawkins would be an everyday corner outfielder whose skill set allows him to be a versatile number two hitter; 2nd division starter.

2013 Outlook, Risk, and ETA

Despite the lackluster finish with Lansing, Hawkins will receive a promotion to High-A with the Dunedin Blue Jays. There, he’ll attempt to rediscover his power stroke, something that could prove to be exceedingly difficult given the humidity, heavy air, and low elevations of the Florida State League. The risk is greater now than it was a year ago, as it’s hard to foresee a corner outfielder finding long term success without a positive contribution from his power. With that being said, if Hawkins puts the pieces back together, he could move very quickly. He does the things well that coaches really like, and his overall game should be capable of handling the upper levels of the minor leagues. If things break right, he could seemingly find his way to Toronto in the first half of 2015.

In terms of page views and feedback (both positive and negative, but thankfully mostly the former), the series was one of the most popular things I’ve done in my two-ish years of writing about the Blue Jays. As such, I’ve decided to break down the system once again, and hopefully another year of experience and knowledge will make the list that much more thorough and interesting to the readers.

The fifth part of the series will look at the corner outfield positions, of which the blueprint is very simple: generate offense. According to Baseball America, for both left and right field, the two highest priority tools are power and hitting ability. The only difference between the two positions is the defensive demands, as with all other things being equal, you want the stronger arm in right field. Elite defenders play centerfield, average or worse defenders with a strong arm play right field, average or worse defenders with an average or worse arm play left field; it’s a very clear cut path down the defensive spectrum in the outfield. Speed is the least important tool, as while it’s a valuable asset to have, it’s not a necessity.

• Top corner outfield prospect to reach MLB (last 5 years): Travis Snider
• Corner outfielders in 2012 Top 30: 4
• Corner outfield WAR leaders in MLB (last 5 years): Jose Bautista (21.3), Alex Rios (7.2)

King in the North

Jacob Anderson – 2012 team: Rookie-Bluefield
191 AB, .194/.271/.304 (.575 OPS), 10 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 3 SB, 11/72 BB/K

Jacob Anderson during the Perfect Game event at Tropicana Field (Image courtesy PerfectGame.org)

The King in the North classification is a more than generous label for Jacob Anderson after the stinker of a 2012 season he produced while playing in Bluefield. Unfortunately, the competition for the top spot was severely lacking, allowing a prospect with a strikeout rate of 33.5% to take the fictional crown. My expectations were extremely high entering the season, as not only did he receive a few Jake Marisnick comps, he has the imposing physical projection that scouts love, and he took the Gulf Coast League to task during his brief two week debut in August of 2011 (.405/.476/.622 in 9 games). I ranked the California native and former supplemental first round pick as the 10th best prospect in the system last winter, and at least part of me thought I was being too conservative even then.

To understand the enthusiasm that I and many others felt, you need only watch Jacob Anderson step into the box for batting practice. He doesn’t look like the traditional baseball player: he has the body of wide receiver. He has broad shoulders and thick, muscular legs that just scream power projection. Anderson sets a wide base with a slightly open stance, and readies himself with a tightly closed front shoulder and high hands. He uses his height (6-foot-4) to create leverage in his swing, and once the pitch is delivered he toe taps, spins his hips, and pulls his hands through the zone with authority. One clear similarity he carries to Marisnick is that both choose to keep a level swing path, using their physical gifts to generate powerful line drives as opposed to targeting fly balls with an uppercut. Prior to joining the Blue Jays, he had a reputation for getting overly aggressive and chasing breaking balls, which proved to be a very legitimate problem. As his struggles compounded last season, both his confidence and swing mechanics completely fell apart, leaving him even more vulnerable than before.

The Blue Jays have utilized Anderson almost exclusively in right field since he signed, which is a peculiar decision to me. Of his 66 career games, 54 have come in right field, with 11 at designated hitter and just one in left field. Anderson’s natural athleticism and above average speed gives him plenty of range in either of the outfield corners, but his arm is far better suited to left. His throwing mechanics aren’t pretty, he doesn’t set himself up well, and his raw arm strength is average at best. As a top prospect, Anderson will often be given the benefit of the doubt over non-prospects with perhaps better defensive abilities, but as he ascends through the minor league levels I imagine he’ll eventually get moved over to the more logical position.

I’d love to be a fly on the wall in Alex Anthopoulos’ office when he’s discussing what to do with Jacob Anderson. Expectations were high, yet the final result was worse than what even the most pessimistic of prospectors could have foreseen. The organization is all but forced to make him repeat the rookie level, which is exactly what an organization doesn’t want to do with one of their supposedly elite hitting prospects. The best case scenario for all parties would be for Anderson to get off to a hot start next season, rebuilding his confidence, and allowing the Blue Jays to justifiably move him up to Vancouver where they probably wanted him to be in the first place. The hit tool is obviously a step behind where originally thought, so while that will make the road a bit bumpier, there’s still plenty of potential to dream on moving forward.

The Question Mark

Chris Hawkins – 2012 team: Single-A Lansing
491 AB, .269/.331/.332 (.663 OPS), 17 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 43 RBI, 11 SB, 46/78 BB/K

Chris Hawkins at a Perfect Game showcase event (Image courtesy PerfectGame.org)

Chris Hawkins became a popular name late during the 2011 season after he put on a hitting display with the Blue Jays rookie level affiliate in Bluefield. The production didn’t come out of nowhere, as Hawkins was highly regarded as a third round pick in the 2010 draft. He received a well-deserved promotion to full season ball with Lansing this past spring, but after a good start to the year, his performance fell off dramatically. The disappointment culminated with a .217/.284/.255 slash line between August and September. When a player has an on-base percentage nearly equal to his slugging percentage it means one of two things; first, that he’s an absolute machine at getting on base, or second, that he’s swinging a pool noodle at the plate. Unfortunately, Hawkins’ line fell into the latter category. His 23 extra base hits in 123 games translated into a 63 ISO, which is bad for a middle infielder, let alone a corner outfielder. Comparatively, he had 26 extra base hits in 70 games in 2011, for a 171 ISO. Where did the power go?

His power had always been more projection than realized, but no one could have expected him to move backwards in that regard. Hawkins generates good bat speed, so that’s not likely to be the culprit. He doesn’t look like a lumberjack trying to chop down a tree, but he’s also not just gingerly slapping at the ball. Mechanically, his swing is very clean and simple, and he uses all fields. Diminished bat skills aren’t the problem either, as while the .269 season average isn’t the most attractive number, he hovered between .280 and .320 from the beginning of the season until August when his year really took a nose dive. Hawkins remained disciplined as well, actually improving upon both his walk (8.5%) and strikeout (14.4%) rates from his breakout 2011 season.

The power may have vanished, but Hawkins has continued to improve defensively. Originally drafted as a shortstop, he has since moved to third base, then left field, and now right field. It’s not that he’s a poor defender, he simply doesn’t have the smoothness and grace required of an infielder. In the outfield, however, he can fully utilize his athleticism and serve as an above average defender. Hawkins’ arm has really impressed, as he recorded 14 outfield assists for Lansing last season. The arm strength isn’t elite, but he sets up well for his throws and makes accurate strikes to the infield. He’s proven to be a strong base runner as well, taking 11 bases last season without being caught, upping his career totals to 33/40 (83%) in 239 career games.

While his performance was certainly disappointing, particularly in the second half, there’s no chance the Blue Jays will consider holding Hawkins back for a second season in the Midwest League. Instead, he’ll be ticketed for High-A, where he’ll have to rediscover his power stroke in the heavy air of Dunedin and the Florida State League. As Jake Marisnick, Marcus Knecht, and Michael Crouse would surely attest, the adjustment isn’t an easy one. Hawkins still has some time to figure things out as he has youth on his side, but corner outfielders who can’t hit for power don’t remain prospects for long. The next year or two are going to be huge for Hawkins, so hopefully he can provide some definitive answers to the questions that are beginning to creep up.

On the Rise

Kevin Pillar – 2012 team(s): Single-A Lansing, High-A Dunedin
499 AB, .323/.374/.439 (.813 OPS), 28 2B, 6 3B, 6 HR, 91 RBI, 51 SB, 40/70 BB/K

Pillar batting for the Dunedin Blue Jays (Image courtesy battersbox.ca)

Through the first four prospect primers, the On the Rise classification was usually reserved for young players who had a breakout season in the low minors. That’s not quite the case with Kevin Pillar. The outfielder is already 23 years old – he’ll be 24 on Opening Day – and just finished his first year of full season ball. As a four year senior at a low tier college, Pillar wasn’t a highly sought after commodity, falling to the Blue Jays in the 32nd round of the 2011 draft. He signed quickly and made his debut with Bluefield, turning heads with a .347/.377/.543 batting line in 60 games. The organization jump-started him with a Lansing assignment in 2012, where he crushed it for 86 games, earning a promotion to High-A Dunedin. Despite limited time there, he was still named as the Midwest League MVP. Some may attribute his success simply to his age, but it appears the Blue Jays found their needle in the haystack.

Pillar has taken the organization by storm with his surprisingly advanced bat skills. He’s calm and confident, always ready to swing without overexposing himself. Pillar’s stance is simple, with a wide base and his weight on his back foot. He makes a smooth weight transfer from the load position to his follow through, and while his home run potential is limited by his lack of physical projection, he still makes solid contact with a line drive oriented swing. He’s disciplined at the plate, as he’ll wait out his pitch, and won’t cheat himself with a half hearted swing when it arrives. With that being said, it would be foolish to claim his age isn’t a factor while playing in A-ball, as he has a vault of experience from which to draw upon that his competition simply don’t have.

The 51 stolen bases look mighty impressive on paper, but Pillar’s speed is closer to average than elite. Instead, he uses his baseball instincts, getting good reads on pitchers when they fall into predictable patterns. Much like Dalton Pompey on the centerfield primer, Pillar doesn’t really have a clear defensive home. He’s an average defender on the corners, and his arm is decent enough to handle right field. Unfortunately, the offensive demands on corner outfielders are extremely high, and it remains to be seen if Pillar can live up to them as he begins to face opposition his age. His best defensive position may end up being “fourth outfielder”, which shouldn’t be taken as an insult. Every major league roster needs a player who can handle all three defensive positions for short stretches, and Pillar can do that with some offense and base running skills added in as well. I read a Reed Johnson comp for Pillar, and I actually think it fits really well. For a 32nd round pick, that’s amazing value.

With his continued success serving as a “taxi squad” player in the Arizona Fall League – the classification allows him to only play a couple of games per week, barring a roster injury – I wouldn’t at all be surprised if the Blue Jays gave Pillar a Double-A assignment next spring. Some of his peripherals, namely his walk rate, took a dive after his promotion to Dunedin, but he maintained a .323 average despite a career low .342 BABIP. Batting average obviously isn’t the most reliable statistic, but there’s something to be said for a hitter who, level after level, makes strong, consistent contact. As previously mentioned, he’ll be 24 years old when camp breaks, so there’s not going to be a slow developmental path from here on out. Sink or swim, the Blue Jays should learn precisely what they have in Kevin Pillar next season.

Remember the Name

Wuilmer Becerra – 2012 team: Gulf Coast Blue Jays
32 AB, .250/.359/.375 (.734 OPS), 4 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 4/7 BB/K

Wuilmer Becerra got the Cardona treatment and jumped right to the United States. (liderendeportes.com)

Between the centerfield and corner outfield primers, we’ve looked at nine outfield prospects. Wuilmer Becerra is the first and only to hail from Latin America, as the region is better known for its dynamic shortstops and electric pitchers. The Blue Jays acquired Becerra during the bountiful 2011 International Free Agency period, handing the Venezuelan a hefty 1.3 million dollar signing bonus. That bonus was tied with Dawel Lugo for the second largest given out by the organization that summer, behind only Roberto Osuna and his 1.5 million. The recently-turned 18 year old made his professional debut in the Gulf Coast League this past summer, but saw his season cut short after he was hit in the face by a pitch and suffered a broken jaw. It was an unfortunate turn of events, as Becerra had looked very strong in extended spring training and may have been poised for a breakout season.

The key to Becerra’s game is his potentially dominant combination of speed and power. Standing a lean 6-foot-4, he takes full advantage of his length when running. Scouts have timed his 60 yard dash at 6.6 seconds, which is 70-grade speed. While that athleticism gives him monstrous range in the outfield, it doesn’t translate quite as well onto the base paths. It takes him a few strides to get up to full speed, leading to merely above average times from home to first, and first to second on a stolen base. Like many Latin American prospects – and all baseball players, really – Becerra’s career began at shortstop, but that was never viewed as viable in the long term. Beyond the obvious problem with his ever increasing size, he just didn’t have the hands or footwork required to play an infield position. Furthermore, his arm is a below average tool, so while he may splash in some right field or even centerfield here and there while in the low minor leagues, his future appears to be as a rangy left fielder.

Becerra’s power should allow him to remain a viable prospect regardless of the defensive position he settles at, as the leverage and bat speed in his swing creates very impressive raw power. He accentuates the tool by utilizing an uppercut, but can sometimes take it too far when he starts wrapping the bat while in the load position. Becerra is a batting practice monster; the debate is whether or not he’ll be able to translate that showcase power into game action. At times his plate coverage looks good, but the holes in his swing really open up when he lengthens and sells out for power, making scouts unsure where he’ll end up on a wide spectrum of offensive possibilities. This type of situation isn’t unique; however, as very rarely is there a consensus ceiling on a 16 or 17 year old prospect.

Despite the lost time due to injury, the Blue Jays are likely interested in getting Becerra past the complex league next season. Bluefield is the most logical destination, as the organization has used that affiliate as a launching pad for second year prospects who either missed their first year entirely (often due to signing late), or missed extended time due to injury. From there, his developmental path with be based entirely upon how he looks and performs. The organization has shown no reluctance in promoting players up to Vancouver during the year, and late season leaps all the way to Lansing, while not common, have become a possibility for those who earn it. Wherever he ends up, with his combination of power and speed, Wuilmer Becerra will be a name to remember when short season ball rolls around next summer.

1. RHP Noah Syndergaard (LAN): 2-0, 11 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K

Jays' pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard can match heat with the best of them at training camp in Duendin. (STEPH ROGERS photo)

Since mid-June, no one in the Blue Jays system has pitched better than Noah Syndergaard. Across his last five appearances – including two games this week – Syndergaard has allowed just 3 runs 25 innings, while striking out 29. He’s kept base runners to a minimum as well, with only 15 hits and 5 walks allowed. On July 8th he pitched 6 complete innings, which was a new career high for the big Texas right hander. After some early season inconsistency there was a lot of talk that Syndergaard had become overhyped and simply wasn’t as good as advertised, but the fact he’s been pitching at his best while finally getting stretched out with a starter’s workload speaks volumes about his true talent level. His switch from a curveball to a slider coincides with this incredible hot streak, and with such a powerful arm and 3/4 delivery the breaking ball does appear to suit him better. Syndergaard’s 80 strikeouts rank 5th in the Midwest League despite his inning total being between 15 and 35 lower than all the pitchers ahead and immediately behind him. He is a very real pitching prospect folks.

2. 2B Christian Lopes (BLU): 20 AB, .450/.476/.750 (1.226 OPS), 3 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 1/4 BB/K

Lopes ranks on the hot sheet for the second time in three weeks thanks to a continual display of impressive power for a middle infielder. A thin Bluefield schedule limited him to five games this week, but he took full advantage of his playing time with four multi-hit efforts, each of which included one extra base hit. He completely filled up the stat sheet, with the aforementioned doubles and home run being complemented by a walk and a pair of stolen bases, his first two of the year. With Hechavarria not long for the minor leagues and Dickie Thon struggling badly over the past two years, Lopes could soon be in the discussion for Toronto’s top middle infield prospect.

3. SS Adeiny Hechavarria (LAS): 27 AB, .407/.484/.704 (1.188 OPS), 0 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB, 4/5 BB/K

Anyone who is still simply attributing Hechavarria’s success to Las Vegas and the Pacific Coast League is missing out on some legitimate and exciting development. Hechavarria played in seven games this week, and much like Christian Lopes down in Bluefield, he put up a nice variety of numbers across the board. His week was highlighted by his June 2nd game against Reno, as he went 3-for-5 with a pair of solo home runs. The season line is now up to .317/.367/.449, and while that obviously won’t translate to Toronto, it really doesn’t need to given his defensive proficiency. His .281/.326/.409 road slash line is probably a more accurate representation of his talent level at this point, and is a significant improvement upon the .687 OPS he produced last year in Double-A. If Hechavarria can generate a .700 OPS while hitting 9th in a major league lineup, he has boatloads of value.

4. LF Chris Hawkins (LAN): 28 AB, .464/.545/.607 (1.152 OPS), 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 1 SB, 5/2 BB/K

Hawkins soared in April (.313 average, .767 OPS) and May (.327 average, .762 OPS), but completely fell apart in the month of June. He managed to hit only .160, and as a batting average dependent offensive player, his OPS plummeted to .437 for the month. After Jon Berti received a well deserved promotion to Dunedin, it appears as though Hawkins realized he need to shoulder the offensive load for the Lugnuts, as he came on extremely strong this week, including a pair of 4-for-4 games on the 6th and 8th. Hawkins produced a 174 ISO with Bluefield last season, and while the Midwest League is arguably the hardest place in all of minor league baseball to hit, his measly 76 ISO this season has been a gargantuan disappointment. It’s hard to argue his prospect stock has taken a bit of a hit this year.

5. C Yan Gomes (LAS): 23 AB, .304/.385/.739 (1.124 OPS), 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 2 SB, 3/3 BB/K

Gomes remains on fire as the trade deadline approaches, ranking on his second consecutive prospect hot sheet. He showed a lot of offensive diversification, with plenty of power, a trio of walks, and even a pair of stolen bases, tripling his season total. He’s actually hit better away from the friendly confines of Cashman Field, so prospective teams looking to find an offensive oriented catcher/third baseman can at least partially believe in the numbers he’s produced this year. If he remains within the organization, he could become a very valuable bench player for the Blue Jays. His catching background would allow the Blue Jays to play both Travis d’Arnaud and J.P. Arencibia in the lineup at the same time, acting as a viable alternative should one of them suffer an injury during game action.

6. 3B Kellen Sweeney (VAN): 19 AB, .316/.409/.737 (1.146 OPS), 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 0 SB, 3/4 BB/K

The 2012 season has been a colossal disappointment for Sweeney, who I thought was poised for a breakout year after an injury riddled 2011. Sweeney opened the year with Single-A Lansing but was completely overmatched, hitting .179/.297/.207 in 43 games. The team pulled him back to extended spring training, where he worked at the complex until being assigned to Vancouver in mid-June. Sweeney started off just as poorly, with a .130/.311/.196 line in 14 June games, but has picked things up significantly here in July. His two home runs this week were his first since way back in August of 2010, and he’s continued to show his usual incredible plate discipline. I really hope this is a sign of things to come, as I’ve always felt Sweeney has far more talent than his statistics have suggested.

Honorable mention: Carlos Perez (LAN), Roberto Osuna (BLU), Santiago Nessy (BLU), Aaron Sanchez (LAN), Deck McGuire (NH), John Stilson (NH)

1. C Travis d’Arnaud (LAS): 28 AB, .429/.467/.964 (1.431 OPS), 3 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 0 SB, 2/7 BB/K

Travis d'Arnaud of the Las Vegas 51s (mylvsports.com)

For the second consecutive week, Toronto’s best prospect is also the hottest prospect. Travis d’Arnaud continued to punish Pacific Coast League pitching, smashing four home runs this week after crushing four last week – bringing his monthly total to an absurd nine. To put a bit of perspective into how well he played, he started the week 2-for-9 with no extra base hits and no walks in the first two games. He went off over the next four, with 10 hits, including the seven that went for extra bases. With his season line now sitting at an awe inspiring .318/.376/.585, it’s fair to say his slow start in April is firmly in the rear view mirror, and to paraphrase the great Dennis Green -– “He is who we thought he is!”

2. CF Anthony Gose (LAS): 29 AB, .517/.600/.621 (1.221 OPS), 3 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 6 SB, 6/3 BB/K

Much like d’Arnaud, Anthony Gose is experiencing a colossal resurgence in May, and is likely devastated by the fact the month has only four days remaining. For the third time in four weeks, Gose has qualified for the prospect hot sheet, due in large part to skills he doesn’t usually flash. With 15 hits and six walks, Gose reached base 21 times in seven games –- precisely what you want to see from a leadoff hitter. While the power was a bit lackluster, he was more than happy to display his wheels, stealing six bases to give him a PCL leading 20 (with an excellent 83% success rate). And no, there are no errors on his MiLB.com player page; Anthony Gose is actually hitting .291 on the year.

3. 1B Mike McDade (NH): 26 AB, .385/.429/.846 (1.275 OPS), 3 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 0 SB, 2/4 BB/K

While the fact he’s repeating the level is a legitimate disclaimer, Mike McDade is having himself a year down in Double-A New Hampshire. With three more home runs this week, McDade is up to 9 on the season, and is on pace to exceed his previous career high of 21 back in 2010. Like many Blue Jays fans, you can be sure Big Mac is keeping his eye on the first base situation in both Toronto and Las Vegas, as he appears ready for a promotion to Triple-A, where he’d be playing half of his games in his home town. All he needs now is an opportunity.

4. RHP Asher Wojciechowski (DUN): 1-0, 12 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 K

It took seven weeks, but Wojo has finally made his first prospect hot sheet of the season. I had pretty big expectations for him after Toronto made him a supplemental first round pick in 2010, but he’s failed to live up to the billing thus far. Velocity and movement on his fastball have been down, and he has yet to develop a viable third pitch. The bullpen is quickly becoming a very real possibility for Wojciechowski, though he has held the wolves back for at least a little while after his performance this week. He turned in arguably the best start of his career on the 26th, pitching six innings of one run baseball, while striking out eight batters. Wojciechowski’s season numbers are still pretty ugly, especially for a 23 year old in High-A ball, so hopefully this week will turn his year around. Just don’t be shocked if you begin seeing a few relief appearances on his player page in the near future.

5. LF Marcus Knecht (DUN): 25 AB, .360/.407/.760 (1.167 OPS), 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 2/9 BB/K

Knecht narrowly edged out his Lansing counterpart in left field, Chris Hawkins, for the final spot on the list. While Hawkins had the better slash line (1.241 OPS, powered by an absurd .550 average), he played in only five games, so the counting stats were seriously lacking. The Canadian Knecht didn’t have the same problem, crushing five extra base hits and earning a spot for the second time in three weeks. He had hits in six of seven games this week, including three multi hit efforts. This is yet another case of a Blue Jays prospect having a terrible April followed by a terrific May, as Knecht produced a .563 OPS in April before clubbing his way to a .935 OPS mark this month.

Brett Cecil Update: 2-0, 12.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, 12 K

Cecil self destructed towards the end of spring training, falling from the fourth spot in the rotation all the way to Double-A. His minor league season got off to a rough start, as he went 0-2 with a 7.30 ERA in April before leaving his start on April 19th with a groin injury. He returned to action on May 9th and appears to be back on track. On May 21st, Cecil pitched 5.2 hitless innings while striking out eight. His bullpen backed him up, and the group combined for the third no-hitter in Fisher Cats history. Cecil is now 3-0 with a 1.66 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in the month of May, and with the recent nose dive in performance by the starting staff in Toronto, Brett could find himself back in the majors before too long.

Honorable mention: Chris Hawkins (LAS), Carlos Perez (LAN), Adeiny Hechavarria (LAS)

Playing at 3,000-seat Bowen Field, Bluefield hitters enjoyed playing at the park and found that the ball flew off of their bats. Bluefield finished fifth out of the league’s ten teams with a .262 team batting average, fourth with a .339 team on-base percentage, and fourth with a .411 slugging percentage. They also finished first in triples (26), RBI (362), and walks (252).

Here’s a look at how each one of Bluefield’s position players fared in 2011, with quotes and details of how the players became part of the Jays organization. Players are listed by position and in order of the most games played there. For players who played multiple positions, they will be slotted under whichever position they played the most games at.

(more…)