Toronto Blue Jays: News from the Nest – Sunday, May 9

New Hampshire Fisher Cats – AA

Record: 1 – 4

Boasting a significant amount of the Blue Jays top prospects, the Fisher Cats are off to a slow start this season and have lost their last four games after winning Opening Day against the Portland Sea Dogs. The team’s pitching staff has given up 29 runs (19 earned) in five games so far this year compared to the 25 runs the batting order has driven in. The Fisher Cats would be rained out on their Wednesday game and would play a doubleheader the next day to make up for the rain out.

Performing Well:

Simeon Woods-Richardson – RHP

One of the highly touted Blue Jays prospects, Simeon Woods-Richardson made his first AA start this past week and would give up one earned run over 4.0 innings while striking out eight batters with one walk. Errors from Chavez Young and Samad Taylor allowed two runs to score on SWR (unearned) and the Fisher Cats would go on to lose the first game of the seven-inning doubleheader 9-6.

Gabriel Moreno – C

The Blue Jays #7th ranked prospect, catcher Gabriel Moreno is off to a hot start at the plate, slashing .462/.533/.692 with six hits, three doubles, and 3 RBI in 13 at-bats. Known for his defence behind the plate, Moreno currently has three starts as the catcher and has caught one base runner on three attempts to begin the campaign.

Kevin Vicuna – 1B

Playing in four games this season, first baseman Kevin Vicuna currently leads the team with five RBI and has a .429/.529/.571 slash line in 14 at-bats. He currently has two doubles and a 1.101 OPS on the season.

Zach Logue – LHP

With the media headlines being dominated by Simeon Woods-Richardson, left-hander Zach Logue runs away as the top starting pitcher this week for the Fisher Cats. He would go 5.0 innings without surrendering an earned run while only walking one batter with five strikeouts with a 1.000 WHIP earning the win for the Fisher Cats on Opening Day.

Rough Start

Samad Taylor – INF

Infielder Samad Taylor had a rough first week in AA, mustering one hit (a double) in 13 at-bats while also striking out seven times. He currently sports a .077/.200/.154 slash line with a .354 OPS and has committed three errors in the field.

Fitz Stadler – RHP

While multiple members of the bullpen have had a rough start this past week, 6’9 right-hander Fitz Stadler was hit around the most on the Fisher Cats. In 2.0 innings over two appearances, the relief pitcher has given up seven earned runs, one home run, and four hits while walking four batters. His ERA is currently at 31.50 and he has one loss on the season.

Jordan Groshans – INF

Another highly touted infielder within the Blue Jays organization, Jordan Groshans is known for his batting ability and raw power. The righty slugger had a difficult first week in AA, slashing .176/.364/.176 with three hits but none for extra bases or RBI while walking five times and striking out three in 17 at-bats. He also has two errors on the season while playing third base. On a positive note, the strikeouts are down for Groshans, an issue he struggled with in his previous minor league seasons.

Transactions

Nothing to report except for roster assignments earlier in the week.

Vancouver Canadians – High A

Record: 2-3

With the border restrictions between Canada and the United States still in place, the Canadians will be calling Hillsboro, Oregon home for the time being. The team has struggled early out of the gate this season, with the batting order driving in 21 runs compared to the opposing Tri-City Dust Devils 29 and were even shut out on Opening Day. Out of the the 29 runs the opposing team scored, 21 of those were earned from the pitching staff.

Performing Well:

Adam Kloffenstein – RHP

Making the Opening Day start for the Canadians, Adam Kloffenstein went 3.2 innings and only gave up three hits and struck out three while getting no run support from the batting order. He would walk four batters in his outing but he didn’t surrender an earned run in his first start of the year.

Spencer Horwitz – INF

In four games this season, first baseman Spencer Hortwitz currently sports a 1.157 OPS which leads the team. His .364/.611/.545 slash line is also one of the highest on the team while he also has two doubles, four RBI, and seven walks on the season.

Ryan Gold – C

Another catching prospect for the Blue Jays, Ryan Gold is having a strong start to the season. In 13 at-bats, he currently features a .308/.471/.385 line with one double and three RBI along with a .855 OPS.

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• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

Rough Start:

Sean Wymer – RHP

In his first start of the season, Sean Wymer would only last 1.2 innings surrendering six hits, six earned runs, and one home run while striking out three with one walk. He currently sports a 32.40 ERA due to just having one appearance under his belt.

C.J. Van Eyk – RHP

Making his first professional regular-season appearance since being drafted last season, C.J. Van Eyk would be roughed up for four earned runs in just 0.2 innings of work. He would also earn two walks and would strike out zero batters, currently sitting at a 54.00 ERA.

Will Robertson – OF

In five games this season, Will Roberston has had a rough start to the 2021 campaign in his second season with the Vancouver Canadians. He’s currently hitting .053/.100/.053 with one hit and one walk while striking out 10 times and featuring a .153 OPS.

Transactions

Right-hander Donnie Sellers has been placed on the 60-day injured list prior to the season beginning.

Southpaw Luke Gillingham has been placed on the seven-day injured list with third baseman Davis Schneider being called up to the Canadians in a corresponding move.

Paxton Schultz was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers to complete the Derek Fisher trade and has been assigned to the Vancouver Canadians.

Dunedin Blue Jays – Low A

Record: 0 – 5

Another Blue Jays minor league team off to a rough start, the Dunedin Blue Jays have given up eight  or more earned runs in all five games they have played this season. The offense is there with 43 runs driven this past week but the pitching staff has been roughed up too much for the batting order to keep the game close, giving up an astonishing 77 (65 earned) runs.

Performing Well:

Zach Britton – C

Drafted by the Blue Jays last year, Zach Britton is taking on the role of catcher in his first professional season within the organization even though he was drafted as an outfielder. In five games so far this campaign, the lefty slugger leads the team with a 1.365 OPS and a .412/.600/.765 slash line with three doubles, one home run, three RBI, and seven walks. He has struggled a bit behind the plate, letting eight base runners steal without throwing out any in three games as catcher. Britton has made one appearance in left field so far this season.

Eric Rivera – OF

A 14th round selection in 2019, Eric Rivera is making his first appearance in A ball and is off to a hot start to begin the campaign. In 11 at-bats, he currently has six hits, four walks, and four stolen bases on route to a .545/.667/.545 slash line.

Rough Start:

A Majority of the Pitching Staff

The pitching staff for the Dunedin Blue Jays has not done well to begin the season, with 65 of the 77 runs being earned. Some current pitching lines include:

Gabriel Ponce: 1.1 IP; 60.75 ERA; 9 earned runs; 4 walks; 2 strikeouts

Jol Concepcion: 3.0 IP; 21.00 ERA; 7 earned runs; 2 walks; 3 strikeouts

Juan De Paula: 1.1 IP; 33.75 ERA; 5 earned runs; 2 walks; 2 strikeouts

Sem Robberse: 1.2 IP; 16.20 ERA; 3 earned runs; 3 walks, 3 strikeouts

Thomas Ruwe: 0.2 IP; 81.00 ERA; 6 earned runs; 4 walks; 1 strikeout

Winder Garcia: 2.2 IP; 16.88 ERA; 5 earned runs; 4 walks; 2 strikeouts

While the season is obviously early and the ERA’s are inflated a bit due to the lack of innings, it is a bit alarming to see the pitchers give up so many earned runs in a short time span. Hopefully, this is more of a “shaking off the rust” scenario given many of these players are new to the A league after spending a couple years in Rookie Ball and with the minor league season being canceled last year.

Defence

The season is obviously early but it appears that some of the infield staff are having a bit of difficulty when it comes to fielding and throwing to first, as 12 of the Blue Jays runs this past week were unearned due to fielding miscues. The culprits include Miguel Hiraldo (2), Orelvis Martinez (2), Mackenzie Mueller (2), Harrison Ray (1), and Addison Barger (1), all of whom play infield positions. While these errors did prove costly on the scoreboard, the mishaps will most likely start to die down over time as the players get more comfortable and back into a routine of playing every day, not to mention that they are still on the younger side when it comes to prospect development and did not play last season.

Transactions

Right-hander Yosver Zulueta will undergo surgery after leaving his start with a knee injury earlier this week, sidelining him for the season.