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

In a bi-weekly segment, News from the Nest will be looking into how the four minor league affiliates of the Toronto Blue Jays performed in the previous two weeks, highlighting players who performed well and seeing which players took a step back. This series will also look at any transactions in regards to players being let go and any players who have moved up or down in the farm system.

Buffalo Bisons  – AAA

Record: 3 – 2

The Buffalo Bisons have been off to a strong start to the season, with multiple players hitting well and the starting rotation making headlines with their dominant performances. In five games this past week, the Bisons have scored 29 runs while only giving up 16, losing their first game of the season on Friday.

Performing well:

Multiple members of the rotation:

The Bisons starting rotation has performed well to begin the season, with Nick Allegeyer, Nate Pearson, and Alek Manoah all doing earning wins in their first starts of the season. Their stats so far:

Pearson: 3.2 IP; 2.45 ERA; 8 strikeouts; 1.36 WHIP

Manoah: 6.0 IP; 0.00 ERA; 12 strikeouts; 0.33 WHIP

Allgeyer: 6.0 IP; 1.50 ERA; 6 strikeouts; 0.67 WHIP

While Pearson did not pitch deep into the game, he was throwing well and appeared healthy after spending almost a month on the injured list. Manoah and Allgeyer really stood out, especially since both just made the jump from A ball to AAA after the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19.

It has been reported that Pearson is also currently traveling to Houston and will start the final game of the series on Sunday against the Astros.

Logan Warmoth – OF

In 14 at-bats this season, Logan Warmoth is currently sporting a .357/.400/.857 slash line with a 1.257 OPS. He also is tied for the team lead in home runs with two and also has three RBI.

Cullen Large – INF/OF

In four games this season, third baseman/outfielder Cullen Large currently is tied for the lead with eight hits and is slashing .381/.391/.571 with two doubles, one triple, and one RBI through 21 at-bats.

Rough Start

Dany Jimenez – RHP

One of the Bison’s relief pitchers, Dany Jimenez has appeared in two games this season and has pitched to a 9.00 ERA after giving up two home runs and three earned runs while striking out four batters with one walk in just 2.0 innings of work. The former 2-time Rule 5 draft pick was returned by the Oakland Athletics prior to the start of the AAA season.

T.J. Zeuch – RHP

In his only start of the season, T.J. Zeuch went 4.0 innings but surrendered three earned runs, giving up six hits while striking out four with a 1.75 WHIP. He would earn the loss and is currently sporting a 6.75 ERA.

Josh Palacios – OF

While the outfielder had a somewhat successful tenure with the Blue Jays earlier this season (.250/.353/.250 with four RBI) as a bench player, Josh Palacios struggled to put the ball in play in AAA this past week. He is currently slashing .222/.364/.278 in 18 at-bats with one double, two RBI, and six strikeouts while also featuring one of the team’s lowest OPS at .641.

Jacob Waguespack – RHP

The right-hander got the start yesterday with Pearson heading to Houston and did not have a fun outing. He would give up 10 hits and five earned runs on his way to an 11.50 ERA while walking one batter. One bright note is that he did strike out nine batters in the contest through 4.0 innings pitched.

Transactions

Outfielder Jonathan Davis rejoins the active roster after George Springer was put back on the injured list.

Rowdy Tellez rejoins the Blue Jays roster after being sent down to the Bisons. In three games, the slugger slashed .300/.462/.800 with one home run and three RBI.

Reliever Ty Tice was returned to the Bisons yesterday after a brief stint on the active roster this past week. He currently sports a 5.14 ERA in four appearances with the Blue Jays, striking out six while walking four.

Reliever A.J. Cole was called up to the major league squad in a corresponding move. Cole has yet to pitch this season.

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.

More from Toronto Blue Jays News

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• 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.