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Blue Jays: A 20-year review of the top-ranked organizational prospects

By Cory Hildenbrand

TORONTO - APRIL 21: Alex Gonzalez #11 and Vernon Wells #10 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrate Gonzalez's run against the Kansas City Royals during a MLB game at the Rogers Centre April 21, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages / Getty Images)
TORONTO - APRIL 21: Alex Gonzalez #11 and Vernon Wells #10 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrate Gonzalez's run against the Kansas City Royals during a MLB game at the Rogers Centre April 21, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages / Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JULY 23: Aaron Sanchez #41 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch in the first inning during a MLB game against the Cleveland Indians at Rogers Centre on July 23, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JULY 23: Aaron Sanchez #41 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch in the first inning during a MLB game against the Cleveland Indians at Rogers Centre on July 23, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

2013 & 2014 – Aaron Sanchez

Sanchez was drafted by the Blue Jays in the first round of the 2010 entry draft ( 34th overall).  Sanchez made his MLB debut in 2014 pitching 33 innings out of the bullpen with a 1.09 ERA. In 2016 Sanchez would pitch almost 200 innings in 30 starts and won the ERA title with a 3.00 ERA.  Sanchez even had some Cy Young consideration.

Then came the 2017 season and the wheels fell off the bus. We all watched as injury after injury made a promising career turn into being dumped last trade deadline for another former top prospect in Derek Fisher. Sanchez was dumped by the Astros and is currently without a contract as he rehabs from yet another injury.

Hindsight Alternates- well is should have been Noah Syndergaard but he had been traded. So I’ll go with Marcus Stroman who has arguably had a better career this far.

Who did they miss in the draft – maybe a guy picked in the 9th round (272nd overall) named Jacob DeGrom.  2x Cy Young winner, 3x all-star and rookie of the year.

2015- Daniel Norris

Norris was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 2nd round ( 74th overall) in the 2011 amateur entry draft.  I for one was hoping for big things from Norris but he didn’t last long in a Jays uniform as he was part of the prospect package that brought back David Price. Due to health issues and inconsistency, Norris really hasn’t yet lived up to the promise.

Hindsight Alternates- none of the other Jays prospects from 2015 have done much better. Aaron Sanchez, Dalton Pompey, Jeff Hoffman

Who did they miss in the draft – How about Mookie Betts. He was drafted in the 5th round, ( 172nd overall). 1x MVP, 4x all-star,

2016 – Anthony Alford

Alford was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 3rd round ( 112th overall) in the 2012 draft. Alford had been ranked as high as 25th in 2016 on prospect lists. Unfortunately, we have all watched Alford’s struggles and many believe that his 2020 spring training could be his last kick at the can.

Hindsight Alternates- Unless you wanted to name a kid ( Vladimir Guerrero Jr. who hadn’t yet played pro ball the #1 prospect then the farm was pretty barren.

Who did they miss in the draft – Max Muncy could look nice at first base for the Jays. All-star last year and has hit 30+ homers with OBP of .391 and .374.

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