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.

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.

More from Toronto Blue Jays News

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• 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.