2020 Organizational Review: Top 50 Blue Jays Prospects

[max silver]

Part of me likes Kirk but part of me feels it is just lazy and disrespectful to not honor the process of being an MLB player. Like seriously...do some sprints, eat right and show some understanding that you were blessed with talent and need to put the f***ing reps in. The organization showed faith in you...put down the bag of jellybeans and go get some exercise.

 

I'm willing to bet sooner or later he will be directed by the player development regime to get his diet and exercise plans in order, just as eventually happened with Vladdy Jr.

[max silver]

It was nice to see Patrick Murphy get some love in your prospect evaluation. The guy has been on my radar heavily since he torched the Florida State League in 2018. He ticks a lot of boxes, tall starters build, mid-upper 90's velocity consistently, hammer curve ball, improving change-up, limits home-runs, generates ground balls. The injury history is a bit scary, but if he manages to stay on the field there is some nice upside present.

[BlueRocky]

It was nice to see Patrick Murphy get some love in your prospect evaluation. The guy has been on my radar heavily since he torched the Florida State League in 2018. He ticks a lot of boxes, tall starters build, mid-upper 90's velocity consistently, hammer curve ball, improving change-up, limits home-runs, generates ground balls. The injury history is a bit scary, but if he manages to stay on the field there is some nice upside present.

 

I really like Patrick Murphy more than most, prior to the illegal delivery shenanigans. And I think he got hurt while getting that all worked out. I hope the major injury issues are behind him. He was tossing 95-100 as a starter and often sat 97-99 deep into games. His curve has a sweeping action too and downright filthy.

 

My only concern is the consistency on his third pitch, which is his changeup. There’s always the option he can be a high leverage reliever as a fallback option.

[max silver]

I really like Patrick Murphy more than most, prior to the illegal delivery shenanigans. And I think he got hurt while getting that all worked out. I hope the major injury issues are behind him. He was tossing 95-100 as a starter and often sat 97-99 deep into games. His curve has a sweeping action too and downright filthy.

 

My only concern is the consistency on his third pitch, which is his changeup. There’s always the option he can be a high leverage reliever as a fallback option.

 

I won't be surprised if Patrick Murphy forces his way into the Jays rotation by the second half of the season. He should be close to ready for a full MLB season starter's workload as he's been up around 150 innings already. Nate Pearson and Patrick Murphy should both be very fun to watch with their upper 90's heat.

[P2F]

I won't be surprised if Patrick Murphy forces his way into the Jays rotation by the second half of the season. He should be close to ready for a full MLB season starter's workload as he's been up around 150 innings already. Nate Pearson and Patrick Murphy should both be very fun to watch with their upper 90's heat.

 

Hopefully contrasted beautifully by Joey Murray's leisurely invisiball!

[max silver]

Hopefully contrasted beautifully by Joey Murray's leisurely invisiball!

 

I'm having a hard time getting particularly excited about Joey Murray for some reason. Smoke and mirrors trick pitch guys with marginal stuff leave me terrified when watching that they can end up getting torched if their location is even a little off. Time will tell if the invisiball translates even to AAA let alone MLB.

 

I had an interesting thought on a possible Patrick Murphy comparison in AJ Burnett. Both tall righties, upper 90's fastballs that generate plenty of ground balls, both primarily fastball/curveball repertoires with show me change-ups. Sure this is probably way too optimistic but Burnett shows that a primarily two pitch pitcher can have a great career as a starter if the two primary pitches are good enough. Burnett's minor league numbers were mostly pretty ugly, it looks like in the first few years of his career he was one of those guys who had no idea where his pitches were headed.

[BlueRocky]

Well one thing about Joey Murray is he doesn’t give up homers.

 

In 137.1 IP across 3 levels last season he only gave up 10 homers, while maintaining 11.08 K/9 and 3.21 BB/9. If you’re into high spin rate guys that get strikeouts you’d like Joey Murray. Regardless of how he’s doing it, by tossing low 90s and an array of secondaries. FB movement is also important. Don’t forget Ryu is also tossing 90s, but it does help being a lefty and having impeccable control.

 

At the end, if we’re getting a depth starter or even a bullpen piece for an 8th round pick the org has done a good job.

[max silver]

Well one thing about Joey Murray is he doesn’t give up homers.

 

In 137.1 IP across 3 levels last season he only gave up 10 homers, while maintaining 11.08 K/9 and 3.21 BB/9. If you’re into high spin rate guys that get strikeouts you’d like Joey Murray. Regardless of how he’s doing it, by tossing low 90s and an array of secondaries. FB movement is also important. Don’t forget Ryu is also tossing 90s, but it does help being a lefty and having impeccable control.

 

At the end, if we’re getting a depth starter or even a bullpen piece for an 8th round pick the org has done a good job.

 

It will be interesting to see how he holds up when he starts using the AAA ball, although it's up in the air at this point what to even expect out of the baseballs in 2020. Will it be the regular season super ball that flew out of ballparks at record pace or the more subdued post-season ball? MLB needs to get that s*** in order asap, not being able to reliably produce a consistent ball is a huge issue going forward.

[Todd]

Players who are 25 and older should not be on any top prospects list.

[P2F]

Players who are 25 and older should not be on any top prospects list.

 

Thanks, Todd. We will take this into consideration next time.

[Carlos Danger]

Players who are 25 and older should not be on any top prospects list.

 

So a college pitcher who had TJ his first year out and is working his way through the minors and turns 25 in January of that coming season should be automatically DQd?

[Laika]

So a college pitcher who had TJ his first year out and is working his way through the minors and turns 25 in January of that coming season should be automatically DQd?

 

Carlos, meet Todd.

[Jimcanuck]

So a college pitcher who had TJ his first year out and is working his way through the minors and turns 25 in January of that coming season should be automatically DQd?

 

Todd is the pre-eminent prospect guy in these parts. We don't question his wisdom.

[WryNGinger]

Players who are 25 and older should not be on any top prospects list.

 

Ageist...when will the prejudice end?