Blue Jays Minor League Report: 2015 Minor League Opening Day

April 9th marked the 2015 Minor League Opening Day for the Buffalo Bisons and Dunedin Blue Jays. New Hampshire Fisher Cats were supposed to play their Opening Day, but got postponed, so they’ll try to do it all over again tomorrow.

Buffalo Bisons 3

Rochester Red Wings 6

At the Plate The Herd were held to 5 hits coming off the bats of Ezequiel Carrera, Chris Dickerson, Ryan Goins, Josh Thole, and Jonathan Diaz. Carrera lead the Bisons season off with a double in the 1st innings, the only extra base hit for the Bisons, but was stranded. Dickerson, Goins, and Thole all chipped in with RBIs.

Andrew Albers allowed 4 runs on 8 hits over 4.2IP. He allowed 2 homeruns and game way to Ryan Tepera who allowed one hits, walked 3 and struck out 2 batters over 2IP. Gregory Infante pitched a perfect inning and a third, striking out 2. Bobby Korecky had a rough first outing, allowing 2 running. Prospect watch: Since the Bisons don’t have any Top Prospects on their roster let us look at the Twins top pitching prospect Alex Meyers who walked 6 and allowed 3 runs, but still managed to walk away with the win.

Next Game: Bisons- Scott Copeland vs. Red Wings Taylor Rogers

Dunedin Blue Jays- 5

Clearwater Threshers- 2

The D-Jays got to face Phillies OF Dominic Brown who is on a rehab assignment and he was held in check, going 0-for-2 with a pair of strike outs. Blue Jays Michael Saunders was 0-for-3 on the night with a walk and strikeout.  At the plate the D-Jays got good performances from a trio of the organizations Top Prospects, Mitch Nay, Dawel Lugo, and Matt Dean. 

For Nay, it is an encouraging sign. He only hit 3 last year, so getting off to a quick start is important for a guy who is expected to have plus power.

Lugo, the free swinging middle infielder contected on his 14th career HR, a 2-run shot. Dawel was 2-for-4 in the game.

Matt Dean joined the party with a 9th inning home run to cap an impressive opening day victory for the D-Jays. Derrick Loveless was 1-for-3 with the D-Jays first stolen base of the year. Roemon Fields and Christian Lopes chipped in with hits, as the D-Jays showed good plate discipline, 2:2 BB:K.

Jairo Labourt (#11 Top Prospect) went 5.1 innings with a walk and 3K. He allowed one ER. Good for his first outing of the year. He split his ground ball and fly balls 7:7. Chad Girodo and Luis Santos followed Labourt and each struck out a pair. Wil Browning came on to close the door with quick 9th for his first save of the year.

Top Prospects: JJ #10 Top Prospect Mitch Nay hit their first home runs of  the season off Phillies 8th Top Prospect Matt Imhof. Nay will be expected to supply the D-Jays with lots of power this season. Paired with Matt Dean, they should give Dunedin a solid 1-2 punch in the middle of the order.

Next game: D-Jays Brad Allen vs Clearwater’s David Whitehead

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