Mar 4, 2012; Bradenton, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jesse Chavez (20) and catcher Travis d

Even if you’re on team common sense, if you have any knowledge of the Blue Jays prospects, chances are you were stunned when you found out that the Jays were giving up Travis D’Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard. At first you might have even agreed that it was an overpay. When you get over the initial shock of these 2 top Blue Jays prospects being traded and really look at the trade you start to realize the Blue Jays have really underpayed.

Like most trades it will take a few years to see which team won or if it worked out for both sides but as of right now this is a big steal for the Blue Jays.

One of the most overlooked things about this trade is that usually when you’re trading for an elite pitcher, let alone the last CY Young Award Winner you’re giving up 3 of your top prospects at the least and sometimes even 4. That involves taking even a bigger risk because 3 or 4 prospects obviously have a better chance of turning into something significant than just 2. Apparently the Mets didn’t get the memo on that and Blue Jays were lucky the Mets were happy with just 2 prospects.

Yes, Syndergaard was one of the Blue Jays top pitching prospects but he hadn’t even pitched above Low A in his career. Even the most advanced scouts have no idea if he’ll even be good enough to make it to the big leagues or what kind of player he would be in the big leagues. He’s still years away from the big leagues and needs lots of developing. Like any prospect in the low minors he was just one possible bad season away from losing all his hype and trade value. The odds of him turning into nothing are a lot better than him turning into something. The odds of him providing half as much value to the Blue Jays as R.A. Dickey will are slim to none.

Then there’s Travis D’Arnaud. The Blue Jays top prospect and one of the top 10 prospects in all of baseball and the top catching prospect in all of baseball. There’s so much hype around D’Arnaud the Mets wouldn’t trade Dickey to the Blue Jays without getting him.

The Blue Jays for the first time in a long time are playing for the here and now. Travis D’Arnaud is not Matt Wieters, Joe Mauer or Buster Posey. He’s not a franchise player.

Travis D’Arnaud hasn’t played a full season at Triple A yet. He had a high strikeout rate and was very injury prone. Those are things that are a lot more noticeable when he’s not a prospect on your favorite team anymore. You add in the fact that catchers take longer than most position players to develop their hitting and you start to realize that as low a standard as JPA has set it would be unrealistic to expect D’Arnaud to be significantly better than JPA right away. D’Arnaud was also supposed to just be a great hitter for a catcher not just a great hitter in general. Great hitting for a catcher is usually a lot less than what you’d get from every other position on the diamond. His offensive contribution would hardly be big enough for any Jays fan to cry about losing.

Yes D’Arnaud COULD eventually develop into an above average catcher but if you checked recently above average starting pitching is what wins championships not above average catchers.

R.A. Dickey could very well regress dramatically and end up just being a wasted roster spot while D’Arnaud and Syndergaard turn into All Stars. As of right now The Mets got a Low A starter whose career has barely started and a catcher that could hit better than most catchers which isn’t a very high standard to begin with. While the Blue Jays got the reigning National League CY Young Award Winner whose been one of the best starting pitchers in baseball the last 3 seasons. If that’s not a huge underpay nothing is.

Jeff Mathis seems to be the only one guaranteed to be on the team as he signed a 2 year extension during the season. The Bluejays could also keep Arencibia and D’arnaud on the team to because D’arnaud can also play 1st base. The Bluejays could rotate the DH spot with Edwin Encarnacion, Arencibia, and D’arnaud. When EE plays first, D’arnaud or Arencibia would DH depending on who catches that day. When EE plays DH, D’arnaud would play 1st and Arencibia would catch.

If the Bluejays need to pinch run for whoever is catching that day they would have the luxury of a 3rd catcher in Jeff Mathis replacing them defensively instead of having to worry about moving players around to other positions to accommodate the pinch running. If Arencibia is catching and gets pinch run for while D’arnaud is playing 1st, D’arnaud could just take over as catcher and one of the bench players could take over at 1st. That’s a lot of versatility for one team to have.

Another great thing about the Bluejays having so much depth at one position is that one of their catchers could be used as trade bait.

Jeff Mathis seems to be the only guaranteed catcher to be on the team not only because of his contract but because back up catchers don’t have a lot of trade value. It is a possibility the Bluejays could use him as a “throw in” in a trade but realistically it’s hard to see any team not agreeing to a trade because the Bluejays refused to include Mathis.

J.P. Arencibia has 2 years of big league experience and despite low batting averages in both seasons he has shown the ability to hit for power in the big leagues with 23 home runs in his rookie season and 18 home runs in just 102 games in 2012. His low on base percentage and poor defensive skills could scare teams and lower his trade value though. When Arencibia has weeks where he is going well with the bat he can really carry a team which is more than you can say about most catchers.

Travis D’arnaud has no big league experience but he is considered the top catching prospect in all of baseball. As mentioned earlier he can also play 1st base. D’arnaud is also projected to be a much better player than J.P. Arencibia both offensively and defensively so believe it or not the Bluejays might actually be able to get more for him than Arencibia.

Whatever choice the Bluejays make with their catching situation whether it’s having versatility with three catchers or the traditional two they’re set up well at that position no matter what.

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.

Jeff Mathis plays against the Orioles on April 24th (Keith Allison, Flickriver.com)

Once you pick your jaw up off the floor and finish scratching your head in a puzzled fashion, the Jeff Mathis extension does, sort of, make a lot of sense. If you somehow hadn’t heard, the Blue Jays have signed the veteran catcher to a two year extension covering 2013 and 2014, in which he’ll earn 1.5 million per year. The deal also includes a club option for 2015, valued at 1.5 million as well.

While Mathis hit .276/.339/.444 (.783 OPS) across parts of eight minor league seasons, it’s become resoundingly clear that the major league version of the catcher is a significantly worse hitter than that. In his 1507 major league plate appearances spanning eight years, he’s hit just .196/.256/.312 (.568 OPS). That’s historically bad, and a significant enough sample size that you can say, with the utmost confidence, he is who we thought he was. Mathis is actually having his best offensive season to date here in 2012, as his 76 wRC+ and .286 wOBA represent career highs. Both are still significantly below league average, which indicates just how bad he is at the plate.

Even so, the team didn’t acquire Mathis for his bat, they desired his ability to play defense and handle a pitching staff. According to a study done in 2011 by Mike Fast, formerly of Baseball Prospectus, Mathis has been above average at framing pitches every year from 2007 through 2011. Framing pitches, in short, is the catcher’s ability to trick an umpire into calling a ball a strike through, among other things, keeping a stiff wrist and subtly pulling your glove closer to the zone as you catch the ball. In total, he saved 19 runs across the five years, and when considering playing time, it came out as 7 runs saved per 120 games. Both figures are above average, but well behind the “elite” defensive catchers such as Jose Molina, who’s saved 73 total runs and 35 per 120 games over that timeframe.

His arm strength is above average, but throughout his career he’s been just league average at catching potential base stealers. Mathis has been significantly better this season, as with a 39% caught stealing rate he’s well above the league average of 26%. The reason behind this drastic change is difficult to surmise. A quick look at J.P. Arencibia’s defensive numbers show a similar trend, so it’s possible the abundance of left handed starters on the staff – who can inherently hold runners closer to first – has been the cause. Perhaps it’s a new technique that bench coach Don Wakamatsu taught the two catchers, but either way, history suggests he’s more of an average thrower than anything spectacular.

While with Los Angeles, Mathis learned under baseball guru Mike Scoscia. The Angels skipper spent 13 years in the major leagues, and was known for his defensive prowess behind the plate. As such, he did his best to impress his knowledge onto the catchers on his roster, and gave favor to those who showed an ability to handle a staff. Scoscia obviously saw that trait in Mathis, as year after year he stole plate appearances from the far superior player in Mike Napoli. As you can see in the table below, there was a method to his madness, as Mathis’ catcher ERA has been better than the team ERA in each of the six seasons he’s seen significant playing time. At this volume of innings, it’s not just a coincidence or statistical anomaly. I don’t know exactly what it means, but it’s definitely something.

The catcher vs team ERA of Jeff Mathis over his professional career (source: ESPN)

In summary, Mathis is a well below average hitter, an average thrower, and a well above average receiver. That’s not necessarily someone you want to pencil into the lineup for 120 games every year, but it’s the ideal skill set for a backup catcher, which is the role the Blue Jays have set in place for Mathis. It’s a huge positive for Toronto as well, as regardless of who the team decides upon for their starting catcher in 2013, they’ll be young, and the knowledge Mathis can pass on from the Scoscia tree of learning over the next two years has value beyond his personal statistics. Despite his offensive short comings, 1.5 million per year seems perfectly fair for both sides.

The question we can now ask is, who will be the Blue Jays starting catcher next season? It was a long shot to begin with, but the Mathis extension all but guarantees that J.P. Arencibia and Travis d’Arnaud will never be sitting in a major league dugout together in months not named September. d’Arnaud’s bat would be wasted at first base, while Arencibia simply doesn’t have enough contact in his swing to be acceptable at a non-catcher position. The Blue Jays number one prospect will be 24 on Opening Day, and with a .914 OPS in Double-A and .975 OPS in Triple-A over the past two years, it’s fair to say he has nothing left to learn down in the minor leagues. An offseason trade has become a necessity, as another year in Triple-A would do nothing for Travis’ trade value. Does the team go with the clubhouse leader and established starter in J.P. Arencibia, or with the top prospect with All-Star upside in Travis d’Arnaud?

Whoever the team decides to part with would likely be a piece in a trade for a starting pitcher. Miami, Pittsburgh, and the Cubs immediately come to mind as potential catcher-needy destinations, and each team has a starter the Blue Jays could and should be looking at, a pair of whom were caught in trade rumors at last month’s deadline. Josh Johnson (MIA) and Matt Garza (CHC) would each be excellent targets, particularly if the team sincerely wants to compete in 2013. James McDonald of Pittsburgh may be a more desirable target for the Blue Jays, however, as the right hander is under control through 2015. The Pirates may see him as a surplus, with former #1 overall pick Gerrit Cole not far away. As crazy as it sounds, this Jeff Mathis extension just made the offseason a whole lot more interesting.

1. C Travis d’Arnaud (LAS): 25 AB, .360/.385/.800 (1.185 OPS), 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 1/4 BB/K

March 17, 2012; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Travis d'Arnaud (15) catches in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE

We’ve honestly reached the point where I’m a little bored to rank d’Arnaud as the hottest prospect in the system, because over the past two months it’s become a bit redundant. He is absolutely killing it right now, and only two things can save Pacific Coast League pitching: an injury or a promotion. I’m hoping for the latter. He finished off the week with back to back 0-for-4’s, but his season line is still an otherworldly .335/.385/.602. When you look at those numbers, keep in mind he’s a catcher who has played in 60 of Las Vegas’ 70 games this year, very few of which have been DH appearances. I spent three weeks in Las Vegas / Nevada during the spring of 2011, and that heat can be brutal. I’m truly amazed he has played this well, and the Blue Jays are running out of excuses to hold back his promotion.

2. LHP Sean Nolin (DUN): 0-0, 6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

John Stilson earned a promotion to Double-A this week, and for a while I was wondering why Sean Nolin didn’t get the call. He had yet another dominating start this week, shutting down Clearwater for 6 innings, with the only run he allowed coming on a solo home run. He’s second in the Florida State League in ERA and WHIP, and third in strikeouts –- a step or two ahead of the first overall pick in the 2011 draft, Gerrit Cole, in all categories. The reason behind the lack of promotion appears to be an injury, as on June 17th Nolin was placed on the minor league disabled list, retroactive to June 15th. I haven’t been able to find any details on the injury, but here’s hoping it’s nothing major and he’ll be able to get back on the mound quickly following the All Star break.

3. SS Adeiny Hechavarria (LAS): 27 AB, .407/.429/.556 (.985 OPS), 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, 1/2 BB/K

Hechavarria had hits in each of his six games this week –- including three multi hit efforts –- extending his current hitting streak to 10 games. Without a doubt the PCL and Cashman Field are helping, but it would be foolish to say improvements to his swing haven’t played a part in the offensive surge. Between this year and last, Hechavarria has played 89 games for Las Vegas. He’s hit 348 in those games. Sample size is no longer at play here. Interestingly, the Blue Jays have had Hechavarria play some second base, with journeyman infielder Jonathan Diaz covering shortstop. One has to wonder if the team is preparing for life without Kelly Johnson, and if so, we could see the Cuban shortstop in Toronto as early as next month.

4. C Carlos Perez (LAN): 21 AB, .286/.423/.429 (.852 OPS), 3 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 5/2 BB/K

The Carlos Perez that Blue Jays fans came to love in 2010 has finally resurfaced. After a down year across the board with Lansing in 2011, Perez has come on strong in his second go-around of the Midwest League. This week’s hot performance boosted his season line to .271/.353/.433 (.787 OPS), with a very Carlos Perez-like walk rate of 10.9%. Despite failing to receiving a nod for the All Star game, it could be argued he has been Lansing’s best hitter this season after Chris Hawkins has failed to live up to expectations. Perez could be in line for a second half promotion to High-A Dunedin, though it’s possible the team likes how he is working with the talented Lansing staff and will hold him back until they’re ready to move up. Regardless, it’s great to see the real Carlos Perez back swinging the bat.

5. LHP Justin Nicolino (LAN): 0-0, 9 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 5 BB, 9 K

Nicolino is the first of the four Lansing piggybackers to make two starts in a week, as after making a 4 inning appearance ahead of Aaron Sanchez on June 11th, he received his first five inning start on June 16th against Great Lakes. He wasn’t his best on the 11th, as despite striking out a season-high six and allowing no runs, he walked a season-high four batters. Things were normalized a bit in his second game of the week, as he walked only one while striking out three. Nicolino has been a huge part of Lansing’s first half success, as after a victory on Sunday afternoon, the team moved to 47-22, 9.5 games ahead of the second place team in the Eastern Division. The Lugnuts are now guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. Whether or not Nicolino will be around to pitch in the postseason is a different story.

Honorable mention: Moises Sierra (LAS), Anthony Gose (LAS), Noah Syndergaard (LAN), Anthony DeSclafani (LAN)

Making his first Triple-A start of the season following a 3.38 ERA over his last 10 outings with Double-A New Hampshire, Cecil was in control for most of the night. Facing a Tucson lineup of almost entirely right-handed hitters, Cecil limited the Padres to seven singles in the first six innings, working primarily on the outer half of the plate except against Padres first baseman Matt Clark, Tucson’s lone left-handed hitter.

Brett Cecil gets a visit from the 51s' trainer after getting hit with a comebacker in the first inning. (Original photo)

Cecil’s heavily-used fastball periodically touched 89 mph and hit 90 twice, but was otherwise thrown almost exclusively at 88 mph with the occasional 85/86. If he missed outside with his fastball it wasn’t by much, and he was hitting his spots with it when he needed to. He didn’t have his best curveball, as it sat between 75 and 78 mph and was up in the zone more often than not, but his slider, which touched 85 mph, and his changeup, which sat 80-82 mph, looked really good when compared to some of his outings in the past.

Cecil ran into some trouble in the top of the seventh, when Padres right fielder Jonathan Roof followed up back-to-back one-out singles with a RBI double from  to put runners on second and third. A groundout plated Tucson’s second run, but a heads-up throw to third from 51s shortstop Jonathan Diaz got the second out of the inning. After a hard-hit double to left center put runners on second and third once again, though, Cecil was pulled from the game.

“I think I was just trying to do a little bit too much, I knew that it was probably going to be my last inning,” Cecil said of the seventh. “I would’ve liked to end the game with no runs but I was just trying to do too much, trying to make my fastball firmer.”

Clint Everts came on in relief and fired a wild pitch that scored the third run of the game, which was charged to Cecil. Even still, Cecil was pleased with the outing, that had a final line of three earned runs on 11 hits with six strikeouts.

“No walks, I gave up a few more hits that I would’ve liked to, but it was pretty good I thought,” Cecil said of his quality start.

After taking a 13-hour bus ride with the Fisher Cats from New Hampshire to Richmond on Monday for a three-game series against the Flying Squirrels, Cecil was notified of his Triple-A assignment at 9:30 pm that night. Going off of a six-hour nap, Cecil traveled all day Tuesday to make it in time for his start with the 51s.

Cecil said the hectic travel schedule didn’t affect his start, but the new Las Vegas climate did.

“I don’t think it was [the travel], as much as just coming back to the air up here,” he said. “I told one of the guys that I was out of breath throwing my pen warming up for the game. When I’ve come to Vegas [in the past] I’ve had at least a few days to get accustomed to it, but having come here, I went straight to the hotel and then right to the ballpark so obviously I didn’t spend much time outside.

“As soon as I got out there, near the end of my bullpen I started to feel myself breathing heavy trying to get that thin air into my lungs.”

Catcher Travis d’Arnaud led the 51s’ offense with a 4-for-5 night, and looked every bit like the No. 1 prospect that he is. After fouling a pitch off in the first inning to fall behind 0-2, d’Arnaud took the next pitch for a ball before hitting an opposite-field double down the right field line. In the third inning, d’Arnaud opted to swing at a first-pitch breaking ball, which he drove over the wall in right-center field for a two-run home run, his 15^th of the season.

In his next at-bat, d’Arnaud roped a first-pitch, two-out single to right field and quickly found himself a triple shy of hitting for the cycle in only the fourth inning.

“I was messing around with the guys a little bit about it but that’s about it,” he said about the potential cycle. “I tried not to over-think anything and just stay simple.”

Overlooked in the box score was a stellar defensive play by d’Arnaud. After Cecil had given up back-to-back singles in the top of the fifth inning, d’Arnaud picked his pitcher up by firing an absolute laser to second base to pick off Padres third baseman Jesus Merchan. The throw was on a line — nearly taking Cecil’s head off — and arrived at the bag before Merchan realized what had just happened.

Anthony Gose, starting in left field, also had a nice night on both sides of the ball. In the field, he notched an outfield assist in the top of the fourth after firing a no-bounce throw to home plate that arrived almost two full seconds ahead of the runner, who d’Arnaud simply tagged out standing up. After the play, “ooohs” and “ahhs” were heard from the crowd, along with applause and cheers.

At the plate, Gose executed a perfect squeeze bunt with two outs and the bases loaded in the second inning to reach base and drive a run in. It was easy to see that he’s been working on his two-strike approach as well, as he fouled off a 1-2 pitch to stay alive in the sixth before slapping a single to the opposite field in left. In the bottom of the eighth, Gose roped another 1-2 pitch down the line in left field for a double, finishing the night 3-for-4 with a walk, a double and a RBI.

Center fielder Moises Sierra quietly reached base in all five of his plate appearances and definitely impressed. In addition to getting hit by a pitch and drawing a pair of full-count walks, he hit a first-pitch moon shot over the scoreboard in left field for a solo home run in the fifth.

Sierra’s maximum effort was also noticeable, as he hit a high chopper in the eighth but hustled his way down to first base to beat the throw in a bang-bang play at the bag. He also scored from second on a single earlier in the game to beat the throw at home.

Overall, the 51s’ offense pounded out nine runs on 15 hits, nearly half of which were for extra bases. Adam Lind hit a two-run home run off a curveball for his third homer in two nights and Adeiny Hechavarria hustled out his third triple of the season as well.

The 51s look to complete a three-game sweep of the Padres in the series finale tonight at Cashman Field. Right-hander Jesse Chavez (6-2, 3.68 ERA) takes the hill for Las Vegas.

1. 3B Kevin Ahrens (DUN): 17 AB, .471/.526/.882 (1.408 OPS), 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, 2/5 BB/K

Kevin Ahrens is set to enter his fifth season with the Blue Jays. The native of Houston, Tx., was a first round draft pick in 2007 and is hoping to prove the skeptics wrong by earning a place at third base for the Jays this year. (Arun Srinivasan/Toronto Observer)

I had a small glimmer of optimism with Ahrens after he performed fairly well in the Arizona Fall League last year. It’s predominantly a Double-A to Triple-A talent level, so I imagined his performance would create a Double-A assignment in 2012, especially given the lack of depth at that position. Instead, Toronto assigned him to Dunedin, where he’s opened the year for an astonishing four straight years. Now 23 years old, the door has all but closed on Ahrens’ major league future, but career-best weeks from former first round picks deserve mention. He has three home runs this season, all of which have come in the last eight days. This is Ahrens’ first placement on the Blue Jays prospect hot sheet –- and very likely his last –- but as someone who still fondly and naively remembers the Chipper Jones comparisons on draft day, it was nice to relish in his success, even if only for a couple of minutes.

2. C Travis d’Arnaud (LAS): 24 AB, .417/.440/.583 (1.023 OPS), 1 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 1/7 BB/K

Travis d’Arnaud didn’t have a great week, which makes the 1000+ OPS that much more impressive. In six games, he totaled only two extra base hits and a single walk. Yet, thanks to 10 hits, his overall numbers look very good. The power numbers this season have, unsurprisingly, been otherworldly. His extra base hit percentage is up to 40% with an isolated power of 248. The only discernible problem with d’Arnaud’s year has been his plate discipline. While his 18.1% strikeout rate is the lowest it’s been since 2009, it’s still a little high for a 23-year-old elite prospect in Triple-A. His 7.4% walk rate is in a similar boat, as while it’s in the average range, elite prospects should be better than average.

3. LHP Sean Nolin (DUN): 1-0, 5.2 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

Nolin has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2012 season. He had a solid professional debut with Lansing in 2011, but has taken his game to the next level this year. His latest impressive start on June 5th propelled his season record to 7-0, and Nolin has been a huge factor in Dunedin clinching the first half division title. With a 2.43 ERA and 1.15 WHIP through the first two-plus months of the season, one has to doubt he’s long for A-ball, as Nolin is quickly proving himself to be ready for the upper minors. With the Double-A Fisher Cats sitting dead last in the Eastern League, they could certainly use his talent.

4. 1B Mike McDade (NH): 22 AB, .273/.360/.545 (.905 OPS), 3 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 3/3 BB/K

Big Mac has been the lone bright spot on an otherwise thin New Hampshire offense. With the preseason promotions of d’Arnaud, Gose, Hechavarria, Sierra, and Gomes, and the season ending injury of A.J. Jimenez, there are really no other noteworthy prospects in the starting nine. Opposing pitchers appear to have taken note, as with 27 walks through only 59 games –- including three base on balls this week –- he’s on pace to shatter his previous career high of 33 back in 2008. Teams can simply work around McDade, as no one else in the lineup can do any significant kind of damage to them. I’d really like to see him get a chance at Las Vegas with a lineup of top prospects, but until Toronto can sort out the David Cooper/Adam Lind/Vladimir Guerrero mess, McDade appears stuck in New Hampshire.

5. RHP Javier Avendano (LAN): 1-0, 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 11 K

The Lansing long man snuck onto the second edition of the Blue Jays prospect hot sheet, and thanks to a thin group of performances from the system’s elite talent this week, he finds himself in the fifth spot again. Avendano appeared in three games and displayed some of his versatility, earning a win, a hold, and a save. He’s been a big strikeout guy this year, and his 11 strikeouts over six innings this week boosted his season total to 39 in 30.1 innings (11.57 K/9). With the Syndergaard/DeSclafani tandem often struggling to reach their seven or eight innings, Avendano has been a huge asset to the first place Lansing team this year.

Honorable mention: Marcus Knecht (DUN), Adeiny Hechavarria (LAS), Sean Ochinko (NH)

1. RF Moises Sierra (LAS): 25 AB, .560/.577/1.160 (1.737 OPS), 3 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 1 SB, 1/2 BB/K

Mar 4, 2012; Bradenton, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Moises Sierra (74) catches a fly ball hit by Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jake Fox (not pictured) during the sixth inning at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

A couple of weeks ago, Travis d’Arnaud went on a tear, batting .500 in 20 at-bats, and smashing four home runs. At the time, I said -– with confidence –- that no other Blue Jays player would have a better week over the rest of the season. Well, it took Moises Sierra only 14 days to make me look like an idiot, as his 1.737 OPS this week bested d’Arnaud’s 1.724 OPS, taking over the title of most dominant performance of the year. He had multiple hits in five of his six games played, but the driving force behind his number one ranking was his June 1st performance against Tuscon. Sierra went 3-for-5, with each hit going for a home run, and tallying five RBI. Just for good measure, on the very next day, he went 4-for-4 with another two extra base hits (1 double, 1 home run). The performance has drawn the attention of the front office, with Alex Anthopolous stating in a recent interview that Sierra could be the next call-up from Las Vegas, even ahead of the aforementioned Vlad the Impaler.

2. 3B Yan Gomes (LAS): 27 AB, .370/.393/.852 (1.245 OPS), 7 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, 1/6 BB/K

Gomes got a cup of coffee with the major league club earlier this month, and more than held his own. The .227 batting average wasn’t exactly beautiful, but he swung the bat with authority, and didn’t look overmatched with big league pitch sequencing — all while he was playing a defensive position he was new to (third base), on a surface he’d never played on (field turf). Not a bad debut. Since his demotion, he’s picked up where he left off, and comes in as the second hottest prospect in the system. Gomes had 10 hits this week, and an incredible nine of them went for extra bases –- good for a crazy 482 ISO. Along with Sierra, Gomes should be in contention for the call-up when the Blue Jays finally conclude their ridiculous 8 man bullpen experiment, as his defensive versatility (3B, 1B, C) and offensive spark is something the team desperately needs right now.

3. CF Anthony Gose (LAS): 32 AB, .375/.429/.531 (.960 OPS), 1 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 4 SB, 3/9 BB/K

Anthony Gose has become a bit of a mainstay on the prospect hot sheet, as after a horrible April he got his season on track in a big way during the month of May. The .364/.431/.554 batting line is impressive enough, but it’s even better when you look at how he got there. Gose struck out only 23 times in 29 May games, after striking out 33 times in 24 April games. For someone with legitimate contact concerns, that’s an excellent sign. The power still hasn’t shown up, as after slugging 16 bombs for New Hampshire in 2011, Gose is on pace for only seven this season. That would be less shocking if he were in the International League, but the Pacific Coast League is very conducive to power, as his 51s teammates have regularly shown. Regardless, the improvements with the bat far outweigh any decrease in power, and while a promotion before September doesn’t appear to be in the cards, Gose is making himself a strong case for a starting spot in Toronto’s 2013 Opening Day outfield.

4. RHP John Stilson (DUN): 2-0, 10 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 9 K

Toronto selected Stilson in the third round of the 2011 draft, a first round talent who fell because of a significant shoulder injury. He’s come back from that injury strong, and is having a very nice professional debut. Stilson hasn’t been overpowering, but for someone recovering from a significant injury after bouncing between the rotation and bullpen in college, his results are more than acceptable. His success this week can actually be traced back as far as mid-May, as Stilson has now pitched five innings in four consecutive games. Across those 20 innings he’s allowed only 22 base runners and 7 earned runs while striking out 18. I still fear for his long term health as long as he’s in the rotation, and feel he’s better –- and more valuable –- in the bullpen. I understand the reason he’s starting though, as in 2012 alone he’ll pitch two or three seasons worth of relief innings, and for pitcher development, innings and building arm strength are very important.

5. C Travis d’Arnaud (LAS): 26 AB, .346/.393/.538 (.931 OPS), 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 2/5 BB/K

Travis d’Arnaud’s two week reign as the system’s hottest prospect is over, but he still finds a spot on the list, coming in at number five. He has continued to hit the ball extremely well, but he wasn’t going to hit four home runs per week forever. That type of production is unsustainable. With Jesus Montero, Yasmani Grandal and Devin Mesoraco all playing in the major leagues, d’Arnaud is the best catching prospect still in the minors. It’s not close, either. If d’Arnaud were on nearly any other team, he would have usurped the starting catcher by now, but Toronto has held steadfast with J.P. Arencibia. Arencibia’s bat hasn’t taken the step forward many had hoped –- particularly in the area of plate discipline –- but his work with the young pitchers and within the clubhouse isn’t something that can be brushed aside. d’Arnaud has reportedly been taking reps at first base recently, and while that won’t be a long term move, it could give the team the short term flexibility to see how d’Arnaud’s bat plays in Toronto without forcing either catcher into a bench role.

Honorable mention: Adeiny Hechavarria (LAS), Casey Lawrence (DUN)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. C Travis d’Arnaud (LAS): 20 AB, .500/.524/1.200 (1.724 OPS), 2 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, 1/2 BB/K

March 17, 2012; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Travis d'Arnaud (15) catches in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE

When a prospect puts together an OPS over 1.000 for the week, he’s rolling. The Las Vegas hitters have even provided a few 1.200+ OPS weeks already this season, and unsurprisingly, they ranked extremely high on their respective hot sheets. Travis d’Arnaud must be laughing, because if those are hot weeks, he’s an inferno right now. The numbers he compiled over his five games this week are not simply bordering on insanity, they are insanity. Even though it’s only May, I’m confident in saying no other player in the Blue Jays system will have a better week than what d’Arnaud produced here. He had 10 hits in 20 at-bats, which would be impressive enough on its own, but 60% of those hits went for extra base hits – resulting in an absurd 1.200 slugging percentage. d’Arnaud had a solid April with a .778 OPS, but most people were expecting more from the systems premiere prospect in such a hitter friendly environment. Well, he’s delivered in May, as these numbers boosted his monthly total to .317/.368/.635 (1.003 OPS). With both JP Arencibia and Travis d’Arnaud cruising on offense in their respective leagues, the Blue Jays are in a very enviable position.

2. LHP Sean Nolin (DUN): 0-0, 12 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 16 K

Nolin made the first prospect hot sheet of the season, but hasn’t appeared since. It hasn’t been because he’s pitched poorly, as he’s allowed more than three runs in only one of his nine starts this season. He simply hasn’t produced any dominant outings since his 11 strikeout performance on April 12th. Things were different this week, as Nolin made two starts and struck out eight in each of them, while walking a grand total of zero batters. Not only did he own the strikezone, but balls put in play were swallowed up by his defense, resulting in an impressive 2.25 ERA and 0.75 WHIP for the week. The 22 year old Nolin has completely overmatched the Florida State League thus far, and a promotion to New Hampshire may be on the horizon.

3. RHP Aaron Sanchez (LAN): 1-0, 8 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K

I recently wrote an article here at Jays Journal that detailed how far Sanchez has come since being selected in the Supplemental 1st round of the 2010 draft, and he continued his successful season with two more dominant appearances this week. The two games saw Sanchez throw a total of eight innings, in which he allowed only five base runners while striking out 10. Strikeouts have always been his calling card, but his ability to induce weak contact this season has been perhaps his most impressive feat. His groundout to flyout ratio has soared to 3.08 for the season, and is a testament to just how good the movement on his fastball is.

4. RHP Noah Syndergaard / Anthony DeSclafani (LAN): 1-0, 8 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K

Unlike Sanchez and Nicolino, this duo has had its fair share of ups and downs. From late April through mid May, Syndergaard allowed nine runs (six earned) in 15.2 innings, while DeSclafani gave up another nine runs (seven earned). On May 17th, however, the two pitched the best they have since early April, combining to allow only one earned run in eight total innings, while striking out 11 batters for good measure. One interesting trend with this pairing is their starter/reliever splits:

Syndergaard (as starter): 16 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 21 K
Syndergaard (as reliever): 12.2 IP, 15 H, 5 ER, 8 BB, 17 K
DeSclafani (as starter): 14 IP, 25 H, 8 ER, 5 BB, 9 K
DeSclafani (as reliever): 17 IP, 10 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 21 K

Throughout his entire (albeit brief) minor league career, Syndergaard has pitched almost exclusively as a starter, while the recently drafted DeSclafani served as the closer for the University of Florida. While the sample size is still small, it’s noteworthy how drastically different they have each performed in the roles. Even when the reliever knows in advance he’ll be pitching in the ballgame, the warmup is vastly different, and it’s possible a pitcher like Syndergaard needs the full pregame routine to loosen up his arm. For DeSclafani, a former reliever, he may be having a difficult time adjusting to slowly preparing himself, as opposed to simply relying upon adrenaline and quickly getting ready for an in-progress game. It will definitely be something to watch, at least as long as Lansing utilizes the piggyback approach.

5. LHP Justin Nicolino (LAN): 1-0, 8 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

Nicolino didn’t pitch at his best this week, which speaks volumes about how good he’s been not only this year (1.16 ERA, 0.97 WHIP), but his entire career (1.27 ERA, 0.89 WHIP). It’s actually amazing how little attention he’s drawn this season. The tandem of Nicolino and Aaron Sanchez threw three innings a piece a total of five times before making the jump to four inning appearances. Their May 20th game was their fourth appearance at that length, which, if the Blue Jays keep their development linear, would indicate the two will make only one more game together before their separation. With five inning starts for the rest of the season, the pitchers would be on pace for season totals of 120-125 innings, which is roughly where General Manager Alex Anthopolous indicated he’d like to see them finish.

Honorable mention: Casey Lawrence (NH)

Like what you read and want to stay informed on all updates here at Jays Journal? Follow us on Twitter (@JaysJournal ), “Like” our Facebook page, or grab our RSS feed!