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Toronto Blue Jays 2015 Top Prospect Wrap Up: The injured

By Ryan Mueller |
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Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

A look at a trio of Toronto Blue Jays Top Prospects that struggled to stay/get healthy in 2015

C Max Pentecost

Toronto’s 1st round selection in the 2014 Draft lost the entire year after undergoing his second shoulder surgery. Initially, it was thought that Max would miss 3 months of baseball related activities after repairing partial tear in his right labrum; however, the surgery to his throwing arm kept him out of commission for the entire year.

There have been no updates, and no one seems to want to shed any light on the subject. On the plus side, all of baseball still feel very strongly about Pentecost’s ability to hit and to remain behind the plate as he is considered Toronto’s 4th ranked prospect and their Top Catching Prospect. Also, his name continues to be thrown around in many trade rumors.

Atlanta Braves (see rumor)

Philadelphia Phillies (see rumor)

Prognosis for 2016

Questions surrounding his ability to effectively control the running game after two surgeries in two years on his throwing arm will need to be answered. How will be perform after losing over a year in development? Will he still flash 10-15 home run power with gap power?

If healthy, expect Max to start the year with Lansing as their everyday catcher. If he’s unable to remain behind the plate, expect him to transition to 1st with Vancouver.

Next: Next up: Lefty hurler Ryan Borucki

That’s the kind of enthusiasm all signees should have. Picture courtesy of twitter

LHP Ryan Borucki

Borucki was a typical Alex Anthopoulos draft pick. He was expected to be selected much higher, but arm issues caused his stock to plummet. This allowed the Jays to steal him in the 15th round of the 2012 draft; unfortunately, those arm issues have followed him to the professional level.

After just 6.0IP in 2012, Borucki was placed on the 60-day DL and eventually required Tommy John surgery, missing all of 2013. Ryan looked very good in his return in 2014 and pitched 57 innings, but more importantly, he remained healthy and off of the DL.

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In March, it was reported by Charlie Caskey that the Jays 10th ranked prospect experienced elbow soreness in his throwing arm, which Caskey was told to be Tennis Elbow (full article). After some rest, Borucki was back to his normal throwing program; however, Ryan ended up on the DL on June 18th. Apparently, there was some discomfort in the left shoulder which he had scoped and cleaned in the off-season.

On July 7th, the 6’4″ lefty was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays for some quick rehab. He threw one inning, striking out one, allowing a hit and no runs. Two days later he was off to Vancouver where he made two appearances on July 11th and 16 before being shut down for the year.

Ryan Boruki wasn’t placed on the DL so there is hope in Blue Jay-land that it’s nothing serious. Ryan remains positive, despite another injury plagued season,

In his 4 innings of work with the C’s, Ryan allowed 6 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks and struck out 6 batters, finishing with an 0-1 record and 3.86 ERA.

Prognosis for 2016

Your guess as good as mine. Information on minor league injuries is hard to come by. Assuming that he is healthy in the spring, Borucki should open the year a Lugnut, but I don’t think he will remain there long. Don’t expect too much in 2016, perhaps 70-80 innings, as I’m sure the organization will be extremely careful with him.

Next: Next up: The big lefty Matt Smoral

Mandatory Credit: MLB Prospect Portal

Matt Smoral

Another tall left-handed and injured 2012 draft pick, Smoral is highly regarded and ranked at #16 on MLB.com prospect list despite his struggles.

2015 saw the 6’8″ southpaw with a devastating slider land on the DL twice, first on June 24th and again in August after being struck in the face with a line drive.

The Jays were aggressive with him this summer, starting in Advanced-A Dunedin; unfortunately, struggles with his mechanics and his health caused him to get hit hard in 5 appearances before landing on the DL at the end of June. Smoral finished with a 1-0 record 14.73 ERA, 6 BB and 5 K good for a 3.55 WHIP.

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Matt spent month on the DL, missing most of July before being assigned to Bluefield. Things started out pretty good in Bluefield, with Smoral only allowing one run through his first 5 appearances (7.2IP), but the control issues started to resurface. In his first 5 innings, Smoral walked one batter, but walked 10 in his next 3 appearances.

Smoral finished strong and looked good in his final two outings, allowing one run, one hit, one HB, 2 BB and 2K in 1.2IP on August 18th and no runs on one hit, one BB and 2K’s in 1.1IP before being hit in the face with a line drive. As a member of the Bluefield Blue Jays Smoral finished with no record, a 5.06 ERA, 14BB, and 16K’s over 10.2 innings.

Prognosis for 2016

Unless Smoral can iron out his mechanical issues, his starting days are history. This could already be the case after the organization elected to use him strictly out of the pen in 2015. It is unlikely that any team will take a flier on a pitcher that spend much of the year struggling with control in Rookie ball, but Smoral is eligible in this year’s Rule V draft. Expect him to begin the 2016 with Dunedin and for the organization to aggressively promote him if he’s able show anything close to average control. Management will want to see what they have if they are going to protect him next off-season.

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