2016 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Depth: 3rd base

Toronto Blue Jays All-Star 3rd baseman Josh Donaldson has shown the ability to play 162 games, but who do the Blue Jays have on the farm ‘IF’ Josh Donaldson were lost for any amount of time?

The 2015 American League Most Valuable Player, Toronto Blue Jays’ Josh Donaldson, has played 158 games the past three seasons for the Oakland A’s and Blue Jays.

Every Major League baseball team will carry at least one utility infielder on their 25-man roster. Last season, the Jays intended to use Ryan Goins in that capacity, but injuries to Jose Reyes, Devon Travis, and Troy Tulowitzki  pushed Goins into more of an everyday role, providing other infielders in the Jays system an opportunity to contribute.

Reserve infielders such as Danny Valencia, Munenori Kawasaki, and Cliff Pennington provided Donaldson with days off from the field or full days off; however, Valencia is now with the Oakland A’s, Pennington is with the Los Angeles Angel of Anaheim, and Kawasaki remains unsigned.

There are utility/3rd base replacement options for the Blue Jays down on the farm, so let get to it.

Buffalo Bisons

Andy Burns 25-yrs-old

Burns is Rule 5 eligible and could be on the radar of teams looking for a cheap young versatile 3rd base after putting up decent numbers in Triple-A in 2015. Andy is now ranked as Toronto’s 21st Top Prospect.

Burns’ bat was above average, producing 112 wRC+ and .338 wOBA with the Bisons.

He doesn’t have the power many teams look for from the hot corner (.079) but his ability to play multiple positions makes him an excellent super utility player. Between Double-A and Triple-A, Andy played 56 games at 3rd with a 2.79 RangeFactor and .945 Fld%. Burns also played 46 games at 2nd, 8 games at SS, 13 games at 1st and 6 games in LF.

Overall, Burns hit .291/.350/.373 with a .723 OPS, 26 doubles, 5 home runs (career low), 46 RBI, 7.2 BB%, 13.1K%, and .335 BABIP.

Launching pad – Rule 5 draft pick up and will end up playing 2nd base somewhere.

Next: Anything cooking in New Hampshire?

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Emilio Guerrero 23-yrs-old

A 2011 international free-agent signing, Emilio spent the fall playing in the Arizona Fall League for the Salt River Rafters. He played 19 games and hit .254 with some good games. Guerrero is Rule V eligible.

Guerrero played 80 games between Double-A and Advanced-A Dunedin, with 46 games at 3rd. Throughout his career, Emilio has split time between SS and 3rd, but has started to play some CF in recent years.

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Guerrero committed 7 errors in 344.2 innings, putting up .243 RangeFactor and .941Fld% at 3rd. With the bat, he produced above average in Dunedin with .317 wOBA and 103 wRC+, but looked over matched in Double-A with an awful .272 wOBA and 69 wRC+.

Overall, the 6’4″ native of Dominican Republic hit .235/.278/.343 with .621 OPS, 16 doubles, 3 triples, 3HR, 21 RBI,  5.5BB%, 23.1K%, and .304 BABIP.

Emilio has a solid build, 6’4″ 190lbs to hit for power; unfortunately, he lacks the strike zone control to use his frame effectively. He swings at bad pitches too often and hit below .200 when behind in the count which occurred 69 times, compared to being ahead of the count 44 times in 289 at-bats.

Launch pad- fighting for playing time with New Hampshire

Next: Hey Nay, Hey Nay this is what dreams......

Mandatory Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LansingLugnuts_PrimaryLogo.png

Lansing Lugnuts

Gunnar Heidt 23-yrs-old

The 13th round pick in 2014 split time between Lansing and Vancouver, playing mostly 3rd in Lansing and mostly SS in Vancouver. At 3rd he produced 2.77 RangeFactor and .969Fld% with 5 errors in 57 games.

Heidt struggled in Lansing posting .221 wOBA and 35 wRC+, but turned things around with the Canadians posting .295 wOBA and 80 wRC+.

Overall in 111 games, Gunnar hit .208/.266/.280 with .545 OPS, 18 doubles, a triple, 3 home runs, 44 RBI, 26 SB, 7 BB%, 20.7 K%, and .256 BABIP. The low BABIP suggests some bad luck.

Launching pad- Gunnar will play a utility role for Lansing in 2016, splitting time between 3rd, SS and 2nd.

Betsided

Jason Leblebijian 24-yrs-old

Jason was great in Lansing, but not so much in Dunedin. He’s now excelling at SS for the Canberra Cavalry  of the Australian Baseball League, where he’s hitting .369 with 4 home runs, 12 doubles, and 28 RBI.

In 2015, Jason split his time between 2nd (37 GP), 3rd (30GP) and SS (24GP), finishing with 1.97 RangeFactor and .952Fld% at 3rd.

Leblebijian finished with .376 wOBA and 137 wRC+ in Lansing, but couldn’t figure out Florida State League pitching looking over matched with .236 wOBA and 49 wRC+.

Overall Leblebijian hit .245/.317/.399 with .716 OPS, 23 doubles, 4 triples, 9HR, 53 RBI, 8.8BB%, 22.5K%, and .278 BABIP.

Launching pad- He deserves another shot at Dunedin and will get it, but I’d like to see him start the year on New Hampshire’s bench in a utility role.

Alex Maldonado 24-yrs-old

Maldonado, an undrafted FA, signed in 2013 out of Brooklyn, NY, played 41 games at 3rd for Lugnuts. He committed 9 errors, 2.72 RangeFactor, and .933Fld%.

Alex didn’t hit much in Lansing, producing well below league with .273wOBA and 68 wRC+. He also didn’t hit for power with .060 ISO in 50 games.

Overall Alex hit .211/.302/.276 with 578 OPS, 7 doubles, a triple, a HR, 23 RBI, 12 SB, 12.3 BB%, 19.0K% and .242 BABIP.

Launching pad- Lansing bench

Next: Vancouver was visited by a Wise man, Carl that is.

View from the pressbox (image courtesy of Charlie Caskey)

Vancouver Canadians

Carl Wise 21-yrs-old

A 4th round pick in ’15, Wise spent most of 2015 playing 3rd for the C’s and did well enough get ranked 20th on Toronto’s Top Prospect List. Between Bluefield and Vancouver, Wise played 51 games at 3rd, posting .231 RangeFactor, .922 Fld%, while committing 10 errors and turning 9 double plays.

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In his first professional season, Wise produced at a below average level with .272 wOBA and 66 wRC+. For a guy with above average power potential, he managed to only generate .077 ISO with Vancouver.

Overall Carl hit .235/.273/.310 with .583 OPS, 11 doubles, a triple, a HR, 31 RBI, 4.1BB%, 22.2K% and .293 BABIP.

Launching pad- Lansing starter, but I agree with the scouts, that Wise has a better chance as a catcher.

Bluefield

Christian Williams 21-yrs-old

Williams  is a 16th rd pick in ’15. Scouting report has him with plus power potential. He split time between 1st and 3rd, playing 24 games on the left-side of the infield. Williams committed 7 errors, turned 6 double plays, generated a 1.96 RangeFactor and .870 Fld%.

Christian produced below average peripherals with .283 wOBA and 69 wRC+, while also not realizing his power potential with.098 ISO.

Overall Williams hit .220/.285/.318 with .603 OPS, 11doubles, 2 triples, 2HR, 29RBI, 8.5BB%, 23.8K% and .287 BABIP.

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• Blue Jays: 2022 Tournament 12 returns as Canadian Futures Showcase
• Blue Jays: Top Pitching Prospect Tiedemann Impresses in AA Debut
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Launching pad- Williams should see a return to 3rd base in 2016, starting the year with Vancouver.

Mattingly Romanin 22-yrs-old

A 39th rd pick in ’15, Romanin played 16 games at 3rd, committing 6 errors and turning 3 double plays. He produced a 2.13 RangeFactor and .850 Fld% in 130.2 innings.

Mattingly didn’t do much with the bat putting up poor .269 wOBA and 60 wRC+ stats.

Overall the native of Burlington, Ontario hit .161/.316/194 with .510OPS, a double, a triple, 5RBI, 3SB, 14.5BB%, 29.1K% and .246 BABIP.

Launching pad- depth player, placed where needed.

Next: Sterling Guzman exploded in the D.R.

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Gulf Coast League Blue Jays

Bryan Lizardo 18-yrs-old

The International Free-Agent was signed in 2013 as a 16-yr-old out of Domincan Republic. Bryan has played over a 100 games at third over the past 2 yrs, playing 42 in 2015 as a 17-yr-old. He cut down his errors in 2015 with only 5, down from 20 in ’14. Lizardo produced a 1.93 RangeFactor and .942Fld%.

Lizardo struggled with the bat in his first season State-side, finishing with below average .252 wOBA and 57 wRC+, while not showing any power .057 ISO.

Overall Bryan hit .193/.255/.250 with .505OPS, 6 doubles, a triple, 17 RBI, 3SB, 7.8BB%, 34.6 K% (ouch!), and .307 BABIP.

Launching pad- Return to GCL for more seasoning.

Betsided

Nash Knight 23-yrs-old

Knight played 23 games at 3rd, 19 at 1st, and 11 at 2nd. In his 23 games at 3rd, Knight committed 4 errors, turned 4 double plays, performed to a 1.83 RangeFactor and .913 Fld%.

Knight was old for the level and should have performed better, instead he produced an average level of .313 wOBA and 95 wRC+, with little power .079 ISO.

Overall Nash hit .207/.331/.286 with .617 OPS, 5 doubles, 2 HR, 18RBI, 16.3BB%, 22.7K%, and .262 BABIP.

Launching pad- given his age, Nash should get a chance to skip Bluefield and head straight to Vancouver as a utility infielder.

Dominican Summer League Blue Jays

Sterling Guzman 17-yrs-old

Guzman was a nice surprise for the DSL Blue Jays, playing 55 games at 3rd, committing 14 errors, and turning 11 double plays. He showed solid skills at the hot corner with 3.18 RangeFactor and very good .926 Fld% for a 17-yr-old.

Sterling was just as impressive at the plate, producing a great .382 wOBA and 126 wRC+. He did show much power with .109 ISO, but at his age he has time to add height and muscle to his 5’11” 175lbs frame.

Next: Blue Jays Depth at Catcher

Overall Sterling Guzman put himself on the radar by hitting .285/.383/.395 with .777 OPS, 8 doubles, 7 triples, 2HR, 40RBI, 9SB, 12.3BB%, 15.3K%, and .340BABIP.

Launching pad- There is a chance for Sterling to bypass the GCL, head straight to Bluefield.  Given his age, it’s more likely Sterling starts the year back in the DSL; however, a strong start in 2016, will remove any hesitation to sending him State-side.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

It is worth noting that it’s been reported that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is getting reps at 3rd base. He is likely to start the year with the DSL Blue Jays, but could progress quickly if his talent translates to the professional game as many expect it should.