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Toronto Blue Jays: Top Five Rookies of 2020

By David Corcoran

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 18: Nate Pearson #24 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on August 18, 2020 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 18: Nate Pearson #24 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on August 18, 2020 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 21: T.J. Zeuch #71 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2019 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 7-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 21: T.J. Zeuch #71 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2019 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 7-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Slipping under the radar

3. T.J. Zeuch
I know this selection may throw a few readers for a loop as you may not have thought of T.J. Zeuch on the team much this year.  The forgotten prospect in the Blue Jays organization has steadily done well over the last couple years.  When you think of top young guys, you think of Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio and many others.  Would it surprise you to know Bichette was taken in the second round of the 2016 draft and Biggio in the fifth round?  Would it surprise you even more to know that their first round pick was Zeuch?

From 2017-2019, Zeuch never had an ERA higher than 3.74 in the minors, which was 2019 when he also a season that he threw a no-hitter for the Buffalo Bisons.

Zeuch doesn’t have the power fastball that many of the Blue Jays pitching prospects have, but what he does have is a sinking fastball that causes a lot of grounds balls and makes for quick innings.  Zeuch was another player that did not appear until September, as he made his debut on the 17th when he threw three innings allowing just one run.  He would be used four days later in relief after Matt Shoemaker’s first appearance off the injured list.  Zeuch would throw 3.1 innings allowing just one run on a walk and a hit as he picked up the win.

Zeuch got his only start of the year during the second last game of the regular season.  He went five shut innings on five hits against the Baltimore Orioles.  He finished the regular season with a 0.5 WAR, a 1.59 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 11.1 innings.  He doesn’t strike out very many, as he averaged just 2.38 over nine innings, but induces a lot of ground balls.  For a team that saw a lot of pitchers rack up the pitch count and short outings, it is refreshing to have someone have some quick innings.

Over parts of his first two seasons, Zeuch holds a 3.71 ERA through 34 innings, which shows he needs to be given a lot longer look next season.  Zeuch could be an ideal fifth starter that can eat up innings and give the team a chance to win, which is something they weren’t getting from the back of the rotation this year.

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