Giving the kids a taste of the big leagues
The Blue Jays have an unprecedented number of players on the active roster in September, and their presence is more than just a 2019 tryout.
The collective bargaining agreement allows that every Sept. 1, MLB rosters can expand to the full 40-man group if a team so desires. Most years, depending on whether a club is contending, the group of call-ups is usually anywhere from five to 10 mostly young players.
In the Jays’ case however, out of contention and with the five AL post-season positions all but locked up save an outside chance of the Tampa Bay Rays gaining the second wild card, the Jays have added and activated 14 players for the final month, giving them a total of 39. It’s highly unusual to have that many.
“We decided to bring that group that had demonstrated being exceptional teammates, skills, initiatives and consistent effort over the course of the year,” Jays GM Ross Atkins explained. “To demonstrate to them how valuable and important (those assets) were to us and also demonstrate to them how strongly we feel about them being a part of our future.”
The only player listed on the current 40-man roster not promoted is outfielder Dalton Pompey. That speaks volumes about the 25-year-old Mississauga native’s future with the Jays, but not necessarily about his future in the majors.
When the Jays opened the 2018 season, only closer Roberto Osuna was 24 years old or younger. Five months later, for this current series against the visiting Rays, the Blue Jays have 12 players at 24 or younger, even without Osuna.
The young Jays include position players Billy McKinney, Danny Jansen, Richard Urena, Rowdy Tellez, Reese McGuire, Anthony Alford and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and pitchers Sean Reid-Foley, Ryan Borucki, Thomas Pannone and David Paulino.
Some of those prospects had been up earlier in the year, but in September alone the combined statistics for the eight position players add up to a .248 average in 222 at-bats with 15 doubles, five homers, 19 RBIs and a .383 slugging average.
Those numbers are not that impressive as a group, but Atkins insists it’s not about stats, and that was the talk he had with each player that arrived in the final month. There are also 12 walks and 62 strikeouts, but Tellez has been the big surprise.
“There is a different emotion, for sure, as you are watching young players learn and grow and succeed in this environment,” Atkins said. “There is a different level of emotion, but the best way to answer that is it’s a little bit more focused on how they’re handling it and less focused on the results. It’s effort and not backing down from challenges. I would just say that we focus on effort and your ability to embrace the challenge.”
The latest player to be recalled was Alford, 23, on Mon- day in Baltimore. Still ranked in the Jays’ top 10 prospects despite taking a step backwards at Triple-A Buffalo, the organization rewarded him knowing there wouldn’t be many at-bats available. The experience of being up in the majors with his peers was important.
Looking at only the September call-ups 23 years old or younger, the Jays have seven in that group, the most at that age in any September since 2014 with outfielders Anthony Gose and Pompey, plus pitchers Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez, Daniel Norris, Kendall Graveman and Drew Hutchison.
Four years later, only Sanchez, Stroman and Pompey remain on the roster, with Gose, Norris, Graveman and Hutchison all having been traded.
Under Atkins, the Jays have shown a preference for having their prospects make a stop at every level in the chain. Even the players that started at Double-A New Hampshire this year and are on the September roster made a stop at Triple-A Buffalo.
Among the top prospects not in the major leagues this month: third baseman Vlad Guerrero Jr. has already put in his time with the Bisons, while shortstop Bo Bichette (No. 2), infielder Cavan Biggio (No. 9) and pitcher T.J. Zeuch (No. 15) have not.
“People talk about different jumps in their careers, different challenges in their careers,” Atkins said. “From Double-A or Triple-A to the major leagues, wherever it is, the jump to the major leagues is in our view the most difficult jump.
“I do think it’s not an absolute, I think it’s just an incredible opportunity to maximize the minor leagues and to take full advantage of them. We’re fortunate that we have that opportunity and feel that if you can take advantage of it you should.”
There is an impressive all-star team of players that have made their debut with the Jays at age 23 or younger. Position players include John Olerud, Fred McGriff, Carlos Delgado, Aaron Hill, Robbie Alomar, Damaso Garcia, Brett Lawrie, Alex Gonzalez, Tony Fernandez, Alfredo Griffin, Vernon Wells, Lloyd Moseby, Jose Cruz Jr., Shawn Green and Jesse Barfield.
Jays pitchers of note to debut at age 23 or less include Roy Halladay, Chris Carpenter, Dave Stieb, Pat Hentgen, Jimmy Key and Jim Clancy.
It will be interesting to see the fate of the 23-and-younger group of seven from 2018.