Blue Jays: 10 Minor Leaguers off to impressive starts

The Toronto Blue Jays have a plethora of promising talents honing their respective crafts throughout the various ranks on the farm, here is a look at 10 prospects off to impressive starts in 2018.

While Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette garner much of the prospect praise, the Blue Jays have a boatload of young talent cutting their teeth in the minor leagues. The MLB Pipeline ranked the Jays farm system as the 9th best system in the majors led by the likes of Vladdy, Bo, and Anthony Alford.

The Jays brain trust and scouting corps have done an admirable job in recent years drafting and signing amateur talent. The team has also ventured into International waters with a number of high upside signings including Brazilian pitcher Eric Pardinho.

The Jays have dipped into their system on a number of occasions already this season with Teoscar Hernandes stealing the starting right field job after a recent call-up. The likes of Alford, Dalton Pompey, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Richard Urena and Dwight Smith Jr. have all been with the big club for a brief stint thus far this season.

Here is a look at 10 prospects raking on the farm whose major league aspirations could become a reality sooner than later.

Sean Reid-Foley- Pitcher

Sean Reid-Foley has rebounded nicely after a disappointing campaign in 2017 that saw him boast an inflated 5.09 earned run average in 27 starts with Double-A New Hampshire. Thus far this season Reid-Foley is 5-0 with a 2.03 earned run average while fanning 52 in 44.1 innings or work.

The former 2nd round pick has reasserted himself as legitimate arm and could be in line for a call-up sooner than later if the Blue Jays rotation continues to falter. The 22-year old has fanned seven or more in five of his eight starts this season including a 10 strikeout performance versus the Fightin Phils.

Jordan Romano- Pitcher

The 25-year old Canadian has formed an impressive 1-2 punch with Reid-Foley in the Fisher Cats rotation early-on. Romano is also undefeated with a 7-0 record and a minuscule 1.94 earned run average while fanning 44 in 46.1 innings on the bump.

Jordan Romano has impressed in his first taste of Double-A, last season the hurler spent the entire season with Dunedin in High-A ball posting a 3.39 earned run average in 28 games. Much like Reid-Foley, the Markham, Ontario native could see himself north of the border before it is all said and done.

Kevin Smith- Shortstop

Kevin Smith although a few years older has put up Bo Bichette like numbers in his second season of pro ball. The 22-year old is hitting .367/.421/.652 with 58 hits including seven homers and 10 stolen bases in 178 plate appearances thus far this season.

Smith may not remain in Lansing very long if he keeps putting up video game numbers offensively. The former 4th round selection was ranked as the Blue Jays 18th best prospect heading into the 2018 campaign, a ranking that will surely change at the halfway mark of the season.

Cavan Biggio- Second Base

The son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio has flexed his muscle this season popping a career-high 12 homers in 38 games with the Fisher Cats. Cavan Biggio is hitting .297/.419/.680 with 38 hits, 9 doubles, and five stolen bases to compliment his early power numbers.

Last season in his sophomore campaign Biggio hit .233 with 11 homers in 556 plate appearances with Dunedin. The 23-year old and former 5th round pick appears poised to step out from behind his father’s shadow and prove to the baseball world he his here to stay.

The second baseman could become a valuable commodity moving forward with the recent struggles of Devon Travis with the big club.

Jonathan Davis- Outfielder

The 26-year old Jonathan Davis has toiled in the Blue Jays minor league ranks since the team selected him in the 15th round of the 2013 amateur draft. Davis has always possessed great speed but struggled to make consistent contact in years past.

However this season Davis is currently hitting .280/.368/.401 with 44 hits and 14 stolen bases in 15 chances throughout the first 38 games with New Hampshire. The centre fielder also has connected for 14 extra base hits including two round-trippers.

The overage Davis is definitely down the outfield organizational depth chart but consistent play coupled with his speed and athleticism could put him on the radar in short order.

Tim Lopes- Infielder

Tim Lopes is one of the few Buffalo Bisons who has hit consistently since the season commenced. Lopes is batting .330/.384/.437 with 34 hits including nine extra-base hits and seven stolen bases through his first 27 games with the herd.

The 23-year old was drafted in the 6th round of the 2012 draft by the Seattle Mariners, however, he is now in his second season with the Jays. This is Lopes first opportunity at the Triple-A level and the infielder has impressed with the stick. Lopes has 122 career thefts in seven minor league seasons.

Lopes can play all over the infield and could be an asset due to his versatility should the Jays need an infielder in the near future.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.- Third Base

This list would not be complete without mentioning Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the special things he has accomplished to this point. Vladdy has absolutely owned Double-A pitching hitting .421/.472/.697 with 64 hits including 25 extra base hits and 16 bases on balls in 39 games with the Fisher Cats.

The third baseman has taken the baseball world by storm with much discussion on when the Jays brain trust should finally promote the phenom to the majors once and for all. Vladdy has eight homers on the season while also registering at least a hit in all but five of New Hampshire’s games this season.

There is no questioning Vladdy is going to special, the only question remains is when the Jays will finally bring the kid north of the border.

Kacy Clemens- First Base

The Blue Jays have yet another bloodline making some noise in the minors as Roger Clemens son Kacy Clemens has come into his own this season. The 23-year old is hitting .301/.454/.624 with 28 hits and seven home runs and 25 runs batted in throughout the Lugnuts first 27 contests.

The first baseman was selected in the 8th round by the Jays in the 2017 draft after attending the Universty of Texas at Austin. Clemens started the season slow in Dunedin but has since hit his stride after his promotion to Single-A Lansing.

The Jays could literally field and All-Bloodline team with the likes of Clemens, Vladdy, Bichette, Biggio and Dwight Smith.

Next: Blue Jays’ Russell Martin willing to play anywhere to help team