Toronto Blue Jays Organizational Depth: First Base

Mar 3, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays players stand on the field during the singing of the of the countries

High-A Dunedin Blue Jays

 Matt Dean, 22 years old, Bats Right, 6’3″ 215 lbs

• Drafted in the 13th round of the 2011 MLB draft
• Was drafted out of high school, from The Colony HS, Texas

Stats

Matt Dean’s slight performance drop going from Lansing to Dunedin is exactly the kind of small drop-off we expected to see from Tellez when he made the jump. It’s almost an accepted drop. However, in Dean’s case he was able to maintain some really decent power numbers overall and only had one real weakness in 2015, strike outs. If he’s going to be able to hit much in New Hampshire – if he gets promoted – Dean’s going to have to cut down on the strike outs and find a way to make better contact.

Still young, there’s no reason to believe he won’t get a few years to figure it all out in AA and there’s enough potential in his bat to continue to provide him with opportunities to learn.

Double-A New Hampshire

K.C. Hobson, 25 years old, Bats Left, 6’2″ 205 lbs

• Drafted in the 6th round of the 2009 MLB draft by the Jays
• Taken out of Stockdale HS, California

Stats

As you can see above, the statistical hold Hobson has been through over the years has been consistent and doesn’t inspire someone to expect him in MLB any time soon. The one area that provides him with some hope is vs RHP, where he managed a .254/.307/.370 line. It’s not a good line, but it’s not horrible either. It may be enough to buy him some more time in AA or AAA.

Hobson has been in the organization for a very long time and is coming up against the ceiling now, it would seem. As you read through the lower level guys, particularly the Dunedin and Lansing guys, you got to see what’s eventually going to push K.C. out of the way in AA. At this point, I’m not so certain that the Jays are ready to promote him to Buffalo as they may want to sign a minor league free agent or veteran to have available as MLB-ready depth.

Therefore, I don’t expect Hobson to be a part of the organization much longer. His bat just doesn’t play well for the position. I wish him all the best either way and he’s a great person to have had in the organization for so long.

Triple-A Buffalo Bisons

Matt Hague is the incumbent in Buffalo, but I’d still expect the Jays to be aggressive in adding one significant minor league free agent or MLB veteran as a depth piece in Buffalo. The leading candidates I have in mind are:

• Brandon Allen, Casey Kotchman, Neftali Soto, and Brandon Snyder

Next: We end the 1B organizational depth with our Toronto Blue Jays