Toronto Blue Jays Minor League All-Stars

The Toronto Blue Jays were well represented in last nights All-Star game. Congratulations to Josh Donaldson, Russell Martin, and Jose Bautista on your selections.

These are not the only All-Stars in the Blue Jays organizations. All-Star games will be played for Triple-A and Double-A levels tonight. Single-A Advanced and Low-A All-Star games were already played in June.

In case you missed it, here is a rundown of the Toronto Blue Jays minor league All-Stars:

Buffalo Bisons

Matt Hague

At 29 years-old Hague isn’t considered a prospect, but all he has done since joining the Buffalo Bisons near the end of 2014 is hit and hit and hit some more. He is the Buffalo Bisons most consistent bat and leads International League in batting average, OPS, OBP, total bases (T-1st), and hits. He is 2nd or 3rd in many other offensive categories, except home runs. He’s split time between 1st (29GP) and 3rd (57GP) which doesn’t bode well for getting to Toronto this year.

Gregory Infante

The hard throwing native of Caracas, Venezuela was a bit of a surprise selection. He isn’t a closer (5 SV) and doesn’t have eye popping stats that scream All-Star, but there is no doubt that he is a valued member of the Herd’s bullpen. I’m surprised that he hasn’t seen the major leagues since 2010 as a member of the Chicago White Sox. He’s not only earned a spot on the All-Star bullpen but it is possible that he has earned a shot with the Blue Jays….time will tell.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats will have 4 representatives at tonight’s All-Star game. Matt Boyd probably would have started for East Eastern League All-Stars had he not been promoted. Also, Dalton Pompey would be starting in CF had he not spent so much time in Toronto)

K.C. Hobson K.C. was also selected to partake in the Home Run Derby. His 10 home runs has him tied for 4th in the league and his 43 RBI leads the Fisher Cats (only because Ryan Schimpf has played half the games). Hobson is a 24-year-old 1st baseman who makes good contact, doesn’t strike out too much, but really isn’t considered a prospect.  

Dwight Smith Jr. The versatile outfielder hasn’t shown the same pop this year (.091 ISO) as last year (.169 ISO), but has managed to get on base (.323 OBP) enough to lead the league with 54 runs (T-1st). Smith Jr. got off to a tremendous start hitting .321 in April, but hasn’t hit over .262 in any of the next 3 months.    

Jorge Flores At 5’5″ 160 lbs, this mighty mouse is a demon on the field. IMO he’s been overlooked and undervalued by this organization. He consistently puts the ball in play and doesn’t strike out much (13.8 K%). The 23-year-old plays solid D, producing a 4.28 RF in 47 games at short stop. You will find Flores batting in the 8th or 9th hole, but he would be very good in the 2-hole if he could develop his running game (6 for 13 in stolen bases).  

Jack Murphy The man, the legend, the mustache. Murph is my favorite non-prospect in the Jays system. I would be so happy if he ever gets a chance to become a back up catcher in Toronto. A consummate professional on and off the field, Jack will do whatever it takes to win. Well deserved.

  Danny Barnes The right-handed relief pitcher drafted by Toronto in 2010 and in 2013 MLB.com ranked 19th in the Blue Jays system, which I don’t remember at all but it says so in his MiLB.com bio. The 25-year-old has quietly put together a very nice season as a late inning option for Bob Stanley.      

Dunedin Blue Jays

The D-Jays were represented by two releif pitchers. The D-Jays Jairo Labourt was selected to pitch in the Futures Game as a member of the World Team. ICYMI: Labourt pitched a scoreless inning in the Futures Game.   

Alberto Tirado

Tirado may have the best fastball in the Jays system and since being taken out of the rotation in 2014, he has used it to mow down his opponent.

All-Star game pitching line: 1IP, 2H, BB, K.

Wil Browning

Browning is a 26-year-old right-handed side arm reliever. He has dominated FSL hitters; unfortunately, he wasn’t able to carry that success with him to New Hampshire.

All-Star game pitching line: 0.2IP, 2K

Lansing Lugnuts

The Lugnuts have had one of the most potent offences in the minor leagues this season. They were represented by Anthony Alford, Ryan McBroom, Rowdy Tellez, Richard Urena, and Shane Dawson.

Anthony Alford

Now a member of the D-Jays, Alford has impressed in his first full season of baseball. He possesses a complete game and his approach at the plate is advanced for a 20-year-old. The Mississippi native hasn’t missed a beat since his promotion to Dunedin, as he continues to rack up the extra base hits.

All-Star Stat line: 0-for-2 with a run, a walk, a strike out, and stolen base

Rowdy Tellez

Rowdy ‘Moon Shot’ Tellez. I don’t think anyone really calls him that, but they should. He has shown more power than I expected from the 20-year-old. At 6’4″ 245 lbs, he will continue to gain strength and stands a good chance of becoming a true power bat, one this system desperately needs.

All-Star Stat line: 0-for-5, a run, a strike out and 6 LOB

Richard Urena

At 19-years-old, the native of San Francisco De Macoris, Dominican Republic took the Mid-West League by storm and helped ease the pain of losing Franklin Barreto this offseason. He just needs to cut down on the strike outs and show a better eye at the plate…he’s 19. It looks like he will stick at SS.

All-Star Stat line: 1-for-2 with a run. He played 3rd.

Ryan McBroom

At 23, Ryan is a bit old for Low-A ball, but that hasn’t stopped him from being the best offensive player in the league. McBroom leads the league in batting average, total bases, RBI, doubles, hits, and being awesome. He was entered into the home run derby…..and won. Not sure why he is still in Lansing, but I’d send him to New Hampshire sooner rather than later.

All-Star Stat line: 1-for-4, RBI, BB, 3 strike outs

Shane Dawson

You can never have too many good arms in your system and it looks as though you can add Shane Dawson’s name to the Blue Jays’ list of good arms. He leads the league in wins, he’s striking out 8.2/9IP, only walking 2.23/9IP, and owns a 3.32 FIP. He’s on the inactive list so he can pitch for Canada at the Pan Am games.

All-Star Stat line: 0.2IP, no walks, no strike outs, no hits