Forecasting New Hampshire Fisher Cats Starting Rotation

2 of 4
Next

Mandatory Credit: SportsLogo.net (http://news.sportslogos.net/2015/02/26/u-s-historical-figures-on-sports-logos/new-hampshire-fisher-cats-uncle-sam-logo/)

The Manchester based Double-A team last finished above .500 in 2011, and only three times since the Blue Jays took over the team in 2004. In 2015, the New Hampshire (NH) Fisher Cats finished 22.0 games behind Portland Sea Dogs and tied for second last in the Eastern League with Reading Fightin Phils with a 66-76 record.

Last year’s pitching staff consisted of Scott Copeland, Casey Lawrence, Aaron Sanchez, Austin Bibens-Dirkx, and a mix-match of Deck McGuire, Matt Boyd, Radhames Liz, Daniel Norris, P.J. Walters, and bunch of relievers making a spot start here and there.

Lawrence and Copeland anchored the staff with 22 starts a piece, which was 8 more than Aaron Sanchez who made the second most starts for the Fisher Cats. NH had the privilege of seeing Kendall Graveman, Sanchez and Norris, three Blue Jays pitching prospects who sky-rocketed through the system in 2014. They will not have the privilege of seeing them again in 2015, as Graveman has changed organizations, and it’s possible that Sanchez and Norris will both be starting the year in Toronto.

This year’s edition of the Fisher Cats rotation will have several promising arms, with a couple hyped prospects that will soon follow, and we’ll like have some arms come down from Buffalo.

Let’s get to it.

Mandatory Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NewHampshireFisherCats.PNG

RHP Starters

Casey Lawrence RHP

At 27 years-old, Lawrence will start season with the Fisher Cats for the second year. Casey had a good year (1.26 WHIP and 3.51 FIP), on a poor team. Not a guy that’ll accumulate huge strike out numbers (14.9 K%). Casey demonstrated excellent control (4.6 BB%), while pitching 150 innings for the third time in four years. With another good showing in 2015, Lawrence may yet move up to the Buffalo.

Ben White RHP

A non-drafted FA signed in 2011, White has steadily moved throw the system.  despite never posting a FIP below 4.22 or a K/9 higher than 6.42. White is a fly-ball pitcher (career 0.84 GO/AO) and an inning eater (377.2 IP in 4 years). In two starts with the Fisher Cats Ben White had one good start and didn’t make it past the 5th inning in his second start, which just so happened to be his final start of the year; unfortunately, he served up a home run in both starts. White gives up more than a H/9 and too many home runs. White will spend the year in NH.

Taylor Cole RHP

The Florida State League strike out leader will be a welcome addition to a potentially deep Double-A staff. His advanced age would normally turn many fans away from jumping on Cole’s bandwagon. He decided to complete his mission before perusing baseball which set his development back two years. Last year, Cole finally got back into baseball shape and the results showed. The only stat during his short minor league career that’s concerning is his high BABIP. Even when he was dominating in Dunedin he still had a .343 BABIP. Despite that Cole could be this years Kendall Graveman.

Mandatory Credit: SportsLogos.net (http://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/zihqrzo9eghdglv2cu101djgg/New_Hampshire_Fisher_Cats/2011/Cap_Logo)

LHP Starters

Jayson Aquino LHP

Jayson acquired from the Colorado Rockies in February in exchange for LHP Tyler Ybarra. Once ranked in the Rockies Top 20 Prospects, Aquino throws a 4-seam fastball, change, curve, and a sinker. His FB sits in the low 90’s and his curve is in the high 70’s. Last year, Aquino’s K/9 dropped and his BB/9 increased…..like a lot, but was able to keep up a decent ground ball rate with 1.60 GO/AO. His BB% went from 3.6% in 2012 up to 7.1% in 2014 while striking out 17.5%. He was hit hard at High-A ball and hit often (10.7 H/9).  2015 will go a long way in determining if Aquino will be a future starter or a future reliever.

More from Toronto Blue Jays Prospects

Matt Boyd LHP
Boyd is not a stranger to NH, starting 10 games there in 2014. After dominating High-A ball Boyd was called up to NH and didn’t find the same success despite maintaining a similar K/9 and BB/9 as he did in Dunedin. His FIP and BABIP both increased by more than .100 points. Balls that weren’t hit hard in High-A were mashed in Double-A, which is never a good thing for a fly ball pitcher. His H/9 almost doubled, as did his HR/9. Just like Jayson, 2015 will go along way in determining if Boyd’s road to the majors runs through the bullpen.

Mandatory Credit: Ball Park Reviews http://www.ballparkreviews.com/template2.php?in_name=Northeast%20Delta%20Dental%20Stadium&in_city=Manchester&in_state=New%20Hampshire

Other Possibilities

It is more likely that starters from the Bisons will get sent down New Hampshire to shore up the Fisher Cats staff than a member of last years Lansing Lugnuts staff making the jump, but that isn’t going to stop me from providing names to keep an eye on.

The Buffalo Bisons have a number of starters that could be pushed down a level and start the year in New Hampshire. Here are my choices: Scott Copeland, Austin Biben-Dirkx, and Michael Lee. All these guys could just as easily be moved to the bullpen to make room for guys with more upside. Of the three, Lee and Biben-Dirkx are the more likely candidates for demotion to NH, with Copeland likely remaining with the Bisons.

Two pitchers that have impressed in Spring Training, Miguel Castro and Roberto Osuna, could both find their way on to the Fisher Cats staff if they don’t make the opening day roster. This would seriously mess with my starting five, Dunedin’s staff, and maybe Lansing’s staff. It is also possible that Castro and Osuna begin the year with the D-Jays and quickly begin their ascent to Buffalo.

With an average age of 24.6 year old the staff is right in line with the league average, so there should be no excuses for being over matched. It will be tough, not impossible, for any of these starters to force their way on the Bisons staff. It is more likely that they will spend the year in NH or be used in trades. Either way the Fisher Cats the Fisher Cats starting five will have more promise than it has in many years.

More from Toronto Blue Jays Prospects

Next