Toronto Blue Jays 2015 Top Prospects: #10 Mitch Nay

It’s that time of year, where the team here at Jays Journal once again discusses the Toronto Blue Jays Top Prospects. We’ve compiled our Top 20. Basically, we wanted to create the most all-inclusive Blue Jays prospect ranking out there.

So, we took a mixed approach to our rankings. Not only did we take a ranking from each member of our writing staff, but we also figured in the rankings from other publications as well, including MLB.com, Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and Minor League Ball.

We’ve already begun our Top 20 prospects in the Toronto Blue Jays system. #20– A.J. Jimenez, #19– Matthew Dean, #18– John Stilson, #17- Alberto Tirado, #16- Dwight Smith Jr., #15- Anthony Alford, #14- Dawel Lugo, #13– Richard Urena, #12– Matt Smoral, and #11 Jairo Labourt.

Today we focus our attention on tall Lefty Mitch Nay who checks in at #10 on our list.

Name: Mitch Nay
Position: Third base
Date of Birth: 09/20/1993 (21)
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round (58th overall) of the 2012 draft; $1 M signing bonus
Height/Weight: 6’3″/195 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R

Awards and Accomplishments

• MiLB.com Organization All-Star (2014)
• Post-Season All-Star with Bluefield in 2013 and Lansing in 2014
• Mid-Season All-Star with Lansing in 2014
• Player of the Week with Bluefield in 2013
• Previous Jays Journal ranking: #14 in 2013 and #8 in 2014
• 2013 Northwest League Playoff MVP
• 2013 Appalachian League All-Star
• 2012 Rawlings 2nd Team All American
• 2012 West Region 1st team
• 2012 Arizona Baseball Player of the Year (presented by Gatorade)

Stats and Analysis

Going into 2014, Mitch Nay was expected to tear the cover off the ball and soar through the Jays minor league system. That didn’t happen. Nay was playing against competition 1.5 to 2.7 years older in Lansing and Dunedin, respectively.

Mitch struggled to hit the ball out of the park (.104 ISO) but still put up solid extra base hits to lead the Lugnuts in doubles, while also being first in hits and RBI. Nay was terrible against LHP by batting .206/.262/.268 and a .530 OPS, but made up for it against RHP (.295/.353/.402).

He continues to show an above average hand eye coordination and ability to put the ball in play with 7.5 BB% and 15.3 K%, while putting up above average .338 wOBA, 6.6 wRAA and .335 BABIP. Mitch was equally impressive with RISP batting .297/.344/.414 with 1HR and 54RBI, and equally impressive with 2 outs and RISP batting .283/.336/.374 with 7 doubles and 19RBI.

In the field, Nay played 115 games at 3rd generating a .938 fielding% and 2.76 RF/G. Nay still possesses fringe range with a strong-arm. With Toronto’s lack of 3rd base options, it looks like Mitch may stick at 3rd for the forseeable future.

Outlook/ETA

Mitch Nay was one of several minor leaguers to receive non-roster invites to spring training showing how highly the Jays brass feel about his future despite his discouraging power numbers in 2014.

Bob Elliot had this to say about Nay in an August 13th piece:

"So is third baseman Mitch Nay, whom the Jays took 58th overall in 2012, falling behind since he’s at class-A Lansing?Far from it. Of the 35 high school first-round drafts taken that year, all but four are at class-A: Addison Russell (Cubs), Corey Seager (Dodgers), Joey Gallo (Rangers) and Jesse Winker (Reds) are high schoolers who have reached double-A. Nay, 20, is in the high-A Midwest League."

Mitch Nay has a chance to reach Double-A at some point in 2015, but to start the year, he will be starting the season with the Dunedin Blue Jays where he should start seeing an increase in is power number as some of those doubles turn into home runs. In Dunedin he continue to man third base with Gustavo Pierre being shipped out to Philadelphia, Andy Fermin likely getting a chance to play everyday in New Hampshire and  Andy Burns being promoted to Buffalo. Even if the Nay’s power numbers don’t show up in 2015, there is no risk of him becoming the next Kevin Ahrens.

ETA: 2018