Minor-league primer
When Alex Anthopoulos was named general manager of the Blue Jays in 2009, he dedicated considerable resources to amateur scouting and minor-league development in order to build a treasure trove of prospective talent.
This off-season he cashed in, dealing five of the organization’s top 10 prospects to acquire the likes of R.A. Dickey, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson.
As interest in the Blue Jays has grown over the last few years, so has the curiosity of Jays’ fans in the club’s minor-league affiliates. The popularity of fantasy sports further fuels the appetite for the latest intel on the prospects that fill those minor-league rosters.
The minor-league development system is more important to baseball than any other sport. Unlike football, basketball and hockey, where superstar amateurs move quickly into the highest professional league, it can be a long road from the draft to the majors for even the most highly-ranked baseball prospects. The gap between the game’s amateur ranks, whether high school or college, and the professional game, is massive.
Even future superstars will spend multiple years in the minors. With that in mind, we figured it would be helpful to offer a quick primer to fans trying to keep track of it all. We’ve also enlisted Jared Macdonald, of Jaysprospects.com, to highlight one player to watch at each of the Jays’ minor-league affiliates.
BUFFALO BISONS
Just one level below the big leagues, this is where the Jays will keep their closestto-prime-time prospects and their veteran major-league depth. Of all the big off-season moves for the Jays and GM Alex Anthopoulos, this may be the most underrated. Gone are the days when minor-league call-ups had to catch the red-eye from Vegas to Toronto to make the bleary-eyed major-league debut. Now it’ll just be a taxi along the QEW. The move from Las Vegas to Buffalo will make roster moves more convenient, but also give a more accurate assessment of the team’s pitching prospects, as they’ll no longer face Vegas’s thin air and the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Level: AAA League: International Ballpark: Coca-Cola Field Jared’s prospect to watch:
SS Ryan Goins “Coming off another solid season offensively, this underrated shortstop’s contact ability, range, and strong arm are all reasons to keep an eye on him in 2013.”
NEW HAMPSHIRE FISHER CATS
New Hampshire used to be the place to be for the Jays’ best pitching prospects, whose fragile confidence was protected from Vegas and its hit-happy ballpark. It’s doubtful that practice will be continued. But New Hampshire is still a stop for prospects on their way up. Level: AA League: Eastern Ballpark: Northeast Delta Dental Stadium
Jared’s prospect to watch:
LHP Sean Nolin “Nolin put himself on the map in 2011 with 113 strikeouts in 108.1 innings, and after a dominant 2012 campaign at two minor-league levels, this four-pitch hurler will definitely be one to watch this season.”
DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS
This will be the landing spot for talented, but raw prospects, still finding their way in the professional game. Level: Advanced Class-A League: Florida State Ballpark: Florida Auto Exchange Stadium
Jared’s prospect to watch:
RHP Aaron Sanchez “After changing his off-season workouts, Sanchez dazzled in 2012, reaching elite fastball velocity while learning the importance of a changeup. Look for the Blue Jays’ top prospect to take another big step in 2013.”
LANSING LUGNUTS
With Aaron Sanchez, the lone ranger of the Lansing 3, expected to be promoted to Class-A Dunedin, Lansing will have lost most of its star power. But like Dunedin, should still be home to the young, raw talent. Level: Class-A League: Midwest Ballpark: Cooley Law School Stadium
Jared’s prospect to watch:
CF Dalton Pompey “Having just turned 20 years old in December, the sky’s the limit for this toolsy, switch-hitting centre-fielder from Mississauga.”
VANCOUVER CANADIANS
A lot of next season’s amateur draft picks, particularly those selected from college, will end up in Vancouver, as RHP Marcus Stroman did a year ago. The less-seasoned draft picks — primarily those picked from high school — will end up in one of the Jays’ three rookieleague affiliates in Bluefield, Va., Dunedin, Fla. and San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. Level: Short-season Class-A League: Northwest Ballpark: Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium
BLUEFIELD BLUE JAYS
Level: Rookie League: Appalachian Ballpark: Bowen Field
GULF COAST LEAGUE BLUE JAYS
Level: Rookie League: Gulf Coast Ballpark: Bobby Mattick Training Center at Englebert Complex
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE BLUE JAYS
Level: Rookie
League: Dominican Summer League
Ballpark: Blue Jays academy in San Pedro de Macoris