Nessy during Minor League Spring Training 2012 (Image courtesy Daniel Jarrett and MLBProspectPortal.com)

Name: Santiago Nessy

Position: Catcher

Date of Birth: 12/08/1992 (20)

Acquired: Signed as an International Free Agent in July 2009 ($750,000 USD)

High School: N/A

College: N/A

Height/Weight: 6’2”/230 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

Awards and Accomplishments:

• Unranked on 2012 Top 30 prospects list
• Baseball America 2012 Appalachian League #10 prospect
• 2012 Appalachian League Top Defensive Catcher

2012 Statistics and Analysis

182 AB, .236/.305/.434 (.739 OPS), 9 2B, 0 3B, 9 HR, 26 RBI, 0 SB, 16/54 BB/K

Like the number twelve prospect Christian Lopes, Nessy opened the year with Bluefield before receiving a late season promotion to Low-A Vancouver. He handled Appalachian League pitching very well over the first two months, amassing a .256/.320/.456 line across 45 games. His eight home runs over that timeframe led the team, and his 200 ISO was third among players with 100-or-more at-bats. Those numbers really speak to the type of game Nessy plays, as power is his strength and he knows how to use it. His cup of coffee in the Northwest League didn’t go quite as swimmingly, though it would be unwise to make too many judgments based upon just six games. The package comes with some swing and miss, as Nessy has a tendency to load up and attack the baseball regardless of the count or situation, and that is something that will need to be working on sooner rather than later. More than a strikeout per game in short season ball is disconcerting, particularly when the walk rate is average at best.

Scouting Report

Video (via MLBProspectPortal.com)

Swing Mechanics

Catchers are often portrayed as short and stout, and while Nessy has a solid build at 230-plus pounds, he’s anything but short, standing 6-foot-2 and still growing. Despite a slightly hunched over stance at the plate, he fully utilizes his size during the swing. With such long levers he’s able to generate tremendous bat speed on a good swing plane, but his path has bit too much length. The problem coincides with Nessy’s over-aggressiveness. Matt Eddy of Baseball America describes Nessy’s plate approach as “He takes a wild hack and tries to pull every pitch he offers at…” At just 20 years old, Santiago still has time to clean things up and calm things down, but it’s something his coaches will really need to focus on, starting this year.

Tools Breakdown

When you look at Nessy’s size and swing, your mind immediately jumps to “offensively-oriented catcher”. It’s a fair first impression, but in reality, he has a whole lot more to offer. Nessy was named the Appalachian League’s top defensive catcher in 2012, which is something that carries a lot of merit considering it’s voted upon by the managers and coaches. According to Matt Eddy of Baseball America, those managers lauded his blocking ability, level of effort, and ability to call a game. Furthermore, he shows impeccable leadership qualities, and has made a concerted effort to become bilingual in order to better communicate with both his US and Latin American pitchers. His arm has been graded out as a plus tool, and he threw out 33% of potential base stealers in 2012. He can become over anxious at times, popping out of his crouch early and causing his throws to tail off towards the first base side of second. In the video above you can observe that Nessy’s throwing hand will occasionally drift out while he’s receiving the ball, and as Blue Jays fans have seen with J.P. Arencibia, that’s the best way to get your fingers broken. That hand needs to stay tucked behind his right leg until the ball is hitting the glove. Overall, Nessy has the potential to be an above average defender behind the plate, as long as he doesn’t grow too big. Marc Hulet of Fangraphs attributes much of his defensive improvement to his work with Sal Fasano.

While the defensive praise is entirely warranted, Nessy’s most revered tool is his power. He has the size and strength, the leverage, and the bat speed to rip balls over the fences of any park. He does it without relying upon an uppercut either, as Nessy’s swing angle is low. Baseball America grades the tool out as a future plus, but there are questions about how much that raw power will translate in-game. His hit tool and contact ability have a long way to go, as Nessy’s over-aggressiveness and the length of his swing create a lot of holes and weaknesses for opposing pitchers to exploit. I haven’t read a single evaluation that is willing to put a future average grade on the tool, but Nessy doesn’t need to hit .270 to be a valuable starting catcher. He’s not going to carry an offense on his back, but he won’t be the worst hitter in the lineup, either.

Projection

The perfect world projection for Santiago Nessy would be a well rounded, everyday catcher; second division starter.

2013 Outlook, Risk, and ETA

Nessy’s progress this spring will be an interesting situation to monitor, as his 2013 assignment is still very much up in the air. With three years of short season ball (2010/DSL, 2011/GCL, and 2012/APP) under his belt, the organization would without a doubt love to send him to Lansing where he could continue to work with pitchers like Roberto Osuna and Daniel Norris, whom he caught last season. On the other hand, he played just six games for Vancouver. My gut feeling is that he will find himself in full season ball when the calendar flips to April, and it should prove to be a challenge. The Midwest League almost always features a strong crop of pitching prospects, particularly those who know how to control the strike zone and can manipulate a breaking ball. Nessy has had problems with over aggressiveness, so calming his approach down will need to be a major focus of the Lugnuts coaching staff. As an oversized catcher with questions around his ability to make contact, the risk with Nessy is enormous. Catchers tend to develop slowly, so even if he progresses as hoped, 2016 might be the earliest possible time of arrival in Toronto.

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.

Like last year, the 2013 series will begin behind the plate at the catcher position. Catcher is arguably the most important position on the team, as not only must he work on his offensive craft, but he needs to spend an extensive amount time working with his pitching staff before games to prepare them for the opposition. With that in mind, it’s no shock that Baseball America ranks fielding as the number one priority when looking at a catching prospect. The next three tools under consideration are hitting, arm strength, and power – all three of which are plentiful on the list below. The lowest priority is, of course, speed. Having a catcher who doesn’t clog the bases is a huge bonus, but has minimal impact on the evaluation process.

• Top catching prospect to reach MLB (last 5 years): J.P. Arencibia
• Catchers in 2012 Top 30: 3
• Catcher WAR leader in MLB (last 5 years): John Buck, 2.8

The King in the North

Travis d’Arnaud – 2012 team: Triple-A Las Vegas
279 AB, .333/.380/.595 (.975 OPS), 21 2B, 2 3B, 16 HR, 52 RBI, 1 SB, 19/59 BB/K

March 16, 2012; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Travis d’Arnaud (15) before a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Since being acquired from the Phillies in December of 2009, Travis d’Arnaud has done nothing but hit as he soared up prospect charts. While most originally thought of d’Arnaud as the third piece in the Roy Halladay trade, General Manager Alex Anthopolous saw much more, and only days after the trade he labeled Travis as “a potential front line, All Star catcher for us” before proceeding to lavish his tools. Back then, both the front office and fan base were forced to dream on potential. Three years later, it’s much more of a reality. After suffering through an injury plagued 2010 season in the Florida State League, d’Arnaud turned it on for New Hampshire in 2011, and hasn’t looked backed since. There’s no longer much of an argument to be made – he is the best catching prospect in baseball.

I mentioned the tool priority for catchers above, and while he doesn’t follow the ideal order, d’Arnaud is at least above average in each of the four desired catcher tools; something very rarely found. He has good catch-and-throw instincts with above average arm strength, allowing him to catch potential base stealers at a solid rate. What really strengthens d’Arnaud’s defensive value is his leadership behind the plate. He knows his pitchers, and he ensures they know and are comfortable with the plan of attack before every game. d’Arnaud still needs some work at keeping balls in front of him, but at his age, that’s not uncommon. Most catchers not named Molina usually don’t reach their defensive prime until at least their late 20’s when they have thousands of innings and repetitions under their belt.

With that being said, the bulk of d’Arnaud’s value lies in his bat. He sets a wide base at the plate, readying himself in a slightly open stance. He keeps his hands high and steps with his front foot for timing before quickly spinning his hips and turning on the ball with a lofty swing. The problem with starting at such a wide base is that he’s negatively affecting the potential weight transfer on his swing. Watching d’Arnaud hit, it quickly becomes evident he’s swinging primarily with his upper half, and his legs are mostly just along for the ride. His broad, strong shoulders allow for this to work, but one has to wonder if there isn’t more power just waiting to be tapped into. As he is now, there’s already a plus power tool to go along with a plus hit tool, so perhaps the Blue Jays would rather not risk altering his swing to gain a few extra home runs. As long as he can catch up to inside fastballs, there’s no reason to make an adjustment.

I’ve said before that d’Arnaud has nothing left to prove in Triple-A, but barring a trade involving either he or J.P. Arencibia, it’s very likely he’ll find himself back there anyways. Even if such an assignment occurs, one has to doubt he’ll be there for long. Arencibia has a bit more raw power, but d’Arnaud is the superior player in every other respect, both offensively and defensively. It’s only a matter of time before this beast is unleashed on the American League East.

The Question Mark

A.J. Jimenez – 2012 team: Double-A New Hampshire
105 AB, .257/.295/.371 (.666 OPS), 4 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 2 SB, 5/14 BB/K

A.J. Jimenez throws out a base runner for Dunedin during in July 2011 (Image courtesy Jim Donten)

Despite being selected as an 18 year old catcher out of Puerto Rico in the 2008 draft, the Blue Jays gave Jimenez just 19 games in short season ball before giving him a full season assignment in 2009. He has continually improved since, highlighted by a .303/.353/.417 slash line for Dunedin in 2011. Big things were expected from him with a Double-A New Hampshire assignment out of spring training, but unfortunately, his season ended before it really even began. What was originally thought to be a sore elbow turned into something much more, as an MRI showed his UCL was literally hanging on by a thread, and immediate Tommy John Surgery was required.

Jimenez’ best tool is his arm, which is where the question mark comes into play. A position player having Tommy John Surgery isn’t rare, but it’s not particularly common either. However – I can’t think of an instance where a catcher had Tommy John, and therefore we really don’t have the historical precedence to say whether or not Jimenez will be able to recover that 70-grade arm strength. In 2010, his caught stealing rate was 53%. In 2011, it was 44%. In 2012, even with a sore elbow for much of the season, he still caught 55% of potential base stealers; a lot of his value is derived from that right arm. Pitchers tend to eventually recover their velocity after undergoing Tommy John, so I am hopeful.

Beyond the arm strength, Jimenez is also a plus defender behind the plate. His athleticism really shines, as he pounces on balls in the dirt like a cougar on unsuspecting prey. He’s very mobile, and ensures he always gives his pitcher a nice target to throw at. Like d’Arnaud, Jimenez plays the leadership role well, taking control of the game and keeping the pitchers focused on the task at hand. Offensively, he’s come a long way from the hitter who had just 7 walks against 72 strikeouts back in 2009, but there’s still a lot of work to do. His front shoulder tends to fly open during his swing, leaving him susceptible to pitches down and away, particularly breaking balls. Jimenez’ stance is a little busy, as not only does he have a bat waggle, he also sways in the batter’s box. The swing itself is fairly level, and given his below average raw power it plays to his strengths well – line drives in place of fly balls. Jimenez tends to release his top hand after contact, which is something he may want to alter as he continues to climb the ranks.

When pitchers and catchers report in mid-February, Jimenez will be just nine months removed from surgery, so I doubt he’s going to be game ready. The best course of action may be to continue rehab in spring training, and then spend another month or so in extended spring training before heading back out to New Hampshire for a second go-around in May. If he plays well, a shot at Triple-A may be in the cards, as it is unlikely d’Arnaud will still be holding down the fort when the calendar flips to June.

On the Rise

Santiago Nessy – 2012 team(s): Rookie-Bluefield, Low-A Vancouver
182 AB, .236/.305/.434 (.739 OPS), 9 2B, 0 3B, 9 HR, 26 RBI, 0 SB, 16/54 BB/K

Santiago Nessy catching for the Gulf Coast Blue Jays during the 2011 season

Santiago Nessy is both the youngest and biggest catcher on the positional primer, which does raise some questions regarding how long he’ll be able to stay behind the dish. At just 19 years old, he is already listed at 6-foot-2 and 230 lbs. Given that those numbers were also listed as his official measurements over a year ago, once has to ponder their accuracy. The Caracas native was signed during the 2009 International Free Agency period for 750 thousand dollars, which turned out to be one of the last suave moves former General Manager J.P. Ricciardi would make within the Blue Jays organization.

Even with an oversized frame, Nessy was still rated as the Appalachian League’s top defensive catcher last season. He threw out 33% of potential base stealers while flashing a strong and accurate arm that was graded out as plus. The only flaw with his throwing game is over-eagerness, as Nessy will occasionally negatively impact his throwing mechanics by attempting to release the ball too early. He’s a good receiver, as Nessy impressed with his blocking skills and ability to call a game. Santiago is also bilingual (Spanish and English), allowing him to communicate smoothly with both American and Hispanic pitchers. For a 19 year old who has only been state-side for two years, that’s extremely impressive.

Given his size, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Nessy’s most lauded tool is his power. He has exceptional bat speed, and takes full advantage of his long levers when taking a swing. His stance is a little hunched over, but when the pitch is nearing the plate he explodes towards the ball with palpable fury. He can be overly aggressive at times, and has a tendency to try and pull everything he can reach. There are questions about whether or not he’ll ever make enough contact to allow the power to flourish, but such mechanical and plate approach refinements can slowly be implemented over the next couple of years, as he’s a long ways away from making the major leagues.

The next step in the developmental process likely lies in Vancouver, where Nessy finished off the 2012 season and helped the Canadians win their second consecutive Northwest League championship. With Carlos Perez jettisoned to Houston it’s within the realm of possibility that the team will assign Santiago to Lansing next season, but given his aggressive tendencies the wiser choice may the more cautious one.

Remember the Name

Seth Conner – 2012 team(s): Gulf Coast League, Rookie-Bluefield
158 AB, .291/.414/.411 (.826 OPS), 9 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 30 RBI, 0 SB, 26/36 BB/K

Bluefield’s Seth Conner reaches second base after a two-run double in the first inning for the Blue Jays against Greeneville at Bowen Field. Conner also had a two-run single in the third in a rain-delayed contest that ended late on Tuesday night with the Jays on top (Bluefield Daily Telegraph)

The catcher designation may be a bit generous with Conner, as during the 2012 season he totaled just 21 games behind the plate against 28 on the infield corners. It was actually a step forward from 2011, when he played all 50 of his games at first or third base. Toronto’s 41st round pick in the 2010 draft, Conner has done nothing but crush the ball since making his professional debut. In 104 career games, he has hit .283/.404/.416, which is an excellent slash line for anyone. For a catcher, it’s even more impressive. Conner could be next in line in a system that has done an exceptional job of developing catching prospects over the past half decade.

Things didn’t always come this easy for him. After his first three high school seasons, Conner weighed around 180 pounds and had just four career home runs to his name. He was playing shortstop at the time, but he figured his baseball future was likely on one of the infield corners. With that in mind, he completely transformed his lifestyle. He focused on baseball exclusively, ate better, and drastically improved his weight training regimen. When his senior year rolled around, the Missouri native had added 20 pounds of muscle. It showed on the baseball diamond, as he crushed 11 home runs while hitting .473.

Conner’s exceptional work ethic is just one of his many positives. The Blue Jays decision to move him to catcher suggests they felt he lacked the grace required for third base, but by all accounts he’s more than acceptable behind the plate given his lack of experience there. His arm strength has proven to be an asset as well, as even with raw fundamentals he threw out 28% of potential base stealers. Conner’s plate approach is very advanced, as he’s a mature hitter with a sound plan of attack. He combines that selectivity with good bat speed to cover a lot of the plate, and has shown a willingness to use the opposite field. Conner has some raw power in his swing – which he displays in batting practice – but has yet to fully translate that into game action. His assignment next season will likely either be Vancouver or Lansing, with the decision likely being dependent upon how he looks in minor league camp next spring. The defensive versatility he offers will certainly work in his favor.

1. LHP Sean Nolin (DUN): 0-0, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 K

Sean Nolin (RIGHT) poses with his Dunedin teammate, infielder Kevin Nolan, in June (Eddie Michels, Toronto Sun)

This week’s hottest prospect earned himself a promotion to Double-A New Hampshire thanks to a season long hot streak that culminated in his dominant performance on the 14th of August against Brevard County. The 6-foot-5 left hander struck out 10 batters in five innings, allowing four hits and zero walks. A pair of runs crossed the plate, but both were unearned due to some shoddy High-A defense behind him. An early June injury sidelined Nolin for the better part of two months, but his overall season numbers of a 2.19 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 9.38 K/9 across 86.1 innings is highly impressive. When combined with his breakout numbers in the Midwest League back in 2011, we have a very real prospect on our hands. Nolin doesn’t have the stuff to be a top, or even middle of the rotation starter in the major leagues, but he’s establishing himself as a durable pitcher with a solid #4/5 starter ceiling.

2. 3B Gustavo Pierre (LAN): 20 AB, .450/.500/.700 (1.200 OPS), 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 2/6 BB/K

Pierre opened the season in extended spring training, but after Kellen Sweeney struggled mightily for the Lugnuts over the first two months, Pierre received the bump to Lansing and has progressively improved as the year wore on. In the months he’s received significant playing time, his OPS has increased from .544 in June, to .769 in July, to finally .952 here in August. The 20 year olds overall season line has risen to .260/.317/.414, a vast improvement over the .187/.244/.262 he produced for Lansing in the first half of 2011. Originally a shortstop, historically bad defensive numbers forced a move to third base, where, while still extremely raw, he appears to have settled in. The offensive tools have always been prevalent; harnessing them has always been the problem. After two consecutive years of poor showings, he’s finally displaying the ability that made him a top IFA in 2008.

3. LHP Griffin Murphy (BLU): 0-0, 6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 11 K

There is no hotter pitcher in minor league baseball over the past month. Dating back to July 11th, Murphy has pitched 25 innings, and has allowed a total of zero earned runs. Over his last 10 appearances, his ERA is 0.00. In those innings he’s allowed just nine hits and eight walks, while striking out 30. The dominance was exemplified last night, as in his first start for Bluefield – taking the place of recently departed Kevin Comer – he pitched 4.1 innings, allowed zero runs on one hit, and struck out seven. The biggest detractor against Murphy is his age, as the left hander is 21 years old and will turn 22 before next season begins. When I named him the 27th best prospect in the system over the winter, I hoped for a Vancouver or Lansing assignment to accelerate his development and put him on a more ideal timeline. That didn’t happen, and given his numbers, rookie-class Bluefield obviously wasn’t challenging enough. The season is running out of games, but a promotion to Lansing for the playoff run could do wonders for his future with the club.

4. C Santiago Nessy (BLU): 20 AB, .350/.435/.650 (1.085 OPS), 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 3/6 BB/K

With Carlos Perez now a member of the Houston Astros, a void has been created in the low minors for a top catching prospect. Nessy appears to have filled that spot, as after I named him a sleeper prospect entering the year, he’s gone on to produce a .252/.318/.458 slash line for Bluefield. For a catcher, that’s exceptional production. Power has been the calling card for the young Venezuelan, which isn’t particularly surprising given his 6-foot-2, 230 lbs frame. As a highlight of that tool, Nessy hit a home run in four consecutive games between August 11th and August 16th. His eight home runs are first on the team, while his eight doubles are tied for second. The catcher won’t turn 20 until December, and is looking at a Single-A Lansing assignment next year if everything goes to plan. Losing Perez hurts, but Nessy has established himself as a solid replacement in the system.

5. 1B Art Charles (VAN): 21 AB, .333/.440/.714 (1.154 OPS), 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 4/5 BB/K

Power continues to be the defining tool of Art Charles, as even a promotion to the wider dimensions of the Northwest League parks have been unable to contain him. His ISO with the Canadians sits at 245, which is exceptional even for a first baseman. The biggest drop in performance since his promotion has been his walk rate, as entering this week he had just four base-on-balls in 16 games after walking 33 times in 31 games for Bluefield. Charles resolved that problem this week, as in addition to his usual power (two doubles, two home runs), he walked four times while striking out just five times. With the graduation of David Cooper and the low ceiling of Mike McDade, one could argue that Art Charles is now the top first base prospect in the system; though that’s more an indictment of the positional depth than it is a complement to Charles.

6. LHP Justin Nicolino (LAN): 1-0, 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

Aaron Sanchez has cooled off and been injured. Noah Syndergaard has struggled to find innings as he approaches his season limit. Meanwhile, Justin Nicolino keeps on rolling. His start this week was his eighth consecutive outing of five-or-more innings. His 109.1 innings this year are tied with Anthony DeSclafani for first on the team, while his WHIP is tied for first among starters. His six strikeouts against Fort Wayne on the 17th gave him 107 total punchouts on the year, which moved him into the team lead. I have mentioned before that Nicolino’s ceiling is obviously below that of Sanchez and Syndergaard, but his performance this season has proven that his floor is easily the highest, as he’s become the most durable and reliable of the trio.

7. RHP Danny Barnes (DUN): 0-0, 3 SV, 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

I stretched the list to seven this week solely so I could include Danny Barnes. The Princeton grad (yes, the same Princeton that Carlton Banks attended on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air) has been a dominant reliever since the Blue Jays made him a 35th round pick in the 2010 draft. He transitioned into the closer role for Dunedin this year, and has excelled to the tune of a 1.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 11.02 K/9 in his 49 innings. Barnes made four appearances this week, in which he didn’t allow a run and earned three saves. His 32 saves on the year are first in the Florida State League by a mile, as the second place reliever, Chris Rearick of the Tampa organization, has just 20. As a four year college senior he’s always been a bit old for the level he’s pitched at, but Barnes absolutely has a middle relief or setup-type ceiling.

Honorable mention: Javier Avendano (VAN), OF Kevin Pillar (DUN)

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

No. 42: Santiago Nessy

Catcher / 19 years old / 6’2″ 230 lbs

Born: December 8, 1992 in La Victoria, Venezuela

Bats Right   Throws Right

High School Team: N/A

College: N/A

Signed: As a 16-year-old international free agent in July 2009

Jersey Number: 22 for the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays

Pre-2011 Rank: 48

(more…) ]]> http://jaysjournal.com/2012/01/15/jays-journal-top-50-blue-jays-prospects-no-42-santiago-nessy/feed/ 14 http://jaysjournal.com/2011/10/19/season-in-review-gulf-coast-league-blue-jays-position-players/ http://jaysjournal.com/2011/10/19/season-in-review-gulf-coast-league-blue-jays-position-players/#comments Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:38:44 +0000 Jared Macdonald http://jaysjournal.com/?p=9224 With the Blue Jays’ potential offseason moves having dominated the site recently, here’s a shift back to our bread and butter: Blue Jays prospects. Though a little later than I had originally desired, here’s the first installment of the season in review features for each one of the Jays’ minor league affiliates. Each team will [...]

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

I’m all for kids starting off their careers at a level low enough for them to succeed, but Justin Nicolino, for one, is proving that he may very well belong at a level of play 2 levels highers than the SS North Western League. He, along with many others, is proving that the Jays landed quite a few gems in the 2010 draft.

Here are the current hottest Jays Prospects:

Justin Nicolino (more…)

#48: Santiago Nessy

18 years old / 6’2″ 230 lbs

Born: 8th of December 1992 in La Victoria, Venezuela

Bats right  Throws right

High School Team: N/A

College: N/A

Signed: As an international FA by the Jays at only 16 years old for $750,000 in July of 2009. (more…)

• The Jays made the Shane Opitz signing official on the 31st of July. He’s a huge signing for the Jays that was expected to be a tough signing to complete.
• OF Jacob Marisnick has been promoted to LoA Lansing. He’s struggling a bit to find himself over his first 30 ABs there, but it’s definitely where he belongs.
• OF Michael Crouse, a 2008 16th rd pick, was promoted more recently after hitting 4 HRs with a .333 average over 96 ABs in the GCL.
• Hitters in SS are hitting .185 against Casey Lawrence who is mowing down hitters with ease. He has a 2.11 ERA and 9 walks to his 38 Ks.
• Sean Ochinko, who was converted from a Catcher to a 3B, is hitting .421 over his last 10 games. He now has a season’s average of .310, 30 doubles, 7 HRs, 52 RBI, and a .363 OBP. He’s earned his keep this season and could get a look in HiA before long. (more…)

4 IP/ 3 HA/ 2 BB/ 2 SO/ 0 ER

5 IP/ 1 HA/ 1 BB/ 8 SO / 1 ER

3 IP/ 2 HA/ 1 BB/ 1 SO/ 0 ER

For a total of: 12 IP/ 6 HA/ 4 BB/ 11 SO/ 0.75 ERA, and hitters hitting .146 against him.

That has early promotion written all over it as he is definitely capable of pitching effectively at a higher level. There is no doubt that Asher could do well in Dunedin at this point and I fully expect he may reach that level this season, even if it is for a short run. Such are the advantages of signing early after the draft! (more…)