Jake Marisnick, pictured during Spring Training, has received the promotion to Double-A New Hampshire (John Lott / National Post)

In somewhat of a shocking early July move, the Blue Jays have promoted one of their top prospects, Jake Marisnick, from High-A Dunedin to Double-A New Hampshire. Entering the year, most of the prospect community placed Marisnick within the organization’s top two or three, and Baseball America recently named the centerfielder as the 37th best prospect in baseball on their midseason top 50 ranking. Of Marisnick, they said “Still refining his offensive approach while playing center, producing impressive power numbers for the FSL.”

The season has been a slight disappointment for Marisnick after he demolished the Midwest League in 2011 to the tune of a .320/.392/.496 slash line, but the fact that he’s managed an .800 OPS despite playing well below his potential is very encouraging and speaks volumes about the ultimate ceiling Marisnick may have. As Baseball America mentioned, Marisnick has shown plenty of power given the pitcher friendly environment of the Florida State League, with 18 doubles, 7 triples, and 6 home runs. Those extra base hits translate to a 188 ISO, which is actually a slight improvement upon his 2011 numbers despite being well behind his 14 home run pace.

The jump to Double-A will be a substantial challenge, as he’ll be facing pitchers predominantly in the 21-23 age bracket with at least a few years worth of experience under their belt. He’ll also be joining an offense that is significantly thinner than his Lansing and Dunedin teams of the past two seasons, so Marisnick may be forced to further develop his maturity and patience at the plate as opposing pitchers attempt to work around him. That test begins tonight, as Marisnick is officially leading off and playing centerfield against Portland.

The move is both exciting and interesting for Blue Jays fans, and it suggests that the scouts who have watched Marisnick play in Dunedin are far more impressed with his swing and approach than the story his statistics are telling. Luckily for us, Blue Jays fans have a strong presence in the New Hampshire area, so first hand reports on Marisnick could start trickling in as soon as tonight. By receiving the promotion now as opposed to next spring, Marisnick can get a feel for the upper minors pitching, and then spend the entire offseason focusing on improving the weaknesses in his game that the pitchers will inevitably expose. The learning experience is far more important than the numbers, so regardless of how well or poorly he plays over the final two-plus months of the year, this move is a very smart one.

Wins/Losses: 32-27 | Streak: L3 | 3rd in PCL Pacific South division (6.0 GB)

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Reno Aces 8, Las Vegas 51s 1 – LP: Richmond (5-4, 5.84)

The 51s’ offense managed just six singles and the Aces scored seven unanswered runs as Las Vegas dropped their third consecutive game to Reno 8-1 on Tuesday night at Cashman Field.

Hitting:

Adeiny Hechavarria and Vladimir Guerrero hit back-to-back, one-out singles in the bottom of the first and both advanced into scoring position on a fielding error, but the 51s were only able to score the one run, on an Adam Lind groundout. After that, their only other opportunity to plate a run came with runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

After joining the 51s over the weekend from Advanced-A Dunedin, Guerrero went 3-for-17 (.176) with one double (but only one strikeout) in his first four Triple-A games of the season, while Lind, is hitting .415 (17-for-41) in his last 10 games but has just one extra-base hit — a double back on May 30 — over that span.

Pitching:

51s starter Scott Richmond lasted just four innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on 10 hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Richmond had a tough time getting out of the first inning, as a pair of two-out singles around an Adam Lind fielding error led to an unearned run, and a wild pitch on a swinging strikeout loaded the bases to continue the frame. What ultimately hurt Richmond, though, was a four-run second, where the first five batters all reached base via three singles, a walk and a double. He retired three of his next four batters to end the inning, but the damage was already done.

Clint Everts, making his third appearance since being assigned to the 51s from Double-A New Hampshire on May 27, gave up one unearned run and allowed three hits in two innings. After a fielding error by 51s left fielder Ricardo Nanita led to the run in the fifth inning, Everts benefited from a great play by his catcher, Travis d’Arnaud, to throw out Reno second baseman Taylor Harbin trying to steal second base. Left-hander Bill Murphy mopped up the game’s final three innings, allowing just one run on one hit that scored on two ground outs in the top of the ninth.

Wins/Losses: 21-35 | Streak: L2 | 6th in EAS Eastern division (11.0 GB)

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Richmond Flying Squirrels 1, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 0 – LP: Pino (1-3, 3.28)

Starter Joel Carreno‘s strong outing wasn’t enough, as the Fisher Cats’ bats fell silent to hand them a 1-0 loss to the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Tuesday night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.

Hitting:

Just like Triple-A Las Vegas, all of New Hampshire’s hits were singles. Mike McDade and Brian Bocock each went 1-for-3 and drew a walk, though Bocock was caught stealing for the first time this season in the  bottom of the third. The Fisher Cats’ only scoring chance came in the first inning, when Ryan Goins and McDade roped back-to-back, two-out singles but catcher Sean Ochinko grounded into a force out.

After drawing a walk in the third and another in the fourth, New Hampshire didn’t have another baserunner until Bocock’s leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth, which was wasted after a foul bunt strikeout and a double play ended the game.

Pitching:

Carreno was handed the hard-luck loss despite pitching his best game of the season, where he scattered just two hits over a season-high seven innings. Unfortunately one of those hits was a two-out solo home run in the third inning, but apart from that, Carreno faced the minimum amount of batters. He did not issue a walk for the first time in five Double-A starts this season, and out of his six strikeouts, five were of the swinging variety. Right-hander Scott Gracey kept it a 1-0 game with two perfect innings of relief.

Wins/Losses: 39-19 | Streak: W4 | 1st in FSL North division (7.5 GM Lead)

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Dunedin Blue Jays 7, Palm Beach Cardinals 1 - WP: Nolin (7-0, 2.43)

After scoring four runs in the second inning, the D-Jays added three more in the sixth to take the opener of a four-game series against the Palm Beach Cardinals 7-1 on Tuesday night at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

Hitting:

DH/first baseman Gabe Jacobo continued to impress, going 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot with a two-run home run in the second inning to bring his season total to five. Kevin Nolan, Marcus Knecht, Kenen Bailli and Kevin Ahrens each hit a double, and the D-Jays finished 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Also, in addition to throwing out a baserunner, catcher Jack Murphy finished with three RBI on the night thanks to a sacrifice fly in the second and a two-run single in the sixth.

Pitching:

After giving up a leadoff home run to start the game, Dunedin starter Sean Nolin settled in, allowing just six hits and one walk in 5 2/3 shutout innings the rest of the way. After two singles opened the top the top of the fourth inning and eventually led to runners on the corners with two outs, Nolin was able to induce a fly out in foul territory to end the inning. He gave up back-to-back, two-out singles in the fifth and also got some help from reliever Dustin Antolin in the sixth when a runner on third was stranded, but it was still a great outing. The start earned Nolin his seventh win of the season and improved his record to 7-0.

Outside of the walk he issued after replacing Nolin in the sixth, Antolin earned his seventh hold of the season in lights-out fashion, tossing 2 1/3 scoreless innings without allowing a hit.

Making his first appearance of the season with Dunedin, right-hander Drew Permison induced three groundouts in a scoreless ninth inning. Permison, assigned to Dunedin just before the game, spent the bulk of last season closing games for the Vancouver Canadians before a late-season call-up to the Lansing Lugnuts.

Wins/Losses: 40-17 | Streak: W2 | 1st in MID Eastern division (9.5 GM Lead)

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Scheduled off-day

Wins/Losses: 24-23 | Streak: L2 | 3rd in PCL Pacific South division (8.0 GB)

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Nashville Sounds 7, Las Vegas 51s 6 – F/10 – LP: Hoey (0-2, 4.66)

After blowing an early 4-0 lead and clawing back to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth, the Las Vegas 51s ultimately fell to the Nashville Sounds, 7-6 in 10 innings on Thursday night.

Hitting:

Slugging catcher Travis d’Arnaud led the 51s’ offense with two solo home runs, and now has seven homers in his last 10 games to go along with a .310 average and 1.055 OPS over that span. Adam Lind also got in on the party, belting a two-run shot in the first inning for his third home run in five games with the 51s since being optioned to Triple-A over the weekend.

Leadoff hitter Anthony Gose went 3-for-5 with a double and stole his Pacific Coast League-leading 17th base of the season. He extended his hitting streak to eight games, hitting .437 (14-for-32) over that span.

Pitching:

51s starter Aaron Laffey lasted seven innings for the second time in as many starts and allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits. It was also Laffey’s second consecutive start without issuing a walk and recording five strikeouts. His main mistake came in the third inning, when he surrendered a two-out, three-run home run to Sounds left fielder Brooks Conrad, who later shifted to first base when 2011 Blue Jay Corey Patterson made a pinch hit appearance with the game on the line (he flied out).

Jerry Gil gave up a go-ahead run on two hits in the top of the eighth and closer Chad Beck loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth but managed to keep the game tied. Jim Hoey was tagged with the loss after  giving up the game-winning run in the top of the tenth via a RBI groundout.

Wins/Losses: 18-27 | Streak: W1 | 5th in EAS Eastern division (9.5 GB)

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New Hampshire Fisher Cats 8, Portland Sea Dogs 2 – WP: Pino (4-1, 3.18)

After breaking a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the second inning, the Fisher Cats erupted for five runs in the fourth to go on to top the Sea Dogs 8-2 on Thursday night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. After losing both games of a doubleheader on Wednesday, the win gave New Hampshire a split in their four-game series against Portland.

Hitting:

New Hampshire’s newest members, second baseman Brian Bocock and catcher Sean Ochinko, were influential in the win. Bocock, playing in only his fourth game with the Fisher Cats after being on the 7-day disabled list since Opening Day, doubled his hit total on the season with a 3-for-5 night that included a double and three RBI. Bocock has certainly made the most of his four games since being activated from the DL, as he’s drawn three walks and stolen a base as well. Ochinko, called up from High-A Dunedin after it was announced that A.J. Jimenez would undergo Tommy John surgery, had a season-high three hits, including his first two doubles in a Double-A uniform.

Leadoff hitter Ryan Goins continued his hot May, going 3-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to six games. Goins, 24, has hit safely in nine of his last 10 contests and is currently hitting .379 (33-for-87) with an .882 OPS in 21 games this month. Switch-hitting left fielder John Tolisano went 1-for-4 with a walk and two RBI.

Overall, the Fisher Cats pounded out eight runs on 13 hits, 10 of which were singles, and had more walks (6) than strikeouts (5).

Pitching:

After giving up a season-high seven runs (six earned) in his last outing on May 18, Fisher Cats starter Yohan Pino rebounded nicely, allowing only a pair of earned runs on seven hits across solid strong innings. After back-to-back two-out doubles plated a run in the first inning, Pino did not have an opposing runner advance past second base until the sixth, when he served up a solo home run to Sea Dogs’ first baseman Reynaldo Rodriguez. Home runs have been a problem for Pino, as he’s given up at least one in five of his eight starts this season. Even though the Venezuela native only struck out three over seven innings on Thursday, it was only the second time this season where he hasn’t issued a walk.

Fernando Hernandez tossed two scoreless innings of relief, allowing only an eighth-inning single while striking out two. The single was the first hit he allowed since May 9, and he has now tossed 8 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings since then.

Wins/Losses: 30-17 | Streak: W1 | 1st in FSL North division (5.0 GM Lead)

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Dunedin Blue Jays 4, Jupiter Hammerheads 3 - WP: Marek (1-0, 9.00) S: Barnes (15)

After Jupiter tied things up at 3 in the top of the eighth, the D-Jays answered with the go-ahead run in the bottom half of the inning, topping the Hammerheads 4-3 at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on Thursday. With the win, Dunedin halted their season-high losing streak at two games, and, just like the Fisher Cats, the win earned them a split of their four-game series with Jupiter.

Hitting:

Left fielder Marcus Knecht continued to show that he’s turning the corner, going 2-for-2 with a triple, a pair of walks and a RBI. Over his last 10 games, the Canadian is now 11-for-37 (.297) with three home runs, 10 RBI, five walks, and a 1.008 OPS. Leadoff hitter Gabe Jacobo has been on an even bigger tear as of late, as his 2-for-4 performance brought his average up to .295 on the year and he now has a .349/.370/.651 slash line over his last 10 games, including seven doubles and his first two home runs of the season.

Dunedin first baseman Jon Talley quietly went 2-for-3 with a walk, and Ryan Schimpf went 1-for-4, tying a season-high with two RBI while setting a new season-high with three strikeouts.

Pitching:

Dunedin starter Sean Nolin lasted only 5 1/3 innings in his shortest outing since May 3, but allowed only one earned run on three hits while striking out four. While the three hits were the second-fewest that he’s allowed in a start this season, Nolin issued a season-high four walks; one each in the game’s first four innings. After giving up a one-out single to Jupiter first baseman Mark Canha in the sixth, Nolin was pulled in favor of Dayton Marze, who induced a ground out but gave up a two-out double that scored Canha and charged the run to Nolin.

28-year-old reliever Stephen Marek, making his first outing of the season after being transferred from Triple-A Las Vegas without appearing in a single game, picked up the blown-save win after a successful double steal from the Hammerheads scored the game-tying run in the eighth inning.

D-Jays closer Danny Barnes pitched around a Schimpf fielding error and a double in a scoreless ninth to record his Florida State League-leading 15th save of the season. The game’s final out was recorded in dramatic fashion at home plate via an outfield assist, Dunedin right fielder Kenen Bailli to third baseman Kevin Ahrens to catcher Jack Murphy.

Wins/Losses: 33-13 | Streak: W2 | 1st in MID Eastern division (8.5 GM Lead)

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Lansing Lugnuts 5, Dayton Dragons 2 – WP: Rollins (4-0, 2.64) S: Meyer (16)

Thanks to some timely hits and a few gifts from Dayton’s pitching staff, the Lansing Lugnuts were able to beat the Dragons 5-2 on Thursday night. The win was Lansing’s ninth-straight over Dayton this season.

Hitting:

Though the Lugnuts’ five runs were enough to give them the victory, they had countless opportunities to add more. In addition to drawing 12 walks, Lugnuts hitters left 16 runners on base and went just 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

Leading the charge was cleanup-hitting shortstop (wait, what?) Andy Burns, who went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and a RBI. I was thoroughly impressed with Burns on both sides of the ball when I was down in Lansing in early May, and all the 21-year-old has managed to do in the 10 games since then is hit .294 (10-for-34) with four doubles, one triple, two home runs, seven RBI, seven walks and a 1.092 OPS. After dabbling at second and third base earlier in the season, an injury to Opening Day shortstop Chino Vega has given Burns the chance to play almost everyday at short, and he has certainly made the most of it.

Chris Hawkins, hitting third, went 3-for-5 to bring his average up to a team-high .321, K.C. Hobson went 1-for-2 with a RBI and three walks, and Kenny Wilson hit a single and drew a pair of walks.

Speaking of walks, Lugnuts leadoff hitter and second baseman Jonathon Berti went 0-for-3 but drew a pair of free passes, and went on to steal his league-leading 21st base of the season. He’s been caught six times in 27 tries as well, for a very respectable 77% success rate.

Pitching:

Lugnuts starter David Rollins bounced back from his shortest outing of the season against Fort Wayne on May 18 to scatter three hits in five strong innings. He allowed one earned run and one walk while striking out four, in an outing similar to his April 27 start against Kane County. Lugnuts catcher Carlos Perez erased Rollins’ leadoff walk in the first with a great inning-ending throw to third base, and three singles in the third plated Dayton’s only run of the game, but Rollins was dialed in apart from those few small miscues. He retired the final seven batters he faced, including three strikeouts in the fourth inning.

Aleson Escalante earned his first hold since being shipped to the Lugnuts from extended spring training on May 11, Javier Avendano registered his seventh hold of the season with a scoreless eighth around a hit and two walks, and Ajay Meyer got the save with two strikeouts in a perfect ninth. The save was Meyer’s 16th of the season, seven more than the next closest pitcher for the Midwest League lead.

- JM

Wins/Losses: 21-21 | Streak: W1 | 3rd in PCL Pacific South division (8.0 GB)

Las Vegas 51s 5, Memphis Redbirds 3 - WP: Laffey (2-5, 5.04)

Aaron Laffey tossed his first complete game since 2007 and was supported with some timely hits as the Las Vegas 51s went on to defeat Memphis Redbirds 5-3 on Saturday.

Hitting:

Taking a page from the Blue Jays, the 51s scored four of their five runs via the long ball. Chris Woodward belted a two-out, two-run homer in the second inning to put Vegas up early, while Travis d’Arnaud broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth with a two-run shot of his own, his third home run in two games. Woodward had a nice day at the plate overall, adding a game-tying RBI double in the fourth inning to finish 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBI.

While Woodward and d’Arnaud had the 51s’ only extra base hits, the rest of the lineup churned out a whopping 10 singles, with Anthony Gose, David Cooper, Ricardo Nanita and Danny Perales all hitting two each.

Pitching:

Baseball is truly unpredictable, and that was demonstrated on Saturday when 51s starter Aaron Laffey went the distance to earn just his second win of the season. Entering play with a 5.80 ERA, Laffey allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in nine innings, with five strikeouts and no walks. It was the left-hander’s first complete game in almost five years, as his last one came in 2007 when he pitched for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons in the Indians organization.

After a throwing error in the middle of the fourth, Laffey retired the next 14 consecutive batters, striking out the side in the ninth inning as well.

Wins/Losses: 16-24 | Streak: L2 | 5th in EAS Eastern division (8.5 GB)

Trenton Thunder 3, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 1 - LP: McGuire (3-1, 3.29)

New Hampshire’s bats were non-existent once again in their second loss to Trenton in as many nights, falling 3-1 on Saturday.

Hitting:

After managing one run in the series opener on Friday, the Fisher Cats responded with just one run again on Saturday. When you do that, it’s hard to win ball games.

New Hampshire’s lone tally came from a John Tolisano home run in the sixth, and he was the only Fisher Cat to have a multi-hit game, also hitting a single and drawing a walk. Four other Fisher Cats each added a single, but it was an ugly night offensively for New Hampshire, who managed one run on six hits.

Pitching:

Fisher Cats starter Randy Boone lasted just one third of an inning, allowing one earned run on three hits to get handed the loss. Reliever Aaron Loup came in to strand a runner at third, and only allowed one hit in 2 2/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

Danny Farquhar gave up crucial runs in the fourth and fifth innings on four hits, while Fernando Hernandez kept New Hampshire close with three perfect innings. Ronald Uvideo tossed a scoreless ninth around two hits and a walk.

Wins/Losses: 27-15 | Streak: L1 | 1st in FSL North division (5.0 GM Lead)

Bradenton Marauders 3, Dunedin Blue Jays 0 - LP: Magnuson (0-4, 5.59)

The Marauders broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the seventh and D-Jays’ bats fell silent, losing to Bradenton 3-0 on Saturday at McKechnie Field.

Hitting:

It was the third time this season that Dunedin was held off the scoreboard, and D-Jays hitters managed just four hits in this one. First baseman Gabe Jacobo was the lone bright spot, going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles to extend his hitting streak to five games. He’s now hit safely in seven of his last eight games, but has just a .214/.313/.333 slash line over his last 10.

Leadoff hitter Ryan Schimpf went 1-for-3 with a single and a walk, while designated hitter Jon Talley hit a single for his 16th hit in his last 10 games. After hitting .313 with an .879 OPS in April, Talley has torn the cover off the ball in May, hitting .409 with a 1.010 OPS in 11 games.

Pitching:

Dunedin starter Sean Nolin continued to impress, tossing a six-inning gem, but regrettably had nothing to show for it. The left-hander struck out eight, did not issue a walk, and allowed only four hits. Between the second and third innings, Nolin struck out five of the six batters he faced.

Rehabbing reliver Trystan Magnuson, who spent all of 2011 at the Triple-A level and was taken off the Jays’ 40-man roster this week, gave up a season-high three earned runs in one inning of work to take the loss.

Called up from extended spring training, right-hander Bryan Longpre made his D-Jays debut, striking out a pair in a scoreless eighth.

Wins/Losses: 30-12 | Streak: W3 | 1st in MID Eastern division (6.5 GM Lead)

Lansing Lugnuts 2, Lake County Captains 1 – WP: McFarland (1-0, 0.00)

Despite managing just two hits in the game, two key unearned runs helped the Lugnuts defeat the Captains 2-1 on Saturday. With the win, Lansing became the first team in the Midwest League to reach 30 wins.

Hitting:

On a night where the Lugnuts offense was out-hit 10-2, baserunners were obviously scarce. The Lugnuts trailed 1-0 until the top of the sixth inning, when a bunt and a wild pitch advanced leadoff hitter Kellen Sweeney, who reached on a fielding error, to third. Kevin Pillar cashed Sweeney in with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1, before Chris Hawkins roped a single to center for the Lugnuts’ first hit. Andy Burns, who has really impressed me this season, doubled to left field to score Hawkins, which wound up being the game-winning run.

Pitching:

Lugnuts starter Marcus Walden allowed one earned run on seven hits in four innings with two walks and three strikeouts to settle for the no-decision. Blake McFarland earned the win with four shutout innings of relief, allowing only three hits and two walks while striking out three. Closer Ajay Meyer tossed a perfect ninth to record his league-leading 14th save of the season.

-JM

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“Jimenez had pictures taken at a local hospital and later left the ballpark with his elbow wrapped,” writes Gray. “He told Fisher Cats fan Brad Bacon that surgery was already scheduled. Fisher Cats manager Sal Fasano said Jimenez will receive a second opinion but is ‘most likely’ headed for TJS [and that] the elbow ligament is ‘hanging by a thread.’”

A.J. Jimenez could be out until next season with an elbow injury. (Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE)

After being bothered by a sore right elbow earlier this month, Jimenez was placed on the 7-day disabled list on Tuesday before finding out the bad news last night. The 22-year-old hasn’t appeared in a game for the Fisher Cats since May 13, and one has to wonder if the discomfort in his elbow affected his hitting, considering he’s managed just a .237 average and .558 OPS over his last 10 most recent games.

It’s more likely that he’s just having trouble adjusting to Double-A pitching, though, because his elbow hasn’t taken anything away from his spectacular defense behind the plate this season. Jimenez has been a big reason why the Fisher Cats are ranked first in the Eastern League in caught stealing percentage so far in 2012, as he has gunned down 12 of 22 potential base stealers for an uncanny 55% rate.

Jimenez recently caught up with 1 Blue Jays Way to discuss playing for Sal Fasano, playing in New Hampshire, his draft process and more, so have a listen to that as more details about his injury trickle in.

In a corresponding roster move, the Fisher Cats called up Sean Ochinko from High-A Dunedin.

- JM

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Highlights include a pair of wins in Las Vegas, a walk-off win in Dunedin and good pitching, as usual, from Lansing.

 Wins/Losses: 12-16 | Streak: W2 | 3rd in PCL Pacific South division (9.0 GB)

May 2: Las Vegas 51s 12, Reno Aces 4 – WP: Chavez (4-1, 2.38)

After already being ahead by three runs and scoring five more for good measure in the top of the ninth inning, the 51s topped Reno 12-4 on Wednesday night in the third game of a four-game set.

Hitting:

Outside of the 15 runs that the 51s’ offense scored on April 28, the 12 they put up against Reno was their biggest offensive showing in three weeks.

Left fielder Danny Perales exploded for a season-high four hits and four RBI, including his first home run of the season in the second inning. Cleanup hitter Moises Sierra finished 3-for-5 with three singles, a walk and an RBI, Travis d’Arnaud went 1-for-5 with a double and a walk, Yan Gomes hit a pair of singles and Ricardo Nanita hit a bases-clearing, three-run double in the ninth.

After drawing a pair of walks Tuesday night, Anthony Gose, hitting second behind Adeiny Hechavarria, drew three walks and went 1-for-2. Gose managed to rack up three RBI as well after hitting a sacrifice fly in the fourth, a RBI single in the sixth (advancing to second on the throw and promptly stealing third, his ninth bag of the year) and drawing a bases-loaded walk in the seventh.

Pitching:

51s starter Jesse Chavez was effective yet again as he limited Reno’s offense to just one earned run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings with two walks and six strikeouts to earn the win.

Though he pitched out of the bullpen for the Jays in spring training and has been a reliever for almost his entire professional career, Chavez has quietly been putting together a solid campaign as a starter for Las Vegas and could very well be on the radar to be called up to make a spot start for the Jays in the event of an injury. The California native how has a rotation-best 2.38 ERA in six starts with 21 hits and 36 strikeouts in 34 innings. The right-hander has allowed one earned run or less in each of his last three starts, and opposing hitters have managed a mere .175 average off of him so far this year.

Robert Coello gave up three earned runs on three hits with two walks while recording just two outs in relief, but Ryota Igarashi continued to impress, this time with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Chad Beck notched his second save of the season despite issuing three walks.

May 3: Las Vegas 51s 5, Reno Aces 4 – WP: Korecky (1-0, 3.50) S: Loup (1)

After scoring four runs in the first, the 51s were able to curb a late Reno rally at three to squeak away with the 5-4 victory and series win on Thursday night.

Hitting:

With some help from a throwing error from Aces third baseman Taylor Harbin, the 51s enjoyed a four-run first inning after hitting four singles and drawing a walk.

With his RBI single with the bases loaded that inning, Yan Gomes extended his hitting streak to six games. He’s hit safely in nine of his last 10 games including five multi-hit contests, and hit .385 with eight extra-base hits and a 1.147 OPS over that span. After playing third base on Tuesday and first base on Wednesday, Gomes returned behind the plate to his most familiar position at catcher for his third position in three days, and his versatility, combined with offensive performance, has to be opening eyes down in Las Vegas.

All seven of Las Vegas’ hits were singles on this unspectacular offensive night, with second baseman Ruben Gotay having the best game with a single, two RBI, a walk and two stolen bases.

Pitching:

The Blue Jays called up Joel Carreno a few days ago and since it was his night to pitch on, 51s reliever Andrew Carpenter opened the contest instead and tossed two scoreless innings. Bill Murphy allowed one earned run on four hits in three innings, Bobby Korecky earned the win after allowing no runs in two innings, and Chad Beck earned his third save of the season with a perfect ninth.

Left-handed reliever Evan Crawford, who was optioned by the Blue Jays to Triple-A earlier this week, allowed three earned runs on three hits with two walks in two thirds of an inning in his first appearance with the 51s.

Wins/Losses: 11-15 | Streak: L2 | 5th in EAS Eastern division (7.0 GB)

May 2: Reading Phillies 4, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2 – LP: Wright (0-1, 3.18)

After scoring a pair of runs early, the Fisher Cats gave up four unanswered runs as they fell to Reading 4-2 on Wednesday night.

Hitting:

It was a quiet night for New Hampshire’s bats, as their six hits were split evenly across six different hitters. Justin Jackson plated both runs with his triple in the second inning, while catcher A.J. Jimenez hit his third double of the season. Left fielder Brad McElroy went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, but he saved a run in the top of the ninth with an outfield assist on a throw to the plate.

Pitching:

Fisher Cats starter Ryan Tepera lasted only three innings and issued three walks, but allowed only a pair of earned runs on four hits. Reliever Matt Wright allowed one unearned run in two solid innings of work, but was handed the tough-luck loss after Reading center fielder reached base on a throwing error, stole second, and scored the go-ahead run on a double.

Right-hander Fernando Hernandez allowed one hit and struck out two in a pair of scoreless innings, while Danny Farquhar gave up one earned on three hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Sidearm left-hander Aaron Loup continues to thrive in his somewhat lefty specialist role, as he recorded one out in the eighth and now has not allowed a run in 13 1/3 innings this season thanks to the movement on his fastball and curveball.

May 3: Reading Phillies 8, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 6 – LP: Uviedo, 1-1, 2.84)

After taking a 5-0 lead by the end of the third inning, the Fisher Cats’ bullpen gave up the go-ahead runs in a late rally from Phillies as New Hampshire fell to Reading 8-6 on Thursday night for their third loss in the four-game series.

Hitting:

The Fisher Cats got things started right away in the first, when Ryan Goins led off with a single and Jonathan Diaz walked. First baseman Mike McDade promptly knocked in the first run with a single, before Brian Van Kirk chipped in a RBI single of his own later in the frame to put New Hampshire up 2-0.

The Fisher Cats extended their lead in the third inning, when Diaz reached base after being hit by a pitch and McDade followed that up with a two-run homer to right field, his second of the season. After Mark Sobolewski reached on an error and stole second, Van Kirk, who finished 3-for-4, cashed him in with a double for his second RBI of the game.

Pitching:

Making his third Double-A start, right-hander Casey Lawrence finished two outs shy of a quality start after he was pulled in the sixth following a leadoff single and a fly out. Matt Daly came on in relief and quickly allowed a pair of singles around a wild pitch that let Lawrence’s runner score. Overall, Lawrence was charged with three earned runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings with no walks and three strikeouts.

Daly also walked a batter and was charged with an earned run of his own, so he was pulled in favor of Aaron Loup after failing to record an out. Loup got his fourth hold of the year with a scoreless inning of work, before Clint Everts allowed his first run of the season and Ronald Uviedo allowed three runs (two earned) late in the game to get tagged with the loss.

Wins/Losses: 20-7 | Streak: W2 | 1st in FSL North division (6.0 GM lead)

May 2: Dunedin Blue Jays 6, Clearwater Threshers 4 – WP: Barnes (1-0, 2.25)

After tying the game with a two-run seventh inning, the D-Jays scored two more in the bottom of the ninth to walk off with the 6-4 victory over Lakeland on Wednesday night at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

Hitting:

Ryan Schimpf was the hero in this game, twice! The 24-year-old smacked a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game, and then with one out and a runner on, smacked his second two-run homer of the game to right field that put the Jays ahead to walk off with the win. Schimpf has hit three home runs in his last five games and 10 of his 18 hits this season have been for extra bases, so the 5-foot-9, 181-pound second baseman has been showcasing some unexpected power as of late.

Kevin Nolan was the only other Dunedin Jay to record a multi-hit game, hitting two singles with a walk and a RBI.

Pitching:

Dunedin starter John Stilson was capped at three innings in a strong performance, allowing one earned run on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts. His only mistake came in the third inning when he surrendered a two-out solo home run to Lakeland third baseman Nick Castellanos, who currently leads the ALL of the minor leagues with a .426 batting average. The homer was the first one off Stilson this season, and the right-hander has allowed two earned runs or less in each of his six starts.

May 3: Dunedin Blue Jays 5, Lakeland Flying Tigers 3 – WP: Nolin (4-0, 2.76) S: Barnes (10)

After giving up a run in each of the first three frames, the D-Jays were able to hold Lakeland off the scoreboard for the final six innings to hang on for a 5-3 on Thursday night.

Hitting:

Dunedin’s offense was out-hit 14-7, with catcher Jack Murphy going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Michael Crouse roped a two-run double, Marcus Knecht went 2-for-4 with a double, and Kevin Nolan hit a double of his own while also stealing his fourth base of the season. Both Knecht’s and Nolan’s doubles were their eighth on the year.

Pitching:

Going up against Lakeland starter and Detroit Tigers top prospect Jacob Turner, Sean Nolin put together another solid outing for Dunedin and improved to 4-0 on the season. He gave up three runs (two earned) on nine hits in five innings, with four strikeouts and one walk.

Dayton Marze allowed two strikeouts and struck out one in 1 1/3 scoreless innings, Boomer Potts walked the only batter he faced, and Scott Gracey collected three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. Danny Barnes, one of my personal favorites, allowed two hits in a scoreless ninth to earn his 10th save of the season.

Wins/Losses: 19-8 | Streak: L1 | 1st in MID Eastern division (3.0 GM lead)

May 2: Great Lakes Loons 7, Lansing Lugnuts 1 – LP: DeSclafani (2-1, 3.32)

Held in check by Great Lakes starter Jarrett Martin, the Lugnuts couldn’t get anything going offensively and ultimately fell to the Loons 7-1 on Wednesday night.

Hitting:

The Lugnuts managed only one run on five hits, though three were of the extra base variety. Andy Burns and Kevin Pillar each slapped doubles, while Kenny Wilson hit his second home run of the season in the ninth inning to plate the only run of the game for Lansing and break the shutout.

Pitching:

Throwing a season-high four innings, Lugnuts starter Anthony DeSclafani ran into trouble early when he gave up a leadoff single, threw a wild pitch, and committed a throwing error on a grounder to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Another single, error (from Burns), and double followed that sequence, putting Great Lakes up 2-0 in the process. A ground out and double play swiftly ended the inning, but without allowing another run to score to put the Lugnuts in a 3-0 hole early.

Though DeSclafani had 1-2-3 innings in the second and fourth, he ran into more trouble in the third, when a single and double scored another run. A passed ball from catcher Carlos Perez and a walk put runners on the corners once again, but DeSclafani induced a pop out to end the threat, finishing the night having allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout. It was the third time this season that DeSclafani had been scored on in an outing.

Noah Syndergaard came on in relief and was close to recording another dominant, run-free outing. After giving up a leadoff single in the fifth, Syndergaard struck out the side swinging before stranding a runner in a scoreless sixth. Then, after retiring the first two batters he faced in the seventh, Syndergaard got the next batter to pop up into foul territory along first base, but Pillar ended up dropping the ball and the inning continued.

That proved to be costly, as Syndergaard served up a two-run home run followed by a single and double that scored three runs in total. After getting his fifth swinging strikeout of the night to end the inning, Syndergaard finished the night having allowed three runs (all unearned) on five hits with one walk, five strikeouts and a home run.

May 3: Lansing Lugnuts 6, Great Lakes Loons 5 – WP: Champlin (2-1, 3.71) S: Meyer (10)

In a wild, back-and-forth affair that saw the lead change four times and neither team lead by more than one run, the Lugnuts were able to come out on top with the 6-5 victory over Great Lakes on Thursday night.

Hitting:

Hitting second in the order for only the second time this season, left fielder Chris Hawkins paced the Lugnuts offense with a 3-for-5 showing that included a double and a RBI. The double was the Lugnuts only extra-base hit, but first baseman K.C. Hobson chipped in with a RBI single and Carlos Perez also recorded a RBI despite going 0-for-4.

The Lugnuts continued to be active on the base paths, as second baseman Jonathon Berti swiped two bags to bring his season total to 10, right fielder Kevin Pillar stole his ninth bag of the year, and Hawkins also chipped in with a theft, his fourth of the season. Two of the four bags that the three Lugnuts combined to steal were thefts of third base.

Pitching:

Left-handed Lugnuts starter David Rollins didn’t seem to have his best stuff but still put together a good outing. Although he gave up a season-high three runs, only two were earned and he allowed just three hits in 3 2/3 innings. Keeping up with his impressive strikeout totals, the Texas native fanned five, bringing him to 31 in 27 innings so far this season (10.3 K/9).

Kramer Champlin earned the win after allowing a pair of earned runs on three hits and a walk in 2 1/3 innings, while lefty Tyler Ybarra earned his third hold of the season after getting four strikeouts in two strong innings. Stud closer Ajay Meyer struck out the side around a base hit in a scoreless ninth to earn his Midwest League-leading 10^th save.

-JM

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No. 28: Joel Carreno

Pitcher / 25 years old / 6′2″ 220 lbs

Born: March 7, 1987 in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic

Bats: Right    Throws: Right

High School: N/A

College: N/A

Acquired: Signed as a non-drafted free-agent by the Blue Jays on October 11, 2004

Pre-2011 Rank: 21

Quick Facts:

• Name is pronounced Jo-elle Carr-ehn-eeoh
• 2008 New York-Penn League Mid-Season All-Star
• 2008 New York-Penn League Pitcher of the Week for July 6-12
• 2011 Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for May 16-22
• 2011 Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star

Career stats:

New Hampshire Fisher Cats team ranking (min. 5 GS):

• 1st in losses (9), starts (23), innings pitched (134.2), hit batters (12), walks (68), wild pitches (16) and strikeouts (152)
• 2nd in H/9 (6.3) and K/9 (10.2)
• T-2nd in wins (7) and home runs allowed (12)
• 3rd in hits allowed (100)
• 5th in ERA (3.41) and WHIP (1.25)
• 8th in K:BB (2.24)
• 10th in BB/9 (4.5)

Scouting report:

Coming off of a breakout 2010 campaign that saw him finish second in the High-A Florida State League with 173 strikeouts (including a league-record 15 in one six-inning game), Joel Carreno moved further up the minor league ladder in 2011, pitching in two different roles.

As a starter with Double-A New Hampshire, Carreno stumbled out of the gate last season to the tune of a 6.56 ERA in five April starts and gave up eight home runs in only 23 innings because of, like the year before, failing to mix up his pitches enough.

He bounced back with a lights out May, where he allowed just four earned runs in five starts, nearly doubling his strikeout total from the month before but issuing 21 walks in just under 32 innings . His best start of the season came on May 28, when he fanned a season-high 11 batters while allowing just two hits in seven scoreless innings.

Carreno generates so many whiffs because of his plus slider, an offering that sits in the low-80s and is particularly nasty against right-handed hitters. It’s easily his best pitch, to the point where he overuses it and relies on it when he runs into trouble. He complements the slider with an 89-94 mph fastball that has late life, though he runs into bouts of inconsistency with it and has trouble finding the strike zone with it. A two-pitch pitcher for the majority of his career, Carreno added a mid-80s changeup just over one year ago in an effort to diversify his arsenal, but the pitch is an average offering at best right now.

Carreno continued to pitch well for the Fisher Cats through the summer, and although he issued his fair share of walks in the process, he used his slider to rack up the strikeouts and give his team a chance to win every time he was out on the mound. Making the infamous jump between High-A and Double-A, Carreno maintained his very good strikeout rate at 10.2 per nine innings while giving up a career-low 6.7 hits per nine, but was more wild than he has ever been in the past, easily leading his team in hit batters (12), wild pitches (16) and walks (68), with the latter averaging out to a career-high 4.5 per nine frames.

Given the Blue Jays’ emphasis on developing and using a changeup, some of  Carreno’s wildness last season could possibly be attributed to his coaches and the organization forcing him to rely less on his slider and use his changeup and fastball more. Regardless, what you get from Carreno is straightforward: an overpowering slider that will pile up strikeouts, but bouts of inconsistency and wildness combined with his inability to mix up pitches as much as he should raises questions about his ability to stick as a starter.

The Blue Jays might have felt the same way, as Carreno made his major league debut out of the bullpen after being called up in late August last year. After issuing three walks and giving up eight hits, including a home run in four August appearances (7 1/3 innings), he allowed just three hits over his final seven appearances with nine strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings. Overall, Carreno finished with a 1.15 ERA in 15 2/3 innings in his first big league stint, demonstrating that he could be a valuable reliever down the road.

2012 team: Las Vegas 51s/Toronto Blue Jays

Ultimate ceiling if he puts it all together: Setup man, possible closer

Despite having already started for both the Jays and Triple-A Las Vegas this season, Carreno currently finds himself back in the bullpen after replacing left-hander Evan Crawford, who was optioned to Triple-A yesterday. I’d like to see the Jays continue to try and market Carreno as a starter, but the fact that he has MLB experience will help his trade value regardless and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was shipped out of town in a package by Opening Day 2013.

Should he still be around and in the picture, though, he’d slot nicely into a Blue Jays bullpen that should see Darren Oliver, Francisco Cordero and even Jason Frasor all depart over the offseason.

-JM

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 Wins/Losses: 10-15 | Streak: W4 | 3rd in PCL Pacific South division (9.0 GB)

Las Vegas 51s 8, Reno Aces 7 (WP: Korecky, 1-0 | S: Igarashi, 1)

After taking the lead with five runs in the fourth only to find themselves tied after five innings, the 51s benefited from great relief pitching and the go-ahead run in the seventh frame to top the Aces 8-7 on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series.

Hitting:

Leading the 51s’ offense was Adeiny Hechavarria who, while leading off, went 2-for-4 with a walk and a two-out grand slam in the fourth inning. His four RBI were a season-high, and the home run was his 11th extra-base hit of the season, bringing his triple-slash line up to .311/.357/.443. Yan Gomes, getting a start at first base, flexed his muscle once again with a 3-for-5 night that included his 10th double and second home run of the season. Travis d’Arnaud also went 3-for-5 and Anthony Gose, hitting second, went 2-for-5 and stole his eighth base of the year.

Pitching:

51s starter Tim Redding tied a season-high with seven earned runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings of work. He struck out two while walking a pair, and gave up a solo home run in the fifth. While Redding’s outing was his longest of the season, I’m not exactly sure why Toronto is continuing to give him innings, as opposing hitters are hitting .431 off of him (not a typo) in five starts and he has a 12.56 ERA on the season so far.

The 51s’ bullpen picked up their starter, however, as Bobby Korecky got the win after coming on in relief of Redding to throw 1 2/3 scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Jerry Gil tossed a scoreless seventh and Robert Coello struck out the side around a base hit in a scoreless eighth.

Ryota Igarashi notched his first save of the season after striking out a pair in a scoreless ninth inning, and if the Blue Jays are thinking about making him Las Vegas’ closer, I like the idea. Igarashi, acquired by the Jays for cash at the very end of spring training, has 15 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings and has limited opposing hitters to a .154 average (six hits). He also has not surrendered a home run and currently has a 1.59 ERA this season in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Wins/Losses: 10-13 | Streak: L1 | 5th in EAS Eastern division (6.0 GB)

Reading Phillies 3, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2 (LP: McGuire, 1-4)

Despite out-hitting the Phillies, the Fisher Cats gave up three unanswered runs to blow a 2-0 lead and ultimately fall 3-2 to Reading on Monday night.

Hitting:

Offensively, Jonathan Diaz, John Tolisano and Brian Van Kirk all had multi-hit games, with Diaz and Ryan Goins supplying the club’s lone RBIs. Center fielder Brad McElroy reached base twice with a single and a walk, and went 1-for-2 in stolen base attempts. Overall, it appears as though the Fisher Cats were outmatched, as they failed to record an extra-base hit and could barely muster any kind of rally.

Pitching:

Going up against Trevor May, the Phillies’ No. 1 prospect, Fisher Cats starter Deck McGuire dueled with him until the sixth, when four Reading hits led to a two-run frame that tied the game. Then in the seventh, a wild pitch from McGuire allowed a runner to advance to second before a two-out single cashed in what eventually became the game-winning run. McGuire was handed the hard-luck loss, having allowed three earned runs on eight hits in a quality start, but only recorded two strikeouts. In five starts this year, the 2010 first round pick has a 7.18 ERA and opposing batters are hitting .330 off of him.

Danny Farquhar and Aaron Loup did not allow a hit in a combined 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.

Wins/Losses: 18-6 | Streak: L1 | 1st in FSL North division (0.0 GB)

Tampa Yankees 6, Dunedin Blue Jays 4 – F/10 (LP: Griffith, 3-1)

After giving up the tying run in the sixth inning, the D-Jays were stunned in extras and lost 6-4 to the Tampa Yankees on Monday night.

Hitting:

Dunedin was outhit 15-7 in this contest, and 27-year-old outfielder Kenen Bailli was the only player to get more than one. Leadoff hitter Jake Marisnick hit his third triple of the season, Sean Ochinko cashed in a pair and hit his seventh double of the season and Gabe Jacobo went 1-for-3 with a single and an intentional walk.

Defensively, Marisnick doubled up a runner at third base in the seventh for an outfield assist, while Canadian outfielder Marcus Knecht also notched an assist with a throw to second base in the 10th.

Pitching:

Dunedin starter Sam Dyson allowed three earned runs on seven hits in five relatively strong innings, with two walks and one strikeout. Reliever Dayton Marze was handed the blown save after giving up the game-tying run in his first of two innings of work, while Dustin Antolin and Boomer Potts each threw a scoreless frame. Shawn Griffith was handed his first loss of the season after giving up the game-winning runs in the top of the 10th inning on three hits.

Wins/Losses: 18-6 | Streak: W1 | 1st in MID Eastern division (0.0 GB)

*Cancelled* — Lansing Lugnuts vs. Clinton LumberKings

Via a press release on the Lugnuts’ official website:

“The Lansing Lugnuts (18-6) and Clinton LumberKings’ (10-14) scheduled Monday night series finale has been canceled due to field conditions and rain. It will not be made up. … The Lugnuts enjoy an off-day on Tuesday, May 1st, before traveling to Great Lakes to take on the Loons in a three-game set at Dow Diamond.”

-JM

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The short article is definitely worth a read, as it has quotes from Jimenez, LaCava and current Blue Jays reliever Evan Crawford, who spent only a few weeks with Jimenez at Double-A New Hampshire this season prior to getting called up to Toronto but raved about the catcher, saying that “he’s one of the most athletic people I’ve ever met in my life” and that “he’s going to be something special.”

Coming off of an impressive 2011 campaign that saw him set new career-highs in doubles (29), walks (28), batting average (.303) and on-base percentage (.353) in a career-high 102 games, Jimenez is off to a slow start offensively with New Hampshire this season with a .236 average and .585 OPS in 14 games but has, however, already caught six of 13 basestealers for a 46% mark.

More importantly, Jimenez has been reunited with Fisher Cats manager Sal Fasano, as the pair developed a special bond when they were previously together in 2010 with the Class-A Lansing Lugnuts.

Getting to know him both as a player and a person, Fasano not only had high praise for Jimenez but taught him the intricacies of being a catcher, including how to frame pitches. Another year under Fasano this season should only help Jimenez continue to grow.

Here’s a clip of Jimenez making a tag at home during Arizona Fall League play in 2009:

- JM

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With Carreno out of the running, the field narrowed to three choices; Chad Jenkins, Drew Hutchison, and Jesse Chavez. While Chavez was the veteran of the group – at 28 years old he already had 152.2 major league innings under his belt – I instantly felt like he had a 0% chance of receiving the call. If it was a one-and-done appearance, maybe, but there’s likely at least three to four starts available for the team’s fifth starter over the next few weeks, and that’s far too many innings to hand a journeyman.

In a surprising yet unsurprising move, the Blue Jays handed the start to Hutchison. The move was surprising given his age (21) and experience (234.2 career innings), but at the same time, Hutchison is easily the best pitcher we have in the farm system that is on the cusp of being major league ready. General manager Alex Anthopoulos obviously believes that, with three former or current pitching coaches on the Jays’ staff, Hutchison’s lack of experience shouldn’t be much of a hindrance. With the decision formally made, the questions now turn to results, both in the present and the future.

In the long term, Hutchison projects to be a middle of the rotation starter. His stuff is not overpowering, but the total package of pitches grades out as above average, and he has exceptional command –- the best in the system, according to Baseball America. His bread and butter pitch is his fastball, though he throws multiple variations. The four seamer has nice velocity, sitting at 90-93 mph, but is relatively straight. With the two seamer, Hutchison trades velocity for movement, dropping down to 88-91 mph, but significantly increasing the arm side movement. With his frequent usage of a two seam fastball, it’s unsurprising that he uses a circle grip on his changeup, forcing the pitch to fade down and away in a similar fashion. He has shown good feel for the pitch, and it will be an asset in neutralizing left handed hitters. Hutchison also throws a slider, a pitch he uses comfortably against all batters. At times it has shown excellent two-plane movement, but in other situations, it has slowed down and becomes more of a saggy slurve. The pitch is at maximum effectiveness in the 83-85 mph range, with the problems occurring at lower velocity.

Hutchison is very polished for a 21-year-old, and his biggest obstacle may be finding consistency with his slider. That is not necessarily something you want to figure out at the major league level, so he could rely heavily upon his other three pitches early on, using the slider exclusively counts in which he doesn’t need to be perfect with it. He has benefited greatly by his crossfire action, as during his delivery he will step to the right side of his body with his left foot before finishing the pitch. He further accentuates the deception by working from the third base side of the rubber, which, from a right-handed hitter’s perspective, makes the release point extremely difficult to discern. Also working to his advantage is his pitchability, as Hutchison is capable of adding and subtracting from his pitches to upset timing and set hitters up. Perhaps more than any single pitch, he’ll need to rely upon these traits (deception, pitch sequencing) to find success early on in his career.

Al Skorupa of Bullpen Banter recorded some excellent video of Hutchison and his delivery last season. You can see his delivery from the perspective of a hitter beginning around the 6:30 mark. Additionally, their website has an extensive scouting report as well as animated GIFs of his various pitches in action, so be sure to check it out.

Dustin McGowan is out until at least mid-May, and with no more off days until May 7, Hutchison appears ticketed for four starts. The first, as most know, is today, when the Blue Jays are in Kansas City. It’s still early, but the Royals feature a lineup that is 12th in the AL in runs scored, with only 45 in the team’s first 12 games. Furthermore, they’re dead last in the AL in walks with only 28. It’s hard to suggest that a 21-year-old making his major league debut will find success, but a deceptive delivery against impatient hitters certainly plays in the pitcher’s favor.

The next three starts will see Hutchison facing much more capable opponents. He is currently on track to pitch in Baltimore on the 26th, at home against Texas on May 1, and then in Los Angeles to face Albert Pujols and the Angels on May 6. It’s doubtful Toronto would pull the plug on Hutchison prior to May 7 given that he’s now on the 40-man roster, but these four starts will act as an excellent barometer for the rest of his season. If he struggles, he’ll find himself back in Double-A with a new outlook on what needs improvement. If he succeeds, the Blue Jays will have a very interesting problem to deal with once McGowan eventually returns from the disabled list.

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