Toronto Blue Jays: News from the Nest – Sunday, June 6

To view the previous News from the Nest segments looking at players in the Blue Jays minor league system, you can find them in the attached links below:

May 9

May 23

Buffalo Bisons  – AAA

Record: 14-13

Performing well

Christian Colon  – OF

Moved to the outfield as of late, Christian Colon continues to perform well, leading the team in OPS (1.018), AVG (.346), and OBP (.429). What is even more impressive is through 22 games and 78 at-bats, Colon has more walks (10) than strikeouts (7), seeing the ball well and leading the team because of it.

Since May 23, Colon has gone 9 for 33 with two doubles, three RBI, and one home run.

Riley Adams – C

While Riley Adams started off slow this year, the past two weeks have been a resurgence of sorts for the prospect catcher. Since May 23, Adams has gone 7 for 18 with one double, three home runs, and four RBI. His six home runs has him tied for the team lead while his 1.011 OPS puts him behind only Colon on the Bisons roster.

Bullpen Arms

The Bison’s bullpen has been outstanding this year, with multiple players pitching very well.

Bryan Baker: 9 games; 10.1 IP; 0.00 ERA; 7 walks; 15 strikeouts

Kirby Snead: 12 games; 13.1 IP; 0.68 ERA; 4 walks; 19 strikeouts

Connor Overton: 8 games; 20.1 IP; 0.89 ERA; 3 walks; 21 strikeouts

Taylor Saucedo: 9 games; 15.1 IP; 1.17 ERA; 1 walk; 19 strikeouts

Hobie Harris: 10 games; 11.0 IP; 1.64 ERA; 4 walks; 17 strikeouts

Jackson McClelland: 7 games; 10.0 IP; 2.70 ERA; 2 walks; 7 strikeouts

Rough Outings

The Rotation

While the bullpen has been performing well, the starting rotation has started to slip as of late, with top prospect Nate Pearson experiencing a rough stretch for one of the first times in his minor league career.

Nick Allgeyer: 6 games; 27.1 IP; 4.61 ERA; 18 walks; 27 strikeouts

T.J. Zeuch: 5 games; 24.0 IP; 5.25 ERA; 7 walks; 19 strikeouts

Jacob Waguespack: 5 games; 21.1 IP; 5.48 ERA; 6 walks, 30 strikeouts

Nate Pearson: 4 games; 13.2 IP; 7.24 ERA; 6 walks; 27 strikeouts

Cullen Large – INF

Infielder Cullen Large has had a rough start in June, as he has gone 1 for 15 through five games with one walk, one RBI, and three strikeouts. Since May 23, Large has only had one multi-hit game, mustering five hits during that time span while his .526 OPS is second-worst on the team.

Transactions

Movements

LHP Anthony Kay was optioned to the Bison’s roster after his stint on the injured list with the Blue Jays was complete.

RHP Carl Edwards Jr. was promoted to the Blue Jays roster.

RHP Jeremy Beasley has been optioned and promoted several times during the past two weeks.

Injuries

INF Breyvic Valera was placed on the 7-day injured list.

Promoted

RHP Patrick Murphy was brought to the club from Single-A on a rehab assignment.

Vancouver Canadians – High A

Record: 16-13

Performing Well

Tanner Kirwer – OF

Sherwood Park, Alberta native Tanner Kirwer continues to impress this season in High A, leading the team with his .941 OPS, .295 AVG, and his .500 slugging percentage. Kirwer is second in the league in stolen bases with 16 and fourth in the league with his OPS.

Since the last News from the Nest segment on May 23, the speedy outfielder has gone 8 for 28 with two doubles, one triple, and eight walks, with his season base on balls total of 19 almost on par with his strikeout total of 22.

Parker Caracci – RHP

One of the most efficient arms in the Canadians bullpen, Parker Caracci leads the team in appearances with 11 but has only given up three earned runs on the season. He does have 13 walks on the year but effectively keeps them from scoring when looking at his 1.69 ERA, striking out 15 batters through 16.0 innings with three saves.

Tanner Morris – INF

Since May 23, infielder Tanner Morris has been playing well at the plate, going 13 for 39 with three doubles and eight RBI, earning three multi-hit games, and seeing his OPS climb to .813 on the season.

Rough Outings

Adam Kloffenstein – RHP

After three solid starts to begin the year, Adam Kloffenstein has fallen on hard times. In his last three starts, the right-hander has only gone 9.1 innings pitched while giving up 15 earned runs, seeing his ERA climb to 6.55 on the season. His command has been a bit shaky as well, as the Texas native has given up 19 free passes on the season, 11 of them coming from the past three games.

C.J. Van Eyk – RHP

In his first professional season since being drafted in the second round last year, C.J. Van Eyk has been roughed up in his past two outings. While he has pitched 9.0 innings over those two appearances, Van Eyk has given up seven earned runs and walked five batters, with his ERA on the season now sitting at 5.75.

Philip Clarke – C

Another catcher in the Blue Jays talented prospect pool, Philip Clarke has not enjoyed the same success as of late when compared to his positional counterparts.

On the season, he has slashed .192/.344/.288 with his .562 OPS near the bottom of the Canadians stats board. Over his last eight games, Clarke has only put together four hits after going on an eight-game hitless streak dating back to May 20th.

Transactions

Called Up

Right-hander Troy Miller was promoted to AA

Injuries

RHP Hagen Danner was placed on the seven-day injured list.

Inactive

RHP William McAffer was placed on the inactive list to play for Team Canada in the Baseball Qualifier tournament for the Tokyo Olympics.

Demoted

RHP Willy Gaston was sent back to the Vancouver Canadians from AA. He was promoted to the AA squad back on May 21.

RHP Sam Ryan was also sent back to High A from the Fisher Cats roster. He was promoted to AA back on May 15.

Reinstated

RHP Luis Quinones was reinstated after serving his 80 game suspension since testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Released

Canadian RHP Brayden Bouchey was released from the organization. Through three appearances this season, he had a 10.80 ERA with three walks and two strikeouts.

Dunedin Blue Jays – Low A

Record: 9-20

Performing Well

Addison Barger – INF

Infielder and former 6th round draft pick Addison Barger continues to impress in Low-A, leading the team in OPS (.943) and RBI (21) while also being tied for the lead in home runs with 4. Barger also hit for the cycle just last week and continues to put the bat on the ball, collecting 15 hits in his last 11 games.

Zac Cook – OF

Assigned to the Blue Jays on May 25th, outfielder Zac Cook has been impressive in his first week and a half of professional baseball. Through 28 at-bats, the lefty hitter sports a .286/.444/.393 slash line with three doubles, four RBI, five walks, and a .837 OPS.

Nick Frasso – RHP

Drafted in the fourth round last season, starting pitcher Nick Frasso has been pitching well since being called up to the squad in late May. Through three appearances (two starts), Frasso has pitched 5.0 innings without allowing an earned run while striking out eight with two walks. He just recently went on the injured list.

Rough Outings

Majority of the Pitching Staff

Similar to previous segments of News from the Nest, the Dunedin Blue Jays pitching staff continues to struggle. There are over nine pitchers who have five or more appearances this season who have an ERA over 4.50 with multiple arms struggling to keep the walks and runs off the base paths and scoreboard.

Jhon Solarte – OF

Outfielder Jhon Solarte has had a rough start to his Low-A career, with the past two weeks still being a stuggle for the switch hitter. In his last nine games, Solarte has seven hits but continues to strike out consistently, with 13 strikeouts in the same time frame. His .545 OPS is currently one of the lowest on the roster.

Transactions

Called Up

RHP Trent Palmer, LHP Sean Mellen, RHP Elixon Caballero, OF Zac Cook, and RHP Lazaro Estrada were called up to the Low-A Blue Jays roster

Injuries

RHP Nick Frasso was placed on the 7-day IL on Friday.

LHP Rafael Monsion was also placed on 7-day IL.

Demoted

RHP Thomas Ruwe, RHP Jefferson Herrera (recently promoted to Low-A), LHP Wilgenis Alvarado (recently promoted to Low-A), LF Glenn Santiago, 2B Jose Rivas, and LF Justin Ammons were demoted to the Gulf Coast Rookie League.