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Blue Jays: Examining the prospects Ross Atkins has traded away- Part 2

By Tyson Shushkewich |
Oct 29, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, Can; Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins speaks during an introductory media conference at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, Can; Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins speaks during an introductory media conference at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
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TORONTO, ON – APRIL 26: General manager Ross Atkins of the Toronto Blue Jays speaks to the media before introducing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 before his MLB debut later tonight against the Oakland Athletics at Rogers Centre on April 26, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 26: General manager Ross Atkins of the Toronto Blue Jays speaks to the media before introducing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 before his MLB debut later tonight against the Oakland Athletics at Rogers Centre on April 26, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

This article is the second part that looks into the prospects Ross Atkins has traded away from 2019 to the present day. The first part covering 2016 to 2018 can be found here.

2019

Rodrigo Orozco – Outfielder

  • Traded to the San Diego Padres in exchange for OF Socrates Brito on April 02, 2019

Career MLB Stats: N/A

An international signee out of Panama in 2012, outfielder Rodrigo Orozco played a few years in the Blue Jays Dominican summer league before jumping stateside in 2015. He would spend the next four years pitching in the rookie league and various levels within the A-ball until being traded prior to the 2019 season. His best season came in 2018 when he played 112 games with the A+ Dunedin Blue Jays, slashing .304/.375/.389 with one home run, 39 RBI, and a .764 OPS.

Orozco would be traded to the Padres and progress through the organization’s AA and AAA levels, finishing the year with a .274/.350/.369 line with four home runs, 40 RBI, and a .719 OPS. The Panamanian native would become a free agent at the end of the season and most recently played for Panama in the 2020/2021 Caribbean Series but is still without a contract for the 2021 season.

Cal Stevenson – Outfielder

  • Traded to the Houston Astros alongside RHP Aaron Sanchez and RHP Joe Biagini in exchange for OF Derek Fisher on July 31, 2019

Career MLB Stats: N/A

Drafted in 2018 in the 10th round by the Toronto Blue Jays, outfielder Cal Stevenson only spent a year and a half in the organization before being traded to the Houston Astros. Stevenson spent 2018 playing Rookie ball before being called up to the Dunedin Blue Jays (A+) in 2019 where he would play in 90 games, slashing .298/.388/.393 with five home runs, 50 RBI, four triples, and a .780 OPS.

Once traded to the Astros, Stevenson would start again in A+ ball with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, playing in just 20 games with a .247/.390/.346 line and a .736 OPS. The California native would be traded on January 9, 2020, to the Tampa Bay Rays alongside pitcher Peyton Battenfield in exchange for pitcher Austin Pruitt. The left-hander would not play in 2020 as the minor league season would be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and he would not be added to the Rays 60 man player pool. He should see a promotion to AA this year if he can continue to hit the ball well as he did in Dunedin.

Chad Spanberger – First Base/Outfielder

  • Traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for RHP Chase Anderson on November 04, 2019.

Career MLB Stats: N/A

Acquired from the Colorado Rockies in a package deal for relief pitcher Seunghwan Oh, first base/outfielder Chad Spanberger spent three seasons as an Arkansas Razorback before being drafted in the 6th round by the Rockies. For his MiLB career, Spanberger has a .274/.340/.501 slash line with 59 home runs, 200 RBI, and a .841 OPS while splitting time in the outfield and at first base.

Spanberger would be traded to Brewers in exchange for veteran pitcher Chase Anderson and would not play in 2020 with the canceled MiLB season. The Brewers lack considerable depth at first base behind Keston Hiura, so a strong 2021 season could bode well for Spanberger to make his way to the active roster sooner rather than later.

LAKELAND, FL – FEBRUARY 28: Griffin Conine #93 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on while batting during the Spring Training game against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on February 28, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. The Blue Jays defeated the Tigers 5-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
LAKELAND, FL – FEBRUARY 28: Griffin Conine #93 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on while batting during the Spring Training game against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on February 28, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. The Blue Jays defeated the Tigers 5-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

2020

Alberto Rodriguez – Outfielder

  • Traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for RHP for Taijuan Walker on August 27, 2020 (officially on September 01, 2020)

Career MLB Stats: N/A

Signing a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays in mid-2017 (as an international free agent), outfielder Alberto Rodriguez has spent the past two seasons in Rookie ball in both the Dominican Summer League and with the Gulf Coast Blue Jays. Through his two seasons, Rodriguez played in 108 games while slashing .274/.356/.392 with seven home runs, 63 RBI, and a .747 OPS.

Rodriguez would be traded to the Mariners and added to the organization’s alternate site where he joined the rest of the team’s prospects. He would be reunited with friend and Mariners top prospect Noelvi Marte, both of whom hail from the same area in the Dominican Republic. Look for Rodriguez to get some more work down in the Mariners Rookie League system next year with a possible promotion to the team’s A-ball system later in the year.

Kendall Williams – Pitcher

  • Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers alongside a player to be named later in exchange for pitcher Ross Stripling on August 31, 2020 (announced on September 01, 2020)

Career MLB Stats: N/A

One of the highest picks to be both drafted (second round in 2019) and then traded by Ross Atkins, pitcher Kendall Williams was the Blue Jays #11 top prospect to begin the 2020 season. Signed out of the famed IMG Academy and spurning a commitment to Vanderbilt University, Williams would join the Rookie League Gulf Coast Blue Jays where he would pitch to a 1.13 ERA over 16.0 innings with 19 strikeouts and a 0.813 WHIP.

The right-hander would be left off the Blue Jays 60 man roster last year and would find himself traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers later that season. The Mississippi native stands at a towering 6’6 and has the frame for a starting pitcher but still has quite a bit of development ahead of him before any potential MLB debut. Scouts say that he will need to develop a more repeatable delivery in order to fend off better hitters, something that can easily be developed as he progresses through the Dodgers farm system. Look for the Dodgers #23 prospect Williams to be major league ready in 2023.

Griffin Conine – Outfielder

  • Traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for INF Jonathan Villar on August 31, 2020 (officially on September 18, 2020)

Career MLB Stats: N/A

Another high draft pick traded away by Atkins (second round in 2018), outfielder Griffin Conine comes with a baseball pedigree considering his father Jeff played 17 years in the MLB. Drafted out of Duke University, Conine spent the 2019 season with the Class A Lansing Lugnuts where he slashed .283/.371/.576 with 22 home runs, 64 RBI, and a .946 OPS in 348 plate appearances.

Entering the season as the Blue Jays #15 ranked prospect, Conine would be traded to the Miami Marlins and would finish the season at their alternate training site. Conine would be assigned to the Marlins AA affiliate at the end of the season and currently sits at #18 on the organization’s top prospect list.

Feb 25, 2020; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Yennsy Diaz (59) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees during the fifth inning at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2020; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Yennsy Diaz (59) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees during the fifth inning at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

2021

Hector Perez – Pitcher

  • Traded to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations on January 22, 2021

Career MLB Stats: 1.2 innings pitched; 10.80 ERA; 3.600 WHIP; 1 strikeout; 3 walks

Acquired from the Houston Astros in the Roberto Osuna trade in 2018, pitcher Hector Perez would join the Blue Jays in AA New Hampshire where he has pitched the past two seasons. Perez would make his MLB debut with the Blue Jays last season, pitching in just one game and throwing 1.2 innings while giving up two earned runs with three walks and one strikeout. He would be demoted back to the alternate training site after his one game of action. This past winter, Perez spent time with Tigers del Licey in the Dominican Winter League, appearing in three games and pitching to a 9.00 ERA while giving up two earned runs with three walks and five strikeouts.

Perez would be traded to the Cincinnati Reds as a roster move to allow the Blue Jays to sign and add George Springer to the 40 man roster. He will most likely be out of the Reds bullpen this upcoming season but does have starting experience if needed.

Josh Winckowski – Pitcher

  • Traded to the New York Mets alongside RHP Yennsy Diaz and RHP Sean Reid-Foley in exchange for LHP Steven Matz on January 27, 2021

A 15th round draft pick in 2016, Josh Winckowski spent the past four seasons in the Rookie League and all levels of the Blue Jays Class A Leagues. For his career, Winckowski has a 3.35 ERA with 237 strikeouts and a 1.297 WHIP over 263.0 innings. Used as a starter for most of his career, the Ohio native has started 50 games over 54 appearances and currently has an 18-17 record.

This off-season has been a whirlwind for Winckowski, as he would be traded to the Mets in late January and was recently traded to the Boston Red Sox earlier this week in a three-team trade that saw Andrew Benintendi head to the Kansas City Royals. The right-hander will most likely see a promotion to AA this upcoming season and sits as the Red Sox #30 top prospect.

Yennsy Diaz – Pitcher

  • Traded to the New York Mets alongside RHP Josh Winckowski and RHP Sean Reid-Foley in exchange for LHP Steven Matz on January 27, 2021

Career MLB Stats: 0.2 innings pitched; 27.00 ERA; 7.500 WHIP; 0 strikeouts; 4 walks

Signing with the Blue Jays as an international free agent in 2014, pitcher Yennsy Diaz climbed his way through the organization’s farm system over five seasons, starting in the Rookie League and advancing all the way to AA. Diaz’s minor league stats with the Blue Jays are 3.84 ERA, 1.287 WHIP, and 429 strikeouts over 481.0 innings and 84 games started (96 appearances total). He would make his MLB debut in 2019 to disastrous results, pitching in just one game and walking four batters, giving up two earned runs with zero strikeouts.

Next. Examining the prospects Blue Jays manager Ross Atkins has traded away. dark

Diaz would join a package deal and be sent to the New York Mets in exchange for pitcher Steven Matz in late January. The right-hander currently sits at #30 on the Mets top prospect list and could make the team’s bullpen this upcoming season since the starting rotation is jam-packed with talent. Diaz could also join the team’s minor league system and continue to be stretched out as a starter, waiting for an opportunity if someone on the MLB rotation gets hurt or traded.

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