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Toronto Blue Jays Rule V Options: Infielders
Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
With Devon Travis out following shoulder surgery the Toronto Blue Jays are thin on middle infielders, the Rule V Draft could help fill that hole.
Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis struggled with shoulder injures in 2015 and didn’t play after July 28th after exciting fans for the first couple months. Travis underwent shoulder surgery on November 18th which will force him to miss almost half a year.
Losing Travis opens the door for Ryan Goins to cement himself as Toronto’s starting second baseman. It also opens the door for an undetermined middle infielder to secure a utility/bench role on the 2016 Blue Jays.
The Rule V Draft is one way the Blue Jays can add a middle infielder that could contribute right away. Here are two infielders the Jays could consider using their pick on: T.J. Rivera and Ronny Rodriguez.
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
T.J. Rivera
Rivera is an undrafted 27-year-old 2B/SS in the Mets organization who played 54 games at the Triple-A level in 2015. He hit .325/.364/.449 with 7 home runs, 48 RBI, 19 BB, and 47 K’s between Double-A and Triple-A with solid gap power and ability to barrel up the ball.
Mandatory Credit: MLBfarm.com
T.J. produced at well above level average with wOBA’s of .382 in Double-A and .352 in Triple-A. He also showed the ability to play multiple infield positions, playing 17 games at SS, 39 games at 2B, and 45 games at 3rd.
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In his career Rivera has played more games at 2nd with over 250 games, posting 4.11 RangeFactor and .975 Fielding Percentage.
At the plate Rivera makes good contact, striking out 12.8% of the time in Triple-A and walking 3.6% with a solid .346 BABIP which is about average throughout his career. He also puts the ball in play and forces the defense to make the hard play with 1.32 GO/AO.
T.J. is a little pull oriented in his approach hitting all his home runs to LF and his Hitter Heat Map (provided by MLBfarm.com) shows a large number of balls to the 3rd/SS side of the infield.
Mandatory Credit: MLBfarm.com
One knock on T.J. would have to be his speed, only stealing 24 bases over 520 games.
T.J. Rivera hits a 3-run walk-off home run winning game 1 of the Eastern Eastern Division Championship Series.
Get to know T.J.
Next: A look to Shapiro's old club with Ronny Rodriguez
Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Ronny Rodriguez
Rodriguez is an interesting candidate because he’s a member of the Cleveland Indians organization, the same organization the Blue Jays new club president recently moved on from. He’s also interesting because his stock fell due to a poor 2014 and being passed by guys like Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, and Giovanny Urshela.
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Rodriguez ranked as the Indians 30th prospect at the end of 2014 by Baseball America. In 2012, BA considered Ronny to have the best infield arm in the Indians system and in the Carolina League. He split time between 2nd and 1st in 2015, but has spent most of his career at SS (261GP) and 2nd (159GP). As solid defender, Rodriguez has posted fielding percent of .930 at SS and .972 at 2nd. He has enough arm to fill in at a 3rd playing 40 games at the hot corner in 2014.
His splits in Double-A were good, hitting .286 against both LHP and RHP. Ronny power numbers rebounded in 2015 with .204 ISO, after generating just a .097 ISO in 2014. Like T.J. Rivera, Ronny’s power is to the pull side, as illustrated by all 11 home runs and the majority of his 14 doubles being hit down the LF line.
Mandatory Credit: MLBfarm.com
Strike outs (21.1K%) and lack of walks (3.5 BB%) will hurt his chances, but his wOBA of .361 he posted in 72 GP in Double-A will definitely garner some interest at the draft.
Ronny has all the tools to become a solid utility infielder, but could push for an everyday role if/when he makes adjustments and learns to control the strike zone.
It is also possible that the Blue Jays don’t use the Rule V draft to acquire middle infield help, but choose the Free Agent route or internal options. Some internal options the Jays could look at are Andy Burns (3rd/2nd/1st), Jon Berti (SS/LF), and long shot Jorge Flores (SS/2B).
Ronny Rodriguez in 2010
Ronny in 2012
Completely Spanish interview…how’s your spanish?