1. 1B Art Charles (BLU): 19 AB, .421/.607/1.000 (1.607 OPS), 1 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 SB, 9/4 BB/K

This week

Art Charles had himself a week, though, to be fair, he’s really having himself a season. After closing out the week on Sunday with another home run, Charles has seen his OBP and SLG rise to .459 and .576 respectively, both jaw dropping numbers. What’s even more impressive (or foreboding, if you’re a pessimist) is that he’s produced those numbers despite only a .235 average. I suggested earlier this month that a hot start would earn him a promotion, and the promotion has been received. Charles is on his way to Vancouver, where he’ll likely finish the 2012 season. It could actually boost his contact numbers, as the Northwest League traditionally has large parks with tons of room for fielders to cover. The expanded dimensions shouldn’t hurt his power numbers too much, as at 6-foot-6 and 220 lbs, Charles isn’t really a paint-scraper kind of guy.

2. LF Eric Arce (BLU): 15 AB, .333/.474/1.000 (1.474 OPS), 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 0 SB, 4/9 BB/K

Arce had a crazy professional debut last season, as in just 55 games he set a GCL Blue Jays record with 14 home runs. His 2012 season didn’t get off to nearly as hot of a start, with a .179/.385/.214 line in June. Arce picked things up this week, as on Monday and Tuesday he went a combined 4-for-7 with a double and three home runs. Those big games resulted in, yes, the second 1.000 slugging percentage week on the hot sheet, as Arce joined Art Charles in leading the Bluefield offense. Of his 10 outs recorded, 9 were strikeouts, resulting in a comically high .833 BABIP this week. Arce didn’t receive a ton of attention as a 25th round pick in the 2011 draft, but he is quickly making a name for himself as a power hitter despite his diminutive stature (5-foot-9).

3. 1B David Cooper (LAS): 33 AB, .455/.500/.758 (1.258 OPS), 7 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 3/5 BB/K

When putting together the hot sheet, Cooper was one of the first names I came across, and I thought for sure he was going to be the week’s number one. Seven doubles in seven games is a pretty ridiculous number, especially when you consider Cooper’s usual outstanding contact rate. Unfortunately for him, the two Bluefield sluggers went ham this week. Dating back to last week Cooper is riding a nine game hit streak, but he did most of his damage in the past seven games. In those seven, he had two hits three times, three hits once, and a four hit game to close out the week. Even his two 1-for-5 games were solid, as he notched an extra base hit in each. Adam Lind has performed surprisingly well since his recall, leaving the future of David Cooper in serious doubt.

4. RHP Marcus Stroman (VAN): 1-0, 4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

Upon agreeing to terms with the Blue Jays, the 2012 first round pick was assigned to Vancouver where he was expected to get his feet wet for a couple of weeks before eventually moving to Double-A to face competition more suitable for his talent level. The first week didn’t go so well with four earned runs in just 1.1 innings, but Stroman turned things around dramatically last week. He made a pair of two inning appearances, on the 18th and 22nd, and allowed only one base runner between the two outings. He didn’t walk anyone, and 50% of his outs came by way of the strikeout. He’s likely not long for the Northwest League, and another dominant outing or two this week could push him to New Hampshire before the end of the month.

5. LHP Justin Nicolino (LAN): 2-0, 11.1 IP, 13 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 15 K

His ERA isn’t the most attractive thing to look at, but his complete dominance over the strikezone was worthy of some recognition. If you go back as far as July 5th, Nicolino has 27 strikeouts against only one walk. Despite this, he’s allowed 26 hits and 13 earned runs in just 21.1 innings over that time frame. It’s a very unusual trend, as when a pitcher starts showing improved strikeout and walk rates, you usually expect the hits and earned runs allowed to dry up a bit. It’s been the reverse for Nicolino, as he actually found more success earlier in the year when he was striking out fewer batters. While the reasoning behind this is difficult to surmise, it likely has to do with the increased exposure to lineups. As opposed to going three or four innings and facing hitters once or twice, he’s now pitching five or six innings and facing the same hitters two or three times. They’re learning he’s around the strikezone, so they’re swinging with more frequency and aggression. As crazy as it sounds, Nicolino might need to start throwing fewer strikes.

6. RF Moises Sierra (LAS): 24 AB, .333/.385/.583 (.968 OPS), 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB, 2/6 BB/K

Sierra appears to be the forgotten man in Las Vegas despite producing a solid all around season. Snider was the obvious choice for a promotion, but if the team needed two outfielders, Moises Sierra really should have been the second. His numbers aren’t spectacular in the context of the Pacific Coast League, but it’s hard to knock an .847 OPS with near equal performances against left handed and right handed pitching. Additionally, as a near-24 year old with seven years of minor league experience, it is/was time for the organization to see what they have in the Dominican outfielder. His two home runs week brought his season total up to 16, which is tied for 7th in the PCL. I really hope he receives a promotion by September at the latest, as Sierra has definitely earned it.

Honorable mention: Noah Syndergaard (LAS), Jake Marisnick (NH), Chase DeJong (GCL), Roberto Osuna (BLU), Chad Jenkins (NH)

Addendum: Dunedin right handed pitcher Jesse Hernandez nearly threw a no-hitter on Friday night, getting to two strikes on his final batter before finally giving up his first hit of the game. Due to his soaring pitch count, Hernandez wasn’t even able to finish the game. It wasn’t a junky, high walk / low strikeout game either, as Hernandez was dominant from the start with 12 strikesouts against only 1 walk. He’ll be turning 24 years old in a month, and with no dominant pitch he’s less a prospect and more an organizational guy. Even so, such an excellent game is worthy of some recognition, and a hat tip to Charlie Caskey (@CharlieCaskey) for the reminder.

Both teams will be divided into two articles; one for position players and the other for pitchers. It will be explained how each player became a member of the Blue Jays organization, as well as how they performed last year, whether with Toronto or otherwise. A lot of people are familiar with the Triple-A and Double-A rosters, but less so with the low level, short season teams. The goal behind the preview is to give Blue Jays fans a better idea of who is on the rosters, and who they should be keeping their eyes on. The Bluefield and Gulf Coast rosters are even more loaded than usual, as with the draft signing deadline being moved ahead over a month, a number of top draft picks will be playing when in previous years they’d still be sitting at home negotiating.

I will be examining the hitters for both clubs, while Jared will be writing about the pitching side of things. To get things started, here are the position players for the Rookie Class Bluefield Blue Jays.

Catchers

Santiago Nessy (19 years old)

How he was acquired: Signed out of Venezuela as an international free agent in July 2009 for $750,000

How he fared in 2011: After spending the 2010 season in the Dominican Summer League, Nessy made his stateside debut in 2011 with the Gulf Coast Blue Jays. He hit extremely well, with a .306 batting average and .773 OPS in 35 games. He showed good pop (7 doubles, 3 home runs) and impressive plate discipline (8 walks, 29 strikeouts), something it often takes young latin players a few years to develop. Bluefield should be an interesting challenge for Nessy, as while the bat hasn’t been questioned, his defense has. He’ll be working with a predominantly English speaking pitching staff as well, which could provide additional challenges to the young Venezuelan.

2011 (GCL): 134 AB, .306/.347/.425 (.773 OPS), 7 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 0 SB, 8/29 BB/K

Hector Alvarez (21 years old)

How he was acquired: Selected by the Blue Jays (from the New York Mets) in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft in December 2011

How he fared in 2011: Like Nessy, the 2011 season was Alvarez’ first stateside, as he played with the Gulf Coast Mets after spending three years in the Venezuelan and Dominican summer leagues. Offense isn’t the calling card for Alvarez, as evident by his .229 average and .615 OPS in 2011 (his career highs in both categories came in 2010, at .249 and .692 respectively). With such a low ceiling as a prospect – with that term used loosely – it’s doubtful Alvarez will be stealing much playing time from Santiago Nessy, who the Blue Jays are hoping to develop into something special.

2011 (GCL): 83 AB, .229/.326/.289 (.615 OPS), 5 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, 12/13 BB/K

Infielders

Art Charles (21 years old)

How he was acquired: Selected in the 20th round of the 2010 draft

How he fared in 2011: Charles spent the entire 2011 season with Bluefield, and performed well, which makes the lack of promotion at least a little surprising. In 250 at-bats (over 68 games), Charles produced an .819 OPS, fuelled by his extra base power – 18 doubles, 3 triples, 11 home runs. Additionally, his 61 RBI led the entire Appalachian League. The strikeout rate was a little concerning, and could be the reason why the Blue Jays chose to hold Charles back. If he gets off to a hot start though, he could find himself in Vancouver or Lansing very quickly.

2011 (BLU): 250 AB, .240/.351/.468 (.819 OPS), 18 2B, 3 3B, 11 HR, 61 RBI, 1 SB, 39/89 BB/K

Christian Lopes (19 years old)

How he was acquired: Selected in the 7th round of the 2011 draft, signed for $800,000

How he fared in 2011: Because of the old CBA, many above slot signing bonuses were held back by the Commissioner’s office until the signing deadline in mid-August. Lopes fell into that category, as the $800,000 he received was much higher than slot for a 7th round pick. As such, he didn’t get into any game action. Despite being drafted as a shortstop, Lopes is a second baseman in the long run, as he has neither the range nor the arm for the left side of the infield. What made Lopes as high draft pick is his bat, as he has an advanced approach and solid power for a middle infielder.

Dickie Thon (20 years old)

How he was acquired: Selected in the 5th round of the 2010 draft, signed for $1,500,000

How he fared in 2011: Thon fell into similar circumstances to Lopes, though a year earlier. His huge signing bonus eliminated the possibility of playing ball in his draft year, so he didn’t make his debut until 2011. The results were mixed, as while he showed plenty of athleticism and an excellent walk rate, he struggled to make contact or generate much power. It was later revealed he suffered a blood disorder in Spring Training as the result of a rare kidney disease that left him weak throughout the year, so the fact he managed to even play is pretty remarkable. Regardless, as a 20 year old still in rookie ball, Thon will need to stay healthy and hit well if he wants to advance and retain that top prospect shine.

2011 (GCL): 121 AB, .223/.369/.322 (.691 OPS), 3 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 6 SB, 23/44 BB/K

Matt Dean (19 years old)

How he was acquired: Selected in the 13th round of the 2011 draft, signed for $737,500

How he fared in 2011: The Blue Jays made the 2011 draft count, as they went for a ton of expensive high upside high school players. The down side, of course, is that the players are unable to join an affiliate until the following year. Like Christian Lopes, Matt Dean will be making his professional debut, and will round out a top prospect laden Bluefield infield. He has plenty of offensive upside, and when I ranked him as my 13th best prospect in the system over the winter, I predicted a .290/.350/.480 slash line with 15 doubles and 10 home runs. We’ll have to see if he lives up to my lofty expectations.

Christian Frias (22 years old)

How he was acquired: Signed out of Puerto Rico as an international free agent in July 2010

How he fared in 2011: Considering his age, Frias had an extremely disappointing 2011 season in the Gulf Coast League. In 70 at-bats across 33 games, Frias hit only .143 with a .472 OPS. His 1 extra base hit was especially disappointing. While the 15 walks against 13 strikeouts is nice on first glance, one must remember he was facing pitchers primarily three to five years younger than him. Frias will serve as a backup infielder and utility man, as it would be hard to pull Lopes, Thon, or Dean from the lineup at his expense.

2011 (GCL): 70 AB, .143/.315/.157 (.472 OPS), 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 1 SB, 15/13 BB/K

Chris Peters (23 years old)

How he was acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent in June 2011

How he fared in 2011: An undrafted college senior from the University of Cincinnati, Peters was assigned to the Gulf Coast League after signing and performed quite well. His traits from college baseball carried over, as he showed a good plate approach and speed while lacking in the home run department. At 23 years old, Peters is nothing more than organizational depth, though the Blue Jays could be hoping his age and life experiences can give some perspective to this young roster.

2011 (GCL): 118 AB, .246/.321/.364 (.685 OPS), 5 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 3 SB, 14/26 BB/K

Jason Leblebijan (21 years old)

How he was acquired: Selected in the 25th round of the 2012 draft

How he fared in 2011: Jason Leblebijan was drafted out of Bradley University in Missouri, where he was a three year starter at shortstop. His batting average dipped to a career worst .235 in 2012, but he showed some power, leading his team in doubles (16) and total extra base hits (24). He’s very athletic, as Leblebijan also played on the Bradley basketball team. Had he not signed with the Blue Jays, he would have join the Cape Cod League in an effort to boost his draft stock in 2013. With Bluefield, however, he’s expected to serve as a backup infielder.

Outfielders

Jacob Anderson (19 years old)

How he was acquired: Selected in the Supplemental 1st round of the 2011 draft, signed for $990,000

How he fared in 2011: As he agreed to a near-slot signing bonus, Anderson was able to get a couple weeks worth of games in with the Gulf Coast Blue Jays before the end of the season. In what little time he had, he played extremely well, with a 1.098 OPS. Anderson has a true five-tool profile, as he is capable of hitting for both power and average while playing a strong right field. Despite his height (6-foot-4), Anderson also has above average speed, and should prove to be an exceptional base stealer.

2011 (GCL): 37 AB, .405/.476/.622 (1.098 OPS), 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2 SB, 4/8 BB/K

Dwight Smith Jr (19 years old)

How he was acquired: Selected in the Supplemental 1st round of the 2011 draft, signed for $800,000

How he fared in 2011: Smith didn’t get into game action in 2011, but his advanced bat should allow him to make the jump from high school baseball to the Appalachian League without too many difficulties. Smith has ideal bloodlines, as his father (Dwight Smith Sr) played major league baseball for eight years, highlighted by a 2nd place finish in the 1989 Rookie of the Year voting and a 1995 World Series title with Atlanta. Growing up around baseball has given Smith excellent instincts and a good knowledge of the game, allowing his tools to play up.

Eric Arce (20 years old)

How he was acquired: Selected in the 27th round of the 2010 draft, signed for $100,000

How he fared in 2011: Arce has exceptional power given his 5-foot-9 build. Playing for the Gulf Coast Blue Jays in 2011, Arce led the league in home runs (14), walks (38), and OPS (1.058), while also placing in the top 10 in RBI, slugging percentage, on base percentage, runs, and total bases. He could play some left field for Bluefield, but it’s more likely he finds most of his playing time at designated hitter where he can focus on what he is – a power hitter. Arce received a number of awards for his breakout performance, including being named a Rookie Class All Star by Baseball America.

2011 (GCL and BLU): 172 AB, .267/.427/.587 (1.015 OPS), 7 2B, 3 3B, 14 HR, 41 RBI, 1 SB, 40/52 BB/K

Nico Taylor (22 years old)

How he was acquired: Selected in the 38th round of the 2011 draft

How he fared in 2011: As a junior out of Northwood University, Taylor signed early and was able to get his career underway. It paid off, as the 6-foot-4 outfielder got off to an excellent start and opened a lot of eyes. Playing in 30 games for the Gulf Coast Blue Jays, Taylor showed an impressive all around game, with contact, power, speed, and a mature plate approach. If previous numbers carry weight, Taylor should be one of the favorites for playing time in left field.

2011 (GCL): 91 AB, .319/.421/.505 (.926 OPS), 8 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 2 SB, 15/24 BB/K

Carlos Ramirez (21 years old)

How he was acquired: Signed as undrafted free agent in March 2009

How he fared in 2011: Ramirez returns to Bluefield after spending the entire 2011 season with the club. Despite playing in a career low 40 games, he set career highs in a number of categories including average (.232), slugging percentage (.384), and OPS (.685). With the center and right field positions locked down by Smith Jr and Anderson, Ramirez will fight for stuck fighting for playing time in left field and at designated hitter.

2011 (BLU): 112 AB, .232/.301/.384 (.685 OPS), 7 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 2 SB, 10/39 BB/K

Alex Azor (22 years old)

How he was acquired: Selected in the 10th round of the 2012 draft, signed for $1,000

How he fared in 2011: As a college senior with Navy, Azor hit a more than respectable.322/.419/.408. He was quoted as saying he would have signed for a hot dog, and unsurprisingly received the minimum bonus for a draft pick at $1,000. Azor is in a unique situation, as a Navy graduate he’s expected to serve in the military for five years, during which he will be unable to play for the organization – though it’s been said he’s seeking a 24 month program who student athletes instead. Even if his baseball career is short lived, Azor has “10th round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays” on his resume, which is something no one can ever take away from him.

Up next on the top 50 list is a patient hitter with a great eye at the plate that grew up a Jays fan…

No. 41: Eric Arce

Left fielder / 20 years old / 5’10″ 193 lbs

Born: November 29, 1991 in Tampa, Florida

Bats Left   Throws Right

High School Team: Lakeland H.S. (Lakeland, FL)

College: Florida State University

Drafted By: The Toronto Blue Jays in the 25th round (769th overall) of the 2011 Amateur Draft

Jersey Number: 34 for the Bluefield Blue Jays

Pre-2011 Rank: N/A

(more…) ]]> http://jaysjournal.com/2012/01/26/jays-journal-top-50-blue-jays-prospects-no-41-eric-arce/feed/ 12 http://jaysjournal.com/2011/11/15/season-in-review-bluefield-blue-jays-position-players/ http://jaysjournal.com/2011/11/15/season-in-review-bluefield-blue-jays-position-players/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:42:11 +0000 Jared Macdonald http://jaysjournal.com/?p=10028 Previously part of the Baltimore Orioles organization, the Bluefield Blue Jays were very successful in their first season as one of Toronto’s minor league affiliates. They finished atop the Appalachian League’s East division with a 40-28 record, and won their first playoff series against the Elizabethton Twins before falling to the Johnson City Cardinals in [...]

Season in Review: Bluefield Blue Jays Position Players - Jays Journal - Jays Journal - A Toronto Blue Jays Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Previously part of the Baltimore Orioles organization, the Bluefield Blue Jays were very successful in their first season as one of Toronto’s minor league affiliates. They finished atop the Appalachian League’s East division with a 40-28 record, and won their first playoff series against the Elizabethton Twins before falling to the Johnson City Cardinals in the finals.

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.

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RHP Colby Broussard, 6’4″ 220 lb, from Luling Louisianna, selected with the 44th rd pick in 2011 (more…)