Blue Jays MiLB Standouts – Weekend 4/23

Jays Journal takes a look at the week that was in the Minor League System.  We will discuss top hitters and pitchers at each level.  Who had solid weeks this past week ending on 4/22?

Triple A – Buffalo Bisons

Due to weather and a light schedule this week the Bisons only played 5 games between 4/16 and 4/22.  The team went 3-2 during those games and are currently in first place with an 11-4 record overall.

Top Hitters

Dwight Smith Jr. appears to be settling into Triple-A as he has driven in a run in all but 1 game this past week.  He also went 7 for 19 (.368) in his plate appearances.  Those hits led to him driving in 6 runs and scoring 5 runs himself.  He added a home run and a pair of stolen bases to an already impressive week as well.

Jason Leblebijian

has become a fixture of productivity in the Bisons attack.  He drove in just a pair of runs this past week but he scored 5 runs.  He has been getting on base and went 5-16 (.313) with a pair of doubles.  He is currently tied for the team lead in RBIs with Dwight Smith Jr.

Top Pitchers

T.J. House has been owning International league hitters in the early going of the 2017 season.  The start he had this week was no exception to that.  He threw 5.1 innings of work and did not allow a run.  He mowed through the Columbus Clippers and struck out 8 batters.  His opposing batting average is currently a minuscule .153.  He currently has 3 wins and has struck out 20 batters on the season.

Brett Oberholtzer got in a 5 inning start this past week and continues to impress.  He held some of the Yankees top prospects in check during his last start and allowed just 1 run on 5 hits.  He also walked just 1 batter and struck out 3.  He is currently winless in his first 3 starts but that will change if he can throw the rock like he has.

Double A – New Hampshire Fisher Cats

A rough week for the Fisher Cats has them losing some ground here in the early going.  They went just 1-5 over the past week and will look to get back in step.

Top Hitters

Anthony Alford continued his assault on opposing pitchers this week to the tune of 8 hit in his last 15 at-bats (.533).  He did all this in just 4 games this past week and also stole 2 bases.  Amazingly he only was able to drive in 1 run and scored once.  He had a pair of doubles during the week as well.  He has also reached base in all 13 games that he has played in this season.

Tim Lopes entered Sunday’s game with an 8 game hitting streak in tact.  Over the past week, he has gone 9 for 22 (.409).  If he can continue to get on base at this rate he will score plenty of runs for the Cats.  This past week as the offense could not come up with timely hits he scored just one run and drove in one.

Jonathan Davis

is also currently on a hitting streak over the past 8 games.  This past week he hit a home run and drove in 2 RBIs.

Top Pitchers

Conner Greene had the performance of the week in the Cats only win.  He hurled 6.2 innings and allowed a pair of runs.  He would allow just 5 hits and walked a pair on his way to the win.  He stuck out 5 during the game as well.  Greene appears to have found his stuff after a rough opening to the season in which he gave up 3 earned runs in just 3 innings of work.

Single A+ – Dunedin Blue Jays

The D-Jays were close to breaking even this week but went 2-4.  Ups and downs on both sides of the ball led to the rough week.  They will look for more consistency as the march into a new week.

Top Hitters

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Lane Thomas has been a timely contributor this past week.  Despite a .266 batting average on the season, he scored 6 runs this past week.  He also has driven in 4 RBIs and had 4 extra base hits.  The extra base hits were a double, 2 triples, and a home run.  Let us hope these hits keep coming in bunches and Thomas will see his batting average climb quickly.

Andrew Guillotte had 3 multi-hit games this past week which included a 4-5 performance.  He has gone 10 for 23 (.435) with 6 runs scored and 3 RBIs.  He had a home run and a double to add onto an impressive week.  Guillotte also only struck out once over the past 23 at-bats.

Top Pitchers

Angel Perdomo was the standout on the hill this past week as the pitching staff struggled for the most part.  Perdomo had a great start that led to a win.  He pitched 5 innings and scattered 6 hits and a walk.  He allowed just 1 run and struck out 7.  After starting the season with a 4 earned run outing he has continued to improve over his last 2 starts.

Single A – Lansing Lugnuts

During a week that started on a high note that fell into a 4 game losing streak.  Then back into a high note with a historic come from behind victory.  The Lugnuts went just 2-4 over the past week but are ready to head into this coming week strong.

Top Hitters

Bradley Jones is putting scouts on notice as he continues to rake.  He started the week off with a 6 RBI game which included a pair of home runs.  He would finish the week going 7 for 21 (.333).  He drove in 9 RBIs and scored 4 runs.  The Blue Jays 18th round pick of the 2016 draft is starting to look like a win.  He currently leads the Midwest League in RBIs.

Bo Bichette continues to hit the ball hard as he currently owns a 10 game hitting streak.  He went 8 for 19 (.421) over the past week.  He currently has a .375 batting average in 13 games and has not shown any signs of slowing down.  He scored 6 runs and drove in 3 RBI over the past week as well.

Top Pitchers

Mike Ellenbest had a solid outing this week as he held the Dayton Dragons to 2 earned runs.  He would allow 7 hits and a walk but kept the Dragons off the board for the most part.  He struck out 4 and unfortunately was not given a win for his efforts.  The Lugnuts struggled on the mound all week as they allowed 45 runs.

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