If there’s one thing that Kevin Smith, about to join the big club after a stellar season at AAA Buffalo, is good at - it’s proving his critics wrong. Told as a youngster that he wasn’t good enough or big enough, he won the starting SS job in his freshman year at Maryland, garnering rave … Continue reading You Have to Hand it to Kevin Smith
Orelvis is the Next Prospect to Get All Shook Up Over
My promise to you, gentle readers, is to never use the above line again. Similarly, #OrelvisHasLefttheBuilding has, well…..left the building, as far as my lexicon is concerned. But the hype is real. With Gabriel Moreno out with a broken thumb, Alejandro Kirk and Alek Manoah about to lose prospect status, and Austin Martin dealt away … Continue reading Orelvis is the Next Prospect to Get All Shook Up Over
Blue Jays Add Berrios, Subtract Martin/SWR
There are no sure things in life. That applies equally to blind dates, bank loans, and baseball prospects. Sorry I haven’t been posting much of late, regular readers. I’ve been watching minor league games, talking to my usual contacts, and tweeting a whole lot, but some writing projects have taken up most of my time … Continue reading Blue Jays Add Berrios, Subtract Martin/SWR
State of the Farm Update
As we reach (roughly) the mid-point in the minor league season, it was time to catch up with Blue Jays Assistant Director of Player Development Joe Sclafani about the latest developments in the farm system. The Blue Jays have to be pleased with the progress of their minor league system this year. Vladimir Guerrero Jr … Continue reading State of the Farm Update
Prospect Currency?
With the July 30th trade deadline only weeks away, teams have been doing their homework on the other organizations in the industry. At a New Hampshire game in Portland last week, it was fairly easy to spot close to a half dozen scouts in the stands: MiLB.com The Blue Jays, pursuer of a playoff position … Continue reading Prospect Currency?
Gabriel Moreno: Catcher of the Future?
Toronto Observer photo It was a moment that still stands out some twenty seven months later… I had just settled in at the Phillies minor league complex in Clearwater for a spring training game between the Toronto and Philadelphia minor leaguers (the Blue Jays complex was undergoing a major overhaul, and was closed to the … Continue reading Gabriel Moreno: Catcher of the Future?
GCL, AZL, DSL Seasons Soon Underway
Manuel Beltre Getty Images Very shortly, we’ll be getting our first glimpse - from a distance - of the Blue Jays 2019 and 2020 IFA classes in action. The Gulf Coast League (along with the Arizona League), the only surviving stateside level of rookie ball under the MLB reconstruction of the minors, begins play a … Continue reading GCL, AZL, DSL Seasons Soon Underway
Kevin Smith Rises Once Again
Write Kevin Smith off as a prospect at your peril. https://twitter.com/buffalobisons/status/1404958426447462400?s=21 As a 4th round pick in 2017, Smith had the glove-first label applied. Baseball America’s evaluation was pretty much the industry’s consensus: Coming out of high school, Smith was small and skinny. Scouts liked his glove actions and arm strength, but he needed to … Continue reading Kevin Smith Rises Once Again
Logue Lights up Red Wings in First AAA Start
https://twitter.com/buffalobisons/status/1406083013717409793?s=21 LHP Zach Logue, as under-the-radar guy as there is in the Blue Jays system, was dominant in his first AAA start (he had one relief appearance for Buffalo in 2019) as the Bisons shut out Rochester 5-0. Logue tossed seven innings of one hit shutout ball before turning things over to the bullpen. The … Continue reading Logue Lights up Red Wings in First AAA Start
Samad Taylor: Getting to His Power
https://twitter.com/fishercats/status/1402789948630220801?s=21 Samad Taylor is on a tear. With that bomb last night, Taylor has 8 HRs on the season, one off of his career high - and we’re just into the second month of the season. How has he done it? How has the toolsy kid who flew onto the prospect radar during Area Codes … Continue reading Samad Taylor: Getting to His Power