Winter League Update: Pitchers

Congratulations to Vernon Wells for winning the 2010 Branch Rickey Award, an award for recognizing outstanding charity work. Each MLB team had elected a nominee, and Wells was recognized for his Perfect 10 Foundation, creation of the Vernon Wells Home for Single Mothers, and work with the Jays Care Foundation.

As for the Winter League update, the Jays have a total of 10 pitching prospects playing winter ball this year. Virtually every one of the Jays pitchers are having impressive campaigns, except for Matt Daly, who seems to be struggling in the Arizona Fall League (11ER in 9.1 innings).

Here’s a look at the success the Jays’ pitching prospects are having so far:

SP Marc Rzepczynski:

Rzepczynski is obviously the most well known Jays player on this list, not only because of his major league experience, but also his ridiculous numbers in the Arizona Fall League so far through 5 starts:

3-0, 0.69 ERA, 26.0ip, 2 ER, 21 hits, 8 BB, 20 Ks, 1.12 WHIP, .223 opp. avg

Marc leads the AFL so far in innings pitched and ERA. He has gone at least 6 innings in each of his last three starts, and he hasn’t given up any home runs. He is really increasing his trade value if needed, but hopefully he can carry this success into next year and have a strong spring.

RP Nestor Molina

Molina must love pitching in his home country, because he is doing extremely in the Venezuelan Winter League. Take a look at his numbers through 12 games:

4-1, 2.37 ERA, 19.0ip, 5 ER, 16 hits, 2 BB, 19 Ks, 0.95 WHIP, .246 opp. avg

There’s a reason this 21 year old has made appearances at 4 levels of the Jays system in only 2 years. Normally a starting pitcher, he seems to be doing just fine in his appearances as a reliever this winter.

RP Joel Carreno

Similar to Molina, Carreno has been a starter in the minors, but is being used as a reliever this winter. He hasn’t pitched too much in the Dominican Winter League, but here’s a taste of what he’s done:

0.00 ERA, 10.0ip, 5 hits, 2 BB, 8 Ks, 0.70 WHIP, .152 opp. avg

He has clearly shown he continues to be a flamethrower, picking up right where he left off after his successful season at HiA Dunedin where he had 173 strikeouts in 137.2 innings pitched (11.3 K/9).

SP Henderson Alvarez

Another Jays prospect playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, Alvarez continues to improve. His numbers so far through 6 starts in the VWL back that up:

0-1, 2.66 ERA, 23.2 ip, 7 ER, 27 hits, 1 HR, 6 BB, 15 Ks, 1.39 WHIP, .300 opp ovg

It’s easy to forget that this kid is still only 20 years old. His .300 opponent average against would be the only concern so far, as it’s the highest out of any Jays pitching prospect not named Willie Collazo, but he has shown great poise and damage control.

SP/RP Ronald Uviedo

Uviedo is making quick work of hitters in the Venezuelan Winter League. He is proving to be a decent return for the Jays when they traded Dana Eveland to the Pirates early in the season. Here’s a look at his numbers through 8 games (3 starts):

2-1, 1.75 ERA, 25.2ip, 5 ER, 15 hits, 2 BB, 14 Ks, 0.66 WHIP, .167 opp. avg

Already impressive numbers above, they were mainly bloated by Uviedo’s most recent start where he gave up 3 solo home runs in only 4.0 innings. He’s second in innings pitched out of Jays prospects to only Rzepczynski, and his 2 walks to go along with a .167 opponent average against really stand out.

Other highlights worth noting would include RP Danny Farquhar (12 Ks in 10 innings), RP Alan Farina (1 ER in 9.1 ip), and SP Luis Perez (3.38 ERA).

-JM