Appy Top 20 Jays content

[TheHurl]

Really really weak batch in the Appy this year.

 

2. D.J. Davis, of, Bluefield (Blue Jays)

 

Age: 19. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 180. Drafted: HS—Wiggins, Miss., 2012 (1).

 

The first of five 2012 first or supplemental-round picks by the Blue Jays, Davis received $1.75 million and spent all of this season at Bluefield after playing at three short-season stops last summer. He was one of the league’s most exciting players, offering quick-twitch athleticism, a center-field profile and game-changing speed—though he’s learning how to take full advantage of it.

 

Davis has quick hands, above-average bat speed and surprised many with his power, as 41 percent of his hits went for extra bases. Although peak power of 10-15 home runs is most likely, the most optimistic evaluators believed Davis has the power to hit 20.

 

“He has the ability to be a true offensive threat and has Carl Crawford upside,” a manager said. “He can really run, can range into both gaps and has natural pop to his bat.”

 

As with many Mississippi prep products, Davis remains raw. He has yet to find his swing path or make adjustments to his aggressive, pull-oriented approach. He often expanded the zone, striking out in 30 percent of his plate appearances. He also has a below-average arm and needs to improve his outfield reads.

 

AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG

225 35 54 8 7 6 25 26 76 13 8 .240 .323 .418

 

 

 

4. Mitch Nay, 3b, Bluefield (Blue Jays)

 

Age: 20. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Chandler, Ariz., 2012 (1s).

 

Shortly after signing last summer, Nay broke his foot, delaying his debut. Once he got on the field, he showed the potential to be a profile third baseman and led the Appy League in RBIs. He drew praise for his work ethic.

 

Nay has quick hands and plus bat speed, and he makes consistent hard contact to all fields. With a large, strong frame he has 70 raw power on the 20-80 scouting scale. Evaluators lauded his up-the-middle approach and ability to drive the ball to the right-center field gap this summer, traits he picked up after shortening his stride and swing path significantly in extended spring training. He showed a sound approach, striking out just 13.6 percent of the time, and he could be a middle-of-the-order hitter with plus power and on-base skills.

 

A below-average runner, Nay has adequate range and a strong, accurate arm that should allow him to remain at third. He is working on his lateral quickness.

 

AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG

230 41 69 11 0 6 42 25 35 0 1 .300 .364 .426

 

5. Dawel Lugo, ss, Bluefield (Blue Jays)

 

Age: 18. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 188. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2011.

 

After mediocre results in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League last summer—he hit .224/.275/.329—Lugo was one of the Appy League’s top offensive performers this year. He’s a natural, pure hitter with supreme hand-eye coordination and the ability to drive the ball to all fields.

 

Lugo offers surprising pop for his size and could grow into 20-home run power at his peak. He has an aggressive approach and makes lots of contact—with a strikeout rate of 13.9 percent and walk rate of 2.5 percent—but can struggle with balls on the outer half of the plate.

 

“His hitting style, obviously on a smaller scale, is like a young Vlad Guerrero, kind of swinging at everything and barreling a lot,” a league hitting coach said. “He can look silly on some pitches, but you throw the same pitch again and he will crush it into the gap.”

 

Lugo has dependable hands, smooth actions and an above-average arm at shortstop. He’s a fringy runner who could move to third because he lacks lateral quickness and range, though he is working to improve that.

 

AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG

192 28 57 11 2 6 36 5 28 1 0 .297 .317 .469

 

 

6. Chase DeJong, rhp, Bluefield (Blue Jays)

 

Age: 19. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 185. Drafted: HS—Long Beach, 2012 (2).

 

In extended spring training, the Blue Jays worked on making DeJong’s lower half more athletic, lengthening his stride and keeping him on line to the plate. He put those lessons to use and dominated in the Appy League, finishing second in K-BB ratio (6.6) and fifth in strikeout rate (28 percent of batters).

 

DeJong pitched with average fastball velocity and touched 94 mph with downhill plane, and he could sit 90-94 once he maxes out his lean, angular build. He has an out-pitch in his plus 74-78 mph curveball, and his changeup, which flashes plus, improved as well.

 

DeJong has a starter’s delivery that he repeats well, and he should eventually have above-average command. He throws from a high three-quarters slot and at times worked up in the zone. He will work on quieting his delivery to eliminate a head snap.

 

W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG

2 3 3.05 13 10 0 56 58 21 19 2 10 66 .261

 

 

8. Alberto Tirado, rhp, Bluefield (Blue Jays)

 

Age: 18. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 177. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2011.

 

When everything clicked for Tirado this summer, he was one of the most electric arms in the short-season leagues. He has a thin, wiry build with natural strength and long arms, and he showed No. 2 starter potential.

 

Tirado’s fastball touched 98 mph and sat at 92-94. He flashed two plus sliders: a hard, late-breaking 87-89 mph offering that he uses as a putaway pitch and a slower version in the mid-80s. His breaking stuff is ahead of his changeup, but all of his offspeed pitches lack consistency. He’s still learning his mechanics and the tempo of his delivery but improved as the summer went on.

 

“The biggest thing with him is getting him to pitch and not overthrow,” an opposing coach said. “The arm is there. It’s just the delivery, because it’s a dynamite arm.”

 

W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG

6 2 1.68 12 8 0 48 43 13 9 1 20 44 .236

 

 

12. Jairo Labourt, lhp, Bluefield (Blue Jays)

 

Age: 19. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 204. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2011.

 

Labourt has a big, strong build made to handle innings, and he fits a unique profile as a big Dominican lefthander. The last southpaw countryman as tall or taller than Labourt was 6-foot-5 Marlins reliever Frank Gracesqui in 2004.

 

Labourt has significantly improved during his time in the system and entered the season in much better shape and with improved mechanics. He had a mid-80s fastball two years ago but now sits 90-93 mph and touches 95 with run and sink. He has advanced feel for a changeup with good arm-side fade, and it could be an above-average pitch. His slider is inconsistent, as he doesn’t always get on top of it and often throws it too hard. It flashes plus at its best with 1-to-7 tilt.

 

Labourt’s fastball-changeup combo and potentially above-average command allow him to profile as a starter, as will a sound delivery that he repeats well. Still, some scouts think his short finish and body type would play better out of the pen.

 

W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG

2 2 1.92 12 8 0 52 39 16 11 2 14 45 .204

 

 

16. Adonys Cardona, rhp, Bluefield (Blue Jays)

 

Age: 19. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 170. Signed: Venezuela, 2010.

 

Cardona signed for a $2.8 million, the top bonus amount on the 2010 international market and a record for a Venezuelan amateur. He has not progressed as quickly as expected, however, producing mediocre results and battling a balky elbow that got him shut down early this season. Still, there’s lightning in his arm.

 

Cardona has a strong, athletic build and sits 92-94 mph, hitting 98 at his best. He has advanced feel for an 80-83 mph changeup with tremendous tumble. He scrapped his curveball in favor of a mid-80s slider but has struggled to command it.

 

“The sky is the limit for him if everything clicks. He could be a No. 1 starter,” a pitching coach said. “It might click tomorrow and he will be in the big leagues in three years, or he might not and he might be home in three years. A tough one, but the potential is there.”

 

Cardona struggled to throw strikes, working from a near over-the-top arm slot that inhibits his ability to get extension. The Blue Jays are working on dropping him to a three-quarters arm slot. He’ll likely fit best in the bullpen.

 

W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG

0 2 6.75 8 5 1 25 35 20 19 1 13 27 .327

[TheHurl]

Chat Jays talk

 

Mike (Virginia): D.J. Davis seems to have a good skill set, but what kind of potential or player comparison would you make for him?

 

Clint Longenecker: Davis does have a loud and exciting skill set. Multiple evaluators said that Davis physically resembles Carl Crawford at the same age. He has first division regular potential as a center fielder that is able to impact the game in all phases. He could have above-average range in center with improved outfield reads, and will fit the profile of a new age center fielder that can hit with some power.

 

 

John (British Columbia): I thought the Adonys Cardona ship had sailed ... Do you think he can right the ship and fulfill his potential?

 

Clint Longenecker: John, that seems to be the case because we heard his name when he was 15. But he is still only 19 and a year younger than the average player in the league. He certainly could with the proper adjustments to his delivery. His placement on the list was more about the impact he could have if he does improve and less about the probability of him doing so. Cardona is less likely to reach his ceiling than many on this list but still has one of the best arms in the league. The quote from a pitching coach in the league is a great summation, "It might click tomorrow and he will be in the big leagues in three years, or he might not and he might be home in three years. A tough one, but the potential is there.”

 

Tom (San Francisco, CA): Did Matt Dean not make it because he was repeating the league?

 

Clint Longenecker: Matt Dean was a very tough call. It was not simply the fact that he was repeating the league but that he had had the highest BABIP in the league (.436), which is unsustainable, and still struck out a fair amount (24.5 percent). He was in the next five players and had a very strong argument for being in the top 20. As a corner infielder repeating the league, evaluators wanted to see Dean have a stronger approach (6 percent walk rate) and more secondary skills.

 

Jean-François (Montreal): Matt Dean's peripherals are not pretty, and his production was helped by unsustainable BABIP. Can he still make it back into prospect contention after this decent year?

 

Clint Longenecker: Very astute, Jean-Francois. Yes, he is back in prospect contention. Although he was not included on the list, he made HUGE developmental strides this year. Last year, Dean got into trouble with a large stride that left him off balance and left him in a poor position to hit. He stopped striding this year and his swing had much better balance. His pitch recognition also improved. He showed dedication to his craft as he kept a book in the dugout to document every pitch he saw during every at-bat. By the way, I will be doing the Blue Jays top 30 this year. I look forward to digging into their system even more.

 

Francois (Vancouver): Nice work. i'm surprise to see Adonys Cardona still included. Do you have any insight on what lead him to be shut down the first week of august? it did not sound injury related

 

Clint Longenecker: Yes. It was elbow-related but largely precautionary. The organization thought he was taking medication but he was not, which led to the move. He is expected to be fine going forward.

 

Cachaza (Santo Domingo): What did evaluators have to say about Franklin Barreto?

 

Clint Longenecker: Despite his youth and performance in a small sample, Barreto excited a lot of guys that saw the league. Guys that really liked him said he was up there with all the top Bluefield position players, which is high praise considering 3 of the top 5 guys in the league were on that team.

[kgm1]

Yes less talent in the league but 7 of the top16 with Matt Dean just missing the top 20 and Barreto rated very good but not there long enough to Qualify is darn good . Problem is this level is where most of the talent is and as the levels go up we just won't have much in the league top 20,s . Most levels will have 0 jays in the top twenty .

[kgm1]

That's not really a problem IMO, its just the way it is

 

You think having little talent in the upper minors isn't a problem ?