Post by Silvio (Blue Jays) on Dec 28, 2013 23:08:15 GMT
Top 10 Prospects - Toronto Blue Jays
1) Nick Castellanos, 3B/OF
Born: March 4, 1992. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 210.
Drafted: HS—Southwest Ranches, Fla., 2010 (1st round supplemental).
Signed by: Rolando Casanova.
Background: The Tigers surrendered their 2010 first-round pick after signing free-agent reliever Jose Valverde the previous offseason, so they didn’t pick until the supplemental first round at 44th overall. When Castellanos slid in the draft amidst reports he was demanding $6 million to sign, the Tigers were elated when he was still available with their first pick, and they signed him for $3.45 million. After an outstanding pro debut in the low Class A Midwest League in 2011, he opened the 2012 season by hitting over .400 through his first 55 games at high Class A Lakeland. Castellanos struggled the second half of the season at Double-A Erie, but the Tigers pushed him to Triple-A Toledo to open 2013, where he had a solid season despite a slow start and made his major league debut as a September callup.
Scouting Report: Castellanos’ bat is his calling card. He’s a natural, instinctive hitter with strong wrists who eschews batting gloves and unleashes a loose, righthanded swing. He lets the ball travel deep, and the bat head stays in the zone a long time, which helps him hit to all fields and wear out right-center field. He finishes his slight uppercut stroke with a high finish and generates plenty of loft with good feel for the barrel. He starts his swing by dropping his hands, but his above-average bat speed and compact stroke allow him to catch up to good velocity. He has solid plate patience, makes in-game adjustments and has trimmed his strikeout rate, leading scouts to project him as a potential .300 hitter. The split among scouts centers around Castellanos’ power potential. He has average raw power and some believe there isn’t much more mass for him to put on, so they see him as a 15-20 home run guy, whereas others look at his long frame and see 25-plus longball potential. He faces the difficult task of breaking into the majors while manning a position he didn’t play in 2013. Castellanos started his pro career at third base, but the Tigers shifted him to the outfield midway through 2012. With the offseason trade of Prince Fielder, which shifts Miguel Cabrera to first base, Castellanos will return to third, where he projects as a fringy but playable defender. He’s a below-average runner with limited range, decent hands and an average arm, but at the very least he should give Detroit better defense than Cabrera.
The Future: The Tigers are counting on Castellanos to be their Opening Day third baseman. While he’ll need a refresher course on defense, his bat is good enough to make a run at the American League Rookie of the Year award. He could be a perennial all-star depending on how much power he develops going forward.
2) Colin Moran, 3B
Born: Oct. 1, 1992. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 190.
Wt.: 190. Drafted: North Carolina, 2013 (1st round). Signed by: Joel Matthews.
Background: Moran followed his uncle B.J. Surhoff and brother Brian to North Carolina, where he was honored as BA’s Freshman of the Year in 2011. He was a Golden Spikes finalist last spring after leading the nation with 91 RBIs, a school record. After the Marlins selected him sixth overall and gave him a slot bonus of $3,516,500, the second-largest in franchise history, he homered in his first pro at-bat.
Scouting Report: Scouts believe Moran will hit, but his power will determine how much impact he has in the big leagues. A pure hitter with an advanced approach at the plate, Moran controls the strike zone, has excellent hand-eye coordination and rarely chases. Though he has pull power, when he’s going well he’ll take what the pitcher gives him and drive it hard into the gap. He projects as a run-producing .300 hitter with the size and strong hands to put up 20 homers a year. Though not quick, he’s athletic enough to stay at third, where his hands are soft and he shows average lateral range and an above-average, accurate arm. He’s a below-average runner but can rev it up when digging for an extra base.
The Future: The Marlins will allow Moran to set his own pace, which could be accelerated because he entered the system already polished and fits a big league need. He should claim Miami’s wide-open third base job no later than 2015.
3) D.J. Davis, OF
Born: July 25, 1994. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1.
Wt: 180. Drafted: HS—Wiggins, Miss., 2012 (1st round). Signed by: Brian Johnston.
Background: One of the youngest players in the 2012 draft, Davis was the first of five picks the Jays made before the second round. His father Wayne played in the organization from 1985-88. Davis has the highest ceiling of any position player in the system, offering impact potential at a premium position.
Scouting Report: Davis has a lean, wiry build with good strength in his hands and forearms, quick-twitch athleticism and top-of-the-scale speed. He has plus range in center and could become a plus defender. He has natural strength and leverage in his swing, producing plus raw power. He above-average bat speed and led all up-the-middle Appalachian League players in isolated slugging (.178). Davis could hit 15-20 home runs at his peak. His hit tool and overall game remain raw, however, and he has struggled to make consistent contact. His aggressive approach and limited breaking ball recognition led to him striking out in nearly 30 percent of his plate appearances. Davis, who has a below-average arm, will need to improve his outfield reads and game awareness, and learn to use his speed on the bases more efficiently, as stole bases at a below-average rate of 62 percent.
The Future: Davis is a high-ceiling talent who will take time to develop. He should get his first taste of full-season ball in 2014.
4) Ian Clarkin, LHP
Born: Feb. 14, 1995. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 186. Drafted: HS—San Diego, 2013 (1st round). Signed by: Dave Keith.
Background: Clarkin helped USA Baseball’s 18U national team win gold at the 2012 IBAF World Championship in South Korea, spinning six strong innings in the final to beat Canada. His strong spring pushed him into first-round consideration in 2013, and the Yankees took him with the third of their three first-rounders. He made waves for saying he “couldn’t stand” the Yankees while growing up, but a $1,650,100 bonus offer made that moot. He’s the first prep lefthander the Yankees have drafted in the first round since taking Brien Taylor No. 1 overall in 1991.
Scouting Report: At his best, Clarkin shows three average to above-average pitches. His fastball sits 90-92 mph and touches 94. He flashes a plus curveball with sharp bite and downer action, and he located it well to both sides of the plate as an amateur. He spent time sharpening an inconsistent changeup in instructional league, but the pitch has shown fading action, and he sells it with good arm speed. He’s shown willingness to pitch inside and has a competitive streak.
The Future: Clarkin spent a significant number of days on the disabled list after signing. He twisted his right ankle slipping on a baseball during a workout in Tampa but returned in late August to pitch in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. An assignment to low Class A Charleston in 2014 isn’t out of the question for Clarkin, but a more likely path is extended spring training and a trip to short-season Staten Island.
5) David Holmberg, LHP
Background: Getting Daniel Hudson from the White Sox for Edwin Jackson was a nice return for the Diamondbacks in their 2010 deadline deal. As an added bonus, they also received Holmberg, a polished lefthander who has breezed through three levels in the last two seasons.
Scouting Report: One of the most polished pitchers in the system, Holmberg has the best command among Arizona farmhands. He knows how to pitch and can locate four offerings where he wants. His best pitch is a low-80s changeup with sink that he'll use in any situation. He spots his 88-91 mph fastball well, reaching as high as 93. He also has a good feel for a curveball and slider that can become average pitches. Holmberg is extremely poised on the mound and very sound mechanically. He has firmed up what used to be a doughy body and is now stronger and more athletic.
The Future: Holmberg held his own but didn't dominate in Double-A, so he could open 2013 back in Mobile. He's on track to reach Triple-A before he turns 22 and could make his big league debut in 2014. While he may not match the upside of other pitching prospects in the system, the odds are pretty good that he'll reach his ceiling of a No. 3 or 4 starter.
6) Dawel Lugo, SS
Born: Dec. 13, 1994. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt: 188. Drafted: Dominican, 2011. Signed by: Marco Paddy/Hilario Soriano.
Background: The Jays had the second-largest expenditure ($7.57 million) during the 2011 international signing period, and Lugo was one of three seven-figure signings ($1.3 million). He led Rookie-level Bluefield in home runs, hitting .297/.317/.469 and earned a promotion to short-season Vancouver.
Scouting Report: An above-average athlete, Lugo is a natural, pure hitter with supreme hand-eye coordination, feel for the barrel and the ability to drive the ball to all fields. He had the third-lowest strikeout rate of any Appy League teenager (13.9), which leads scouts to project him to be an above-average hitter. Lugo has surprising power, plus raw power that could enable him to hit more than 20 home runs annually. His see ball-hit ball approach leaves him impatetient, walking in 2.2 percent of his plate appearances in 2013. He excels at driving balls on the inner half but has struggled at times with pitches on the plate’s outer half. Defensively, Lugo has good, dependable hands with smooth actions at shortstop. His arm is plus but he’s a fringy runner.
The Future: While he has worked diligently to improve his lateral quickness and range, Lugo may fit better at third base long-term than at short. He will compete for a spot at low Class A Lansing but could return to Vancouver in 2014.
7) Deck McGuire, SP
The Blue Jays made McGuire the 11th overall pick in the 2010 draft and signed him for $2 million, but he has seldom shown his college form as a pro. The book on him was that his command and polish would help his solid stuff play up and get him to Toronto quickly, but he got crushed in Double-A last season. He led the Eastern League in losses (15), home runs allowed (22), runs (103) and earned runs (94) while posting the second-worst ERA (5.88) among qualifiers. McGuire’s fastball still sits at 88-92 mph and touches 94 with average sink. His slider is his best secondary offering and has a chance to become a plus pitch. He also has a mediocre curveball he can throw for strikes and a fringy changeup that he still is gaining confidence in using regularly. The problem is that McGuire doesn’t have a pitch that can consistently miss bats, and his control and command haven’t been as good as advertised. He has a sound delivery, so he should be able to throw more strikes and work down in the zone more often. He’ll try to get back on track in 2013, when he might have to return for a third stint in New Hampshire. He looked like a No. 4 or 5 starter at best last year, and a long way from reaching that point.
8) A.J. Jimenez, C
Some clubs considered Jimenez a third-round talent in 2008, but questions about his elbow dropped him to the ninth round, where he signed for $150,000. He stayed healthy in his first four pro seasons, emerging as the system’s best defensive catcher, but his elbow issues resurfaced in 2012. He appeared in just 27 games before requiring Tommy John surgery. The track record with elbow reconstruction is encouraging, so Jimenez should regain the above-average, accurate arm that has helped him throw out 43 percent of pro basestealers. He also blocks and receives well, and he shows aptitude for handling a pitching staff. Jimenez’s offense has started to catch up to his defense. He has good bat speed and has improved his pitch recognition. He lacks power, but he can drive the ball to the opposite field and should be able to handle the bat well enough to be an everyday big leaguer. He’s a below-average runner, but not bad for a catcher. Once he’s back to full strength, Jimenez will return to Double-A. The Blue Jays protected him on their 40-man roster in November.