Forecasting New Hampshire Fisher Cats Starting Rotation

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.

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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.

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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.