Forecasting the 2015 Buffalo Bisons Outfielders

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Mar 3, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; A general view of Florida Auto Exchange Park prior to a spring training baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Bisons will open their season on April 9th versus the Rochester Red Wings. The Red Wings finished the season half a game behind the Bisons, 4.5 games back of the Syracuse Chiefs and the wildcard winning Pawtucket Red Sox.

The Bisons 2015 roster was completely overhauled, with a whole new set of outfielders, a few new infielders, and bunch of new arms. There will be some familiar faces that the Herd faithful will remember.

With the first couple of spring training games just getting under way, player movement is expected which will impact exactly what the Bisons roster look like on April 9th. Since I am an impatient fan. I want to forecast where the Blue Jays future stars will start the 2015 season.

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The potential candidates for the Buffalo Bisons starting rotation was covered on Monday and potential infielders cover on Wednesday. Now it’s time to forecast the potential Buffalo Bisons oufielders for 2015. The Herd’s 2014 outfield consisted of a pair of promising prospects in Anthony Gose and Kevin Pillar, a former Jays prospect in Darin Mastroianni, and Matt Tuiasosopo. Throughout the season this group were joined by career minor leaguer Adron Chambers and Cory Aldridge, struggling major leaguer Cole Gillespie, surprise minor league prospect Brad Glenn, and finally super prospect Dalton Pompey.

Much of last seasons OF have left via free agency or will be starting in Toronto’s outfield this year, but Alex Anthopoulos has done good work filling the Bisons with quality veteran depth outfielders.

Let’s get to it

Sep 14, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox right fielder Dayan Viciedo (24) catches a ball hit by Minnesota Twins catcher Chris Herrmann (not pictured) in the sixth inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

LF/RF

Andy Dirks– Darkhorse

Andy Dirks has the ability to impact Toronto and Buffalo’s outfield, IF healthy. Dirks has decent speed, power and plays a good LF. If he successfully comes back from an injury that cost him his 2014 season, than Dirks will be in a Blue Jays uniform. IF he struggles with his back again, than he will be playing LF in Coca-Cola Field.

Caleb Gindl– Starting in RF

Caleb has played 65 games with the Milwaukee over the past two seasons. A career .285/.360/.449 minor league hitter, the 26 year old Pensacola, Florida native will start in RF for the Bisons. Gindl will share at-bats with Colabello and Viciedo, but he should be the starter in RF.

Dayan Viciedo– Starting LF

When Viciedo was signed by the Blue Jays to a minor league deal on March 1st. The two time 20 home run hitter’s chances of making the Blue Jays dramatically increased when Michael Saunders suffered a knee injury. If the Blue Jays decide to keep retain the services of another outfielder, than Viciedo will surely supply the Bisons with outstanding power potential from the right side.

Sep 16, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Ezequiel Carrera (61) attempts to catch a fly ball in the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Twins won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Dickerson

Dickerson will provide the Bisons with speed, solid defence and veteran leadership. The 32 year-old Dickerson is a 7 year major veteran who has appeared in over 300 GP with 5 different teams. Chris hit .309/.407/.479 in 65 games with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in International League.

Ezequiel Carrera– Starting CF

Carrera has a very good chance of sticking with Toronto, but it is more likely he’ll start the year in Buffalo. Carrera will lead the Herd in stolen bases if he sticks with the team for any length of time. Gibby has gone on record as being impressed with his speed and defence. Gibby also said that he was very impressed by the Kansas City Royals speedy outfielders, Jarrod Dyson and Lorenzo Cain, performance in the playoffs. That leads me to believe that Carrera stands a good chance of being a Toronto Blue Jay at some point in 2015.

Mar 4, 2015; Bradenton, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays infielder Dwight Smith (74) fields a grounder during warm ups for the spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Rising Stars

Brad Glenn

Glenn made it to Toronto for a quick audition in 2014, which surprised even me. Glenn was overly impressive with the FisherCats when he found himself being called up to Buffalo, but once there he was unstoppable. Brad hit .451 in May and .317 in June before falling back to earth with a sub-.240 July and August. Glenn is a nice minor league outfielder option for the Bisons and should start the year in New Hampshire, but should bounce up and down a few times this year.

Matt Newman

Newman is a 26 year-old LHB who can play all three outfield positions and hit doubles in the bunches. He struggled mightily in final month of the season, which really hurt his batting average. Remove the disastrous August and Matt finishes with a .282 batting. Newman will need to be more patient at the plate if he wished to progress beyond Double-A. Nobody wants a guy that strikes out 25% of the time and walks 5% of the time with an ISO of .161.

Dwight Smith Jr.- 2015 quick riser

Smith is being converted to 2nd, but could still see time in the outfield this season. Since there aren’t a lot of prospects in the upper minors knocking on the door, the best option might be to keep Smith in the OF for now and move him up quickly.

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