Blue Jays MiLB Standouts: Dunedin Jays rolling

Jun 22, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Darrell Ceciliani (9) heads to the dugout during MLB game action against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Darrell Ceciliani (9) heads to the dugout during MLB game action against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports

A look around the top performers for the Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Organization for the week that ended 7/3

Triple A – Buffalo Bisons
Record 49-35 (2nd Place 2.5 GB)

Another winning week for the Bisons started with a 4-0 surge but ended with three losses.  A change of fortune over the past week was a result of the offence falling flat.

In each of the losses the Herd was only able to score a single run.  They were also matched against the first place Scranton/ WB Railriders in those three losses which did not make things easier.  Jesus Montero started off the week red hot but struggled against the Rail Riders.  Montero started the week with a pair of multi -hit games and hit a solo homer in each.

Andy Burns raked in plenty of hits as he went 9-for-30 (.300).  He also hit a pair of home runs, scored three runs, and drove in six.  Darrell Ceciliani turned in a solid week as he gets settled into the Herd lineup after a short stint with the big club.  Ceciliani had a 9-for-28 (.321) week with a pair of homers, four runs scored and five RBIs.

On the mound Drew Hutchison finally pitched his way to the Blue Jays and looked great in his most reason start with the Herd.  He threw a six-inning one-hitter and struck out five.  This lowered his ERA with the Herd to 2.78.  Scott Diamond also turned in a good start with seven innings of four hit ball.  It was amazing that the Louisville Bats managed to scored two runs off of him.  He was dealing and struck out five batters and did not walk a batter through the start.  John Anderson also threw a four-hitter in his five-inning start.  He walked three batters and struck out three as he struggled with control at times..  He allowed just one earned run but took the loss.

MVB – Darrell Ceciliani

Double A – New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Record 36-46 (4th Place 23.0 GB)

More from Toronto Blue Jays Prospects

A long week for the Fisher Cats due to back-to-back double-headers against the Binghampton Mets was made longer after having a 4-5 record.  Ryan Lavarnway continues to be a hitter for the Cats as he had a hit in four of his five starts this week.

A consistent showing this week from Dwight Smith Jr. netted a home run, five runs scored, and nine RBIs.  The hottest bats on the club go to Rowdy Tellez and Jorge Saez.  Saez has not played in all the games this week but has been a force when he does.  In his five starts he scored a run in each along with hitting three homers and driving in nine.  Tellez played in every game and had a hit in each of them.  He hit an impressive 15-for-30 (.500) over the 9 games.  Tellez really has come on of late and hit three homers and drove in 11 this week and appears to be figuring out Double-A pitchers.

Some solid pitching performances played into the story this week but none of them were rewarded with wins.  Casey Lawrence threw a seven-inning three-hitter to pick up a win.  He did not walk a batter and struck out six on his way to allowing just one earned run.  Luis Santos also threw a seven-inning gem and struck out seven batters in his win.  Santos allowed two earned runs in the start on seven hits but pitched his way out of some trouble.  Connor Greene made his Fisher Cats debut and pitched enough to pick up his first win.  He worked five innings and was charged with four earned runs.  He will look to build on this in his next start.

MVFC – Rowdy Tellez

Single A+ – Dunedin Blue Jays
Record 8-3 (Tie 1st Place – GB)

What a week for the D-Jays going 5-2 as they continue to streak into the 2nd half of the season.  They ran into the Tampa Yankees and lost a pair over the weekend but are looking like a new team out of the gate.  Richard Urena has been swinging one hell of a bat lately.  He is 10-for-25 (.400) over the past week, scoring three and driving in three.  Ryan McBroom supplied the power as he hit a pair of home runs and drove in 4.  Mike Reeves made it into four starts this week and was a hitting machine.  He went 6-for-10, scoring five times.

Francisco Rios turned in a great six-inning start and allowed just one run.  He would get the win on a four-strikeout four-hitter.  Chris Rowley picked up two starts during the week and allowed only three earned runs over 15 innings.  He also allowed just 12 hits and struck out eight.

MVDJ – Richard Urena

Single A Full – Lansing Lugnuts
Record 7-3 (2nd Place – 1 GB)

A week in the positive column still lands the Lugnuts down a place this week.  The Lugnuts were able to win four this past week but in their losses the pitchers struggled mightily.  Ryan Borucki pitched a seven-inning shutout for one of the wins and was nearly unhittable.  Borucki struck out six.  Jon Harris pitched two solid outings but allowed three earned runs in his first start of the week.  He bounced back quickly and allowed just one in his second.  In that second start he pitched six innings and struck out four.  On offence Connor Panas has been fire.  He had four home runs this week and raked in six RBIs.  He has also scored five times and had four multi-hit games.

MVL – Connor Panas

Single A Short – Vancouver Canadians 
Record 9-8 (3rd Place – 2.5 GB)

A 4-3 record over the past week has the Canadians performing well thus far but they are still looking to find consistency.  Cavan Biggio has been one of the best hitters thus far but had a mixed week.  He did pick up a pair of RBIs but did not add much else.  Jacob Anderson has been a sure bat and picked up two more RBIs and a run scored.  Mattingly Romanin supplied some thunder on his first home run of the season as he hit a grand slam on Canada Day.  The home run was also his first RBIs of the young season.

Justin Maese was solid on the bump as he threw a shutout over seven innings.  He allowed just five hits with no walks and struck out 4.  Maese is off to a good start and is looking great for thus far, but did leave yesterday’s start early after being struck with a comeback liner.  He was the Blue Jays 3rd round pick from the 2015 draft.  Jackson Lowery has been perfect thus far for the C’s out of the pen.  He has picked up four saves and has not allowed a run.

MVC – Justin Maese

Next: On trade rumours, the deadline, and a fisherman's advice

Rookie level – Bluefield Blue Jays
Record 6-5 (2nd Place 2.0 GB)

A week in the plus column for the Blue Jays as they went 4-3 over the past week. Bluefield team has been an all or nothing team.  This has been working thus far but some consistency could allow this team to be something special with the abundance of talent on the roster.  Vlad Guerrero Jr. started the week off with a home run but then collected just three more hits throughout the week.  Nash Knight ended the week on a high note as he picked up six RBIs in the past two games.  He is currently on a five-game hitting streak and batting .500 in those starts.

On the mound, Osman Gutierrez pitched well in his second start of the season and allowed just one earned run through five innings of work. The performance of the week on the hill came from Connor Eller though. In two appearances including one start he threw a total of 8.1 innings in which he did not allow a run.  He walked two and struck out eight.

MVBBJ – Connor Eller