Blue Jays: 6 Prospects Dominating on the Farm with their Bats

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Mar 24, 2016; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Jason Leblebijian fields a ground ball against the Detroit Tigers during the eighth inning at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /

The Toronto Blue Jays farm system was somewhat depleted for the 2015 postseason push however the talent level and depth throughout the organization might surprise you.

The Blue Jays have six prospects anointed on the updated Top 100 Prospect rankings dished out by Baseball America earlier last week. Of the six prospects recognized five of them are position players.

The Blue Jays Triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons currently sit in second place in the International League North Division with an a18-14 record, two games out of first place. Surprisingly seeing the big club has pillaged the herd for players to backfill their surplus of injuries they have been saddled with all season.

The Jays farm system is filled with a plethora of talent as well as some diamonds in the rough who have gotten off to hot starts in 2017.

Here is a look at six prospects scattered throughout the system that are locked in with the lumber and opposition pitchers are taking note as these youngsters continue to inflate earned run averages with their sticks.

Mar 16, 2017; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays’ Jason Leblebijian (80) is tagged out by New York Yankees shortstop Ruben Tejada (30) in a run down in the sixth inning of a baseball game during spring training at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /

Jason Leblebijian- Buffalo Bisons

Jason Leblebijian was taken in the 25th round, 775 overall in the 2012 amateur draft out of Bradley University. The infielder who turned 26-years old yesterday could force his way into the conversation for a call-up with the big club due to offensive prowess this season.

Leblebijian is currently batting .337 for the herd with 5 home runs and a team-leading 24 runs batted in 31 contests this season. He also boasts an impressive slash line of .337/.435/.582 with 33 hits in 115 plate appearances in his first taste at the Triple-A level.

On the defensive side, Leblebijian provides his manager with flexibility in a super utility role having already spent time at all four infield positions and left field thus far this season. This could definitely be an asset for the Blue Jays with all the injuries they have faced.

In 478 career minor league games the native of Arlington Heights, Illinois sports a .267 batting average with 36 home runs, however, Leblebijian appeared to come into his own last season with both Dunedin and New Hampshire slashing at a .294/.361/.436 clip for the season in 127 games.

You won’t find Leblebijian on any top prospect lists but the veteran minor leaguer could be an interesting name to keep an eye on as his season progresses in Buffalo.

Mar 14, 2017; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Anthony Alford (30) runs home to score a run during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Anthony Alford- New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Anthony Alford is arguably the Blue Jays most toolsy prospect possessing the qualities to be an explosive five-tool player. Alford appears to have taken his game to the next level this season solidifying himself as a legitimate prospect.

The outfielder leapfrogged to the 34th spot in Baseball America’s updated Top 100 rankings improving from his 59th spot rank from the beginning of the season. Alford is currently batting .318 with 34 hits and 2 home runs in 29 games this season.

The 22-year old has also picked his spots better on the base paths stealing 9 bags in 10 attempts for the Fisher Cats. The Blue Jays patience with Alford while he pursued a collegiate football career looks like it will pay off as he rounds into a complete player after finally getting the necessary reps in a baseball uniform.

Alford struggled last season with injuries and ended the campaign with a .236/.344/.378 slash line in only 92 games with the Dunedin Blue Jays. Look for Alford to end the season in Buffalo if he keeps making short work of Double-A pitching.

Aug 15, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; American team Jordon Adell (45) steals second base as National second baseman Bo Bichette (left) applies a tag during the sixth inning in the Under Armour All America Baseball game at Wrigley field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

Bo Bichette- Lansing Lugnuts

You need to familiarize yourself with 19-year old Bo Bichette as he is going to be a permanent fixture on the Blue Jays for years to come. Bichette is the anchor of a trio of Lugnuts who are destroying opposition pitching and putting up video game-like numbers along the way.

Bichette who is the son of former Colorado Rockies slugger Dante Bichette was drafted in 2nd round, 66th overall by the Jays in the 2016 amateur draft. In 27 games this season with the Lugnuts Bichette is batting .367 with 40 hits including 16 extra base hits.

The shortstop owns a ridiculous slash line of .367/.444/.578 and was just added to the updated Baseball America Top 100 rankings sliding in at the 93rd spot even though he still only has 48 professional games under his belt.

Last season Bichette made his debut with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays hitting .427 with 34 hits and 4 home runs in 22 games. This kid is the real deal and an exciting prospect to watch as his climbs the ranks to Toronto.

Feb 29, 2016; Dunedin, FL, USA; A Toronto Blue Jays hat rest on the field at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Bradley Jones- Lansing Lugnuts

Bradley Jones is using the 2017 campaign to assert himself as a force to be reckoned with the bat and the Blue Jays are undoubtedly taking notice of the numbers Jones is compiling game in and game out.

The native of Travelers Rest, South Carolina was drafted in the 18th round, 552nd overall by the Jays in the 2016 amateur draft from the College of Charleston. Jones who is off to a monstrous start often gets overshadowed by his teammates and uber prospects Vladimir Guererro Jr. and Bo Bichette.

Jones is batting .331 with 39 hits including 6 home runs and 26 runs batted in for the Lugnuts. The 21-year old has played both second base and first base for his manager while raking with the lumber. His working slash line is impressive, to say the least at .331/.394/.576 as Jones occupies the clean-up spot in the Lugs lineup.

Last season with the Bluefield Blue Jays Jones hit .291 with 16 round trippers in 61 games during his rookie campaign. This kid is a legit prospect and will soon be mentioned in the Baseball America Top Prospect rankings if he continues to shine.

Mar 2, 2017; Dunedin, FL, USA; The shadow of Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak (14) as he waits to bat in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies during spring training at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /

Vladimir Guerrero Jr- Lansing Lugnuts

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the most hyped Toronto Blue Jays prospect to grace their farm system in a long while and the kid is not disappointing. The 18-year old is proving he belongs with the big boys hitting .327 with 35 hits and 4 home runs in 30 games thus far with the Lugnuts.

The son of former Expos slugger Vladimir Guerrero Sr. ranks 16th on the recently updated Baseball America Prospect rankings and should break the top 10 by next season if he continues to mash.

As a 17-year old last season, Vladdy Jr. hit .271 with 8 home runs in 62 games with the Bluefield Blue Jays of the Appalachian League. The Jays are utilizing Guerrero at third base but there have been whispers he may feature better as a left fielder by the time it is all said and done.

The sky is the limit for Guerrero and there is nothing to suggest he won’t fulfill the lofty expectations as he looks as advertised thus far in his sophomore campaign.

Oct 18, 2016; Mesa, AZ, USA; Mesa Solar Sox catcher Danny Jansen of the Toronto Blue Jays against the Scottsdale Scorpions during an Arizona Fall League game at Sloan Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Danny Jansen- Dunedin Blue Jays

Danny Jansen is proving this season that he may be the backstop of the future for the Blue Jays. The catcher was drafted in the 16th round, 475 overall in the 2013 amateur draft by the Jays out of high school.

Jansen is off to a torrid start with the lumber batting .369 with 45 hits and 5 home runs while knocking in 18 in 31 games for Dunedin. Last season Jansen struggled offensively hitting .218 with only 1 home run in 57 minor league games.

In 218 career games, Jansen owns a .255/.349/.368 slash line with 16 home runs. The catcher seems to have put it all together thus far this season as he attempts to solidify his name in the same conversation as other Jays prospects Reese McGuire and Max Pentecost.

Next: Blue Jays: The BA100 and Fun With Numbers

Jansen adds to the Jays nice nucleus of catching depth in their system and is an interesting wild-card to watch and see where his offensive numbers end up as the season progresses.

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