Jeff Moore is a former college player and Division I college coach who’s now based in Florida, where he scouts and writes about baseball full-time.
There are two reasons an organization’s MLB-ready resources get depleted. One, because the team has done a poor job of obtaining amateur talent or two, because the majority of the help has been promoted.
The Toronto Blue Jays, with the aggressive promotion of six rookies to their Opening Day roster, most assuredly fall into the latter category. Players like Devon Travis and Daniel Norris could easily have been mid-year reinforcements this season, but instead have already contributed. It’s a nice problem to have, but the Blue Jays will need more resources at some point in 2015, and their aggressiveness has left them with less talent at the minor league level.
While none of the remaining prospects are as exciting as a Dalton Pompey or an Aaron Sanchez, there are still players who can help on the horizon. That’s important, since we know that a team never makes it through the season with its original 25-man roster intact, and barring an in-season trade or two, those additional players have to come from somewhere within the organization.
The bullpen is already a question mark, so one player the Blue Jays may eventually turn to is John Stilson. The 24-year-old right-hander was on the verge of the big leagues last season when his 2014 campaign was cut short due to labrum surgery on his shoulder. He’s slated to return to action sometime near the end of the month, at which time he’ll head to triple-A Buffalo. With 34 triple-A innings already under his belt, he won’t need too much time, and once he proves he’s healthy and back to throwing 95 mph with a hard slider, he could provide the Blue Jays bullpen with the boost that every staff needs during the dog days of August.
Jeff Hoffman, Toronto’s top draft pick in 2014, has the stuff to make an impact at the MLB level, but until he starts throwing in games, it makes sense to keep expectations in check for 2015.
The Blue Jays’ lineup doesn’t have too many holes, but they don’t have tons of outfield depth beyond their starters. Kevin Pillar is holding his own, but has previously struggled against MLB pitching. The Jays may not have an everyday option remaining in the minors, but by summer’s end Dwight Smith, Jr. may be an intriguing option for an offence that could need a jolt.
Smith profiles as a “tweener” – an outfielder who doesn’t have the defensive abilities for centre field but doesn’t hit for the power typically desired from a corner outfielder. He may not hit for the power of someone like Jose Bautista, but his skills with the bat are on par with everyday players in the big leagues, with a strong approach at the plate and limited strikeout numbers. He’s also a strong baserunner who can swipe his share of bags.
What Smith lacks now is experience, having just completed his age-21 season in the high-A Florida State League in 2014. He’ll need some time in double-A this summer, but a couple hundred plate appearances in New Hampshire could be enough to help close the gap. He’s not a potential all-star like Pompey, but he does profile to be a better offensive player than Pillar when it’s all said and done, and that could happen by this fall.
There may not be an opening in the middle of the infield the way there is in the outfield, but given Jose Reyes’ rib injury and Travis’ lack of experience, nothing is a sure thing. Shortstop/second base prospect Jorge Flores isn’t going to be a long-term answer, but as a high-energy player with good speed and plus defensive skills, he could be a valuable asset to the Blue Jays’ bench by the fall.
The diminutive Flores isn’t much of an offensive threat, though he does have strong contact skills and puts the ball in play at an incredibly high rate – something that is even more advantageous on the turf at the Rogers Centre. He’s a natural shortstop who can more than handle second base as well, potentially giving the Jays even more flexibility.
None of these three players carries with them the excitement that has surrounded the Blue Jays’ current crop of rookies, but they may be able to help nonetheless – especially considering the team’s willingness to call on rookies aggressively.
