metafour

Brentz is getting better. He was a converted outfielder who's only real skill was throwing the ball hard, thus he was hilariously raw even by HS pitcher standards. He's a long term project and always was going to be a long term project. Tellez has been disappointing but he has maintained a strong BB/K rate and is hitting .351/.385/.486 over the past 10 games.

His $400K+ bonus was the most given to any player drafted after the 10th round in that draft class. He was looking like an early-round pick before he suffered his elbow injury. He had a scholarship to Iowa so no one expected him to be signable. Big steal for us.

Obviously, but Jansen only signed for $100K...he didn't fall like Tellez and Brentz did because of signability. Thats good old fashioned scouting; finding an under-the-radar kid. He was going to Jacksonville University otherwise. Not even a big recruit.

Also; catcher Dan Jansen is now up to an .843 OPS in Bluefield after tonight's big game. Showing good plate discipline and power, has also thrown out 40% of base stealers. Drafted in the 16th round last year. Another cold-weather kid, from Wisconsin.

15th round HS pick from 2012 who got hurt his Senior season but looked really good when healthy. Signed for $426,000. Had TJ surgery last year to fix the elbow he injured in HS. Tall and projectable LHP that has thrown up to 94 mph. Very solid sleeper prospect and a good example of what a deep scouting staff can do.

No problem. I wouldn't be bringing him up if he didn't have legitimate physical talent (6'3 CF, plus arm, above-average speed). Not only was he a cold-weather kid, but he was also a popup prospect in said cold-weather state as he wasn't even known prior to his 2012 draft year. Like I said, you cant really use a cookie-cutter approach to evaluating all prospects. Sometimes guys have legitimate excuses as to why it takes them a year or two to show anything. Here's some Perfect Game stuff on Almonte. He was voted Best Outfield Arm on their Northeast Region Best Tools: Best Outfield Arm Joshua Almonte, Sr. OF, Long Island City (NY) Almonte came out of nowhere at the 2012 World Open Uncommitted Showcase. He showed a long, athletic build and ran a 6.74 sixty but it was his loose, easy arm strength, up to 93 mph from the outfield that really got scouts’ attention. Almonte is currently ranked No. 305 in the 2012 class and has committed to Miami Dade College. "Joshua Almonte is a 2012 OF with a 6-3 195 lb. frame from Corona, NY who attends Long Island City HS. Long lean athletic build, still has some room to fill but already has present strength. Highly impressive defensive workout, event best 94 mph velocity from the outfield, also posted a good time of 6.58 seconds in the 60 yard dash. Moves well defensively, footwork was a bit choppy and short, max effort throws but accurate anyway. Good body control through fielding and throwing motion allows him to make strong accurate throws in spite of inefficient violent mechanics, could improve off an already impressive showing. Made strong impression at the plate in game action after getting drilled with a 92 mph fastball in the ribs he stepped right back in and ripped a line drive double to the opposite field. Strong pull tendency in BP, had HR derby approach but made adjustment during games. Flashes home run power with quick hands and strong wrists, wrists are a little stiff and could get more from lower half. Potential for at least above average power. Somewhat raw mechanically at present but has high level raw tools with a chance to develop, high upside prospect from a cold weather climate. Signed with Miami-Dade College."

The BB/K ratio is still poor, but he does have power (just hasn't shown much in game). The point about him being "not young" for Bluefield isn't a big deal because as I pointed out he was a RAW kid from a cold-weather state which doesn't feature much high caliber competition. This is a legitimate 'thing' in scouting because these kids can only play baseball for a few months of the year and thus are much further back developmentally than kids from the heavy talent-producing Southern states which feature year round baseball. I'm not saying that this kid is a superstar or anything, but he's really not old enough to be called "just a guy" yet, especially given his background and legitimate tools. He's 20 and in Bluefield...Max Pentecost is 21 and only one level above him, as are most newly drafted college Juniors . Almonte would be just finishing his Sophomore year right now.

CF Josh Almonte is getting remotely interesting in Bluefield after a 3-4 day today which pushed his average to .333. Almonte was a raw and toolsy 22nd round pick in 2012 out of a cold-weather state (New York) who had a poor showing in his first two seasons but has looked much better this year batting 3rd in Bluefield. From a July 2nd interview with Doug Davis (Minor League Field Coordinator): "Josh Almonte is hitting in the three spot for Bluefield. Davis said that Denis Holmberg decided to put Almonte there and he has run with it. Almonte was drafted out of New York City and Davis said he is still young and raw. But he did say that Almonte had the best extended spring season of any hitter and that he had shown excellent development since last season. Almonte has all the tools including good speed and a strong arm."

Gerry McDonald: "I am in Lansing and I asked some more people about Osuna. Everyone says he is doing fine, throwing bullpens and batting practice but I get the feeling from the way people tell me he is fine that I am not getting the full truth. Osuna pitched in the GCL on July 8th and hasn't pitched since. My guess would be he had some slight discomfort and the Jays decided to back him off and slow things down. I don't believe anything is serious but I do think there is something there."

That is why stats are more or less useless in the lower levels. You scout tools, not raw stats for those kids. A kid who only throws ~85 mph can put up nice stats in the lower minors if he can command it and move it around.

Pretty sure that I remember someone Tweeting from a Bluefield game that Burgos was a soft tosser...like mid 80's. "Lefty Stroman" is probably a pretty big stretch.

We have $600K+ if we choose to go over our budget and incur taxation. We are otherwise at limit. Go back and look at how many teams actually do this. It isn't many. Therefore expecting us to go over is an extremely optimistic view.

No hype because there is nothing to really expect. We've signed all of our real top candidates. We are at our limit...yes we can go over and incur taxes, but there is absolutely no guarantee that they plan on doing this (most teams don't). Hopefully we get someone like Isaacs signed, but I dont expect anything.

The jump from Vancouver to Lansing is not a big one. That is why the Northwest League is classified as "Class A Short Season", whereas the Midwest League is just "Class A". The Northwest League (Vancouver) is a college-aged league. It is an appropriate level for a newly drafted college player.

Yea bro they're garbo. 6th and 7th in the league in wRC+.

The Blue Jays have also signed 16 year old Mexican RHP Guadalupe Chavez. No bonus known yet.