Forecasting the 2015 Buffalo Bisons Bullpen

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, infielders, outfielders have all been covered. Now it’s time to forecast the potential Buffalo Bisons bullpen for 2015. The Herd’s 2014 BP consisted of minor league veterans Bobby Korecky, Mike Zagurski, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Raul Valdes, and Luis Ayala. Last year the Bisons saw Kyle Drabek converted from a starter to the bullpen and the emergence of Ryan Tepera and the continued development of John Stilson and Chad Jenkins as future MLB relievers. The Bisons played host to a pair of Toronto relievers that fell from the good graces of the fans, Sergio Santos and Steve Delabar.

Santos has moved on and Delabar has looked good so far in Spring Training. There are a few guys taht I feel will start the year with Toronto; therefore, they will not appear on the list below.

• Steve Delabar
• Kyle Drabek
• Chad Jenkins

Much of last seasons veteran RP were released or left via free agency but Alex Anthopoulos has done a good job in replenishing the Bisons pen with quality arms that all could challenge for a spot in Toronto’s bullpen this spring. Bullpen arms are notoriously tough to predict and that’s why we need so many of them.

Let’s get to it

Feb 26, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher

(52) throws during spring training workouts at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Bound?

Ryan Tepera RHP

The Texan has a very good chance to start the season with the Blue Jays. He was converted to the bullpen part way through the 2013 season and has seen his stock begin to rise. He killed it in Buffalo last year and at 27 should make his major league début in 2015. His Sinker/Fastball are both thrown in the mid-90’s and his Slider/Change are both thrown in the high-80’s. Tepera put up his best FIP (3.25), BB% (3.38), K% (9.42), and WHIP (1.41) since moving to the upper minors.

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Greg Burke RHP

The Jays signed Burke in November. Burke has some major league innings under his belt. He pitched 48IP in 2009 as a member of the San Diego Padres bullpen, where he finished with a 3-3 record, 4.14ERA, 23BB, 33K, and 4.37FIP. It wouldn’t see the major leagues for another 4 years when he made 32 appearances for the New York Mets. The 32 year-old will give the Bisons a veteran arm and offer the Jays with a decent arm they can call upon.

Wilton Lopez RHP

Lopez signed as a minor league free-agent in December and could make the Blue Jays roster out of Spring Training. He’s pitched in almost 300 major league games, amassing 305IP, 57BB and 221K. In his three seasons with the Houston Astros, Wilton K’d around 6-7 batters/9. This changed as a member of the Colorado Rockies, where he saw hit K/9 plummet to 5.73 and 5.68. Lopez  owns a decent career FIP of 3.40 and WHIP of 1.29, which leads me to believe he’ll be an important set-up man for the Bisons or the Blue Jays.

Preston Guilmet RHP

Preston is a Splitter/Four-Seam fastball pitcher who throws the occasional Sinker. The Jays claimed the RHP off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates in December of last year. Made his MLB début in 2013 with the Cleveland Indians making 4 appearances. He appeared in 10 games with the Baltimore Orioles in 2014, finishing the year with a 0-1 record, 5.23ERA, 0.97WHIP, 2BB, 12K, and 3.91FIP. Zips seems to think that he’ll stick with the Blue Jays and have forecasted some decent numbers (take a look)

Mar 5, 2015; Sarasota, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher

(35) pitches during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at

Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Shiny New Toys- LHP

Juan Oramas

Juan was another off-season waiver claim off the San Diego Padres roster. Just like Matt West, Juan Pablo Oramas underwent Tommy John in 2012 and just like Bo Schultz, Oramas is starter that will likely end up as a member of the Bisons bullpen in 2015. Oramas throws a 90’s four-seamer, a high-70’s curve, and a low 80’s change; unfortunately, as a fly ball pitcher (0.69 GO/AO) his future doesn’t seem bright as potential Blue Jay.

Jeff Francis

The former 1st round choice of the Colorado Rockies, Jeff Francis will need to transition to bullpen to prolong his career. Francis still throws his four-seam fastball, sinker, and cutter in the high 80’s, and throws his slider and change in the low 80’s. The native of Vancouver can still help a team, whether that’s with the Bisons or with the Jays remains to be seen.

May 30, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher

(51) throws a pitch in a game against the Kansas City Royals at Rogers Centre. The Kansas City Royals won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Returning Arms

John Stilson RHP

Toronto selected Stilson in the 3rd round of the 2011 draft. His shoulder issues resurfaced in 2014 and this time it required surgery to repair his labrum. Before the injury, Stilson was looking like a candidate for a mid-season call to Toronto. He will be ready in April or May and will be showing off his fastball that hits the high….very high 90’s as a member of the Bisons. Once he proves that his shoulder is 100% we can expect John to take over the Bisons closer role.

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Rob Rasmussen LHP

The former 2nd round choice of the Florida Marlins has a track record for being traded. Drafted in 2010, traded twice in 2012 to Houston and Los Angeles Dodgers, traded twice in 2013 to Philadelphia and finally Toronto. The 25 year-old made three trips to Toronto in 2014, a year that saw him become a full-time reliever. Rasmussen uses his mid-90’s fastball, high-70’s curve, and mid-80’s change/slider to produce solid strikeout numbers. Rob will be valuable LHP who doesn’t show any noticable splits.

Bobby Korecky RHP

Last year’s closer is back for another go-around. He should get a shot at sticking with the Blue Jays because of his strong 2014 stats. He’s converted 179 saves throughout his 12-year minor league career. Bobby doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but knows how to pitch and gets lots of ground balls. If he starts with the Herd, he’ll start as their closer and have another fine year.

Colt Hynes LHP

Colt throws a low-90’s fastball and a low-80’s slider. Shows good control (1.8 BB/9 in Triple-A) and decent strike out numbers (6.5 K/9 in Triple-A). Hynes does a good job of keeping the ball on the ground with a 1.72 GO/AO rate over his 8 year minor league career. If he can continue keeping the ball on the ground and limit the base-on-balls then he’ll challenge for a spot in the Jays bullpen.

Jun 24, 2013; Omaha, NE, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs pitcher

(18) delivers a pitch during the second inning in game 1 of the College World Series finals against the UCLA Bruins at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

On the Rise

Gregory Infante RHP

Power arm. Control issues. Good spring could see him challenge for a spot in the Jays bullpen.

Blake McFarland RHP

Solid Double-A numbers. Used as a closer, but doesn’t have power stuff scouts look for in a closer. 73K in 62IP and held opponents to a .209BA. Needs to improve GO/AO rate (o.63).

Dustin Antolin RHP

Good Double-A numbers. 10.9 K/9 and 3.16BB/9 with 2.32 FIP and 1.34 WHIP. IF he cuts down his walks he’ll be a force.

Chad Girodo LHP

This is a risky pick. He pitched in High-A Dunedin last year. Girodo should have shown up some of the Jays Top Prospect list…he’s that good. A side-arm LHP with good control (6.3BB%) and high K-rates (25.6 K%)are always a good bet to fly through the system….and it doesn’t hurt that he produced a 2.52 FIP and a 1.17 WHIP. Likely landing spot would be with the FisherCats, but I’d be more aggressive and start him in Buffalo.

Next: Jays Nest Podcast w/ guest Devon Travis