Midseason Prospect Update: Blue Jays

The Midseason Top 10 Prospect lists are compiled from conversations with front office officials and scouts from all 30 teams. Players who have exhausted prospect eligibility or were in the Major Leagues as of June 22 are not eligible. Draftees from the 2016 draft and July 2, 2016 signees are also not eligible.

SEE ALSO: Midseason Top 100

In 2015, the Blue Jays ended 20-plus frustrating years with their first playoff berth since 1993, winning the American League East with the game’s most robust offense.

2019 PROJECTED LINEUP

DH Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

No. 1 Starter Marcus Stroman

No. 2 Starter Aaron Sanchez

No. 3 Starter Sean Reid-Foley

No. 4 Starter Conner Greene

No. 5 Starter Jon Harris

Closer Roberto Osuna

The key pieces of that lineup, assembled over several years, returned for 2016, and with trade acquisitions Josh Donaldson (2014-15 offseason) and Troy Tulowitzki (July 2015) joining Edwin Encarnacion and world-champion bat-tosser Jose Bautista in the lineup, the Jays are set up to contend now. The key for the rest of the ’16 season will be how Toronto’s rotation, keyed by a healthy Marcus Stroman, lefty J.A. Happ and injured all-star Marco Estrada, responds.

Finding talent hasn’t been the problem for the Jays; assembling it and keeping it have. Last season’s playoffs didn’t just include Toronto but also two key Mets who were once Jays farmhands in righthander Noah Syndergaard and catcher Travis d’Arnaud, traded together for R.A. Dickey. This year’s Futures Game included two Toronto pitchers on the World Team but also unsigned 2013 first-rounder Phil Bickford and since-traded 2014 first-rounder Jeff Hoffman.

Toronto’s farm system depth has suffered as a result of all the trades, with no rookie ready to help the big league club in a significant way for 2016. But the Jays’ top 10 remains robust, even with last year’s top prospect, outfielder Anthony Alford, struggling in an injury-plagued season. Righthander Sean Reid-Foley has improved significantly and could be a rotation factor by the second half of 2017, while first baseman Rowdy Tellez and 2015 first-rounder Jon Harris also have had strong seasons.

With the big league club in third place at the all-star break, behind Baltimore and Boston, Toronto has fodder for more trades, if new general manager Ross Atkins and team president Mark Shapiro so desire, with a solid draft class augmenting the system. Few other organizations have seen both the positives the right deal can make and the negatives in terms of a lack of system depth.

MIDSEASON TOP 10

1. Sean Reid-Foley, rhp

Reid-Foley and Toronto were surprised when he fell to the 49th pick of the 2014 draft; he was rumored to be a strong contender for the back half of the first round. Some clubs had questions about his price tag at the time but also about his delivery and wondered whether or not Reid-Foley could remain a starter, and his first pro season stoked those fears as he averaged 6.1 walks per nine innings. Reid-Foley has gotten into better shape, showing more body control (particularly with his leg kick, improving his direction to the plate) and has streamlined his delivery this year, resulting in better control of his lively mid-90s fastball and hard slider. Gains remain to be made, as Reid-Foley can learn how to use his stuff better and add some more touch and feel, but he’s trending up as a power arm with front-of-the-rotation potential.

2. Anthony Alford, of

The organization’s top prospect entering the season, Alford retains athletic gifts even through two difficult injuries, one to his knee and one a concussion. His offensive approach and production have suffered, though he still shows raw power and plus speed. He has worked hard to improve his center-field defense, but there’s no getting around his offensive struggles

3. Conner Greene, rhp

After speeding through the system to finish in Double-A last year, Greene applied some brakes and went back to high Class A to start 2016 before getting back to Double-A in July. His athleticism and arm strength carried the day in 2015; Greene has focused on improved practice regimens and has added strength to help him maintain his stuff this season. He’s still pitching with a plus fastball and inconsistent secondary stuff that flashes above-average.

4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3b

An outfielder like his father as an amateur, Guerrero has smoothly transitioned to third base as a pro. His defense is unpolished, but he has shown arm strength, instincts and good enough hands to continue the experiment. Guerrero was working on improving his short-area quickness and adjusting to pro pitching, but his raw power potential remains obvious.

5. Richard Urena, ss

Just 20, Urena isn’t flashy but has continue to polish his skills that will allow his best tools—his power potential and feel for hitting—to shine. He has an aggressive approach but good power for a shortstop, and he ranked second in the pitcher-centric Florida State League in hits. He’s a steady shortstop with a plus arm who still adding polish on both sides of the ball.

6. Rowdy Tellez, 1b

A Sacramento prep product, Tellez has the best present power and hitting ability of any Jays prospect and was having a breakout season at Double-A New Hampshire. He’s patient and powerful, but scouts do have their doubts about his athleticism and ability to stick defensively at first base. His lefthanded bat could compliment the righthanded-heavy Jays lineup soon if there’s a spot for him at first base or DH.

7. Jon Harris, rhp

Last year’s first-round pick only moves down from his preseason No. 6 rankings because other younger prospects have moved ahead of him. Harris has shown improved stamina in his first full season, allowing him to repeat his delivery and work downhill more consistently. He’d allowed one home run in his first 14 starts and throwing quality strikes with all four pitches, though none is truly plus.

8. Max Pentecost, c/dh

The good news: Pentecost, after three shoulder surgeries, is playing most of the time for low Class A Lansing, and the 23-year-old was one of the Lugnuts’ better hitters, showing a solid approach, at least average power and feel for the barrel. The bad news: After three shoulder surgeries, Pentecost doesn’t even throw every day on the side, though he does catch pitcher’s side and bullpen sessions, and he’s spent the entire season at DH.

9. Justin Maese, rhp

The Jays have moved the El Paso prep righty slowly, even though Maese’s stuff is probably ready for full-season ball. The 2015 draftee was pounding the bottom of the strike zone with a sinker than can sit in the low-to-mid-90s and taking advantage of spacious digs at short-season Vancouver.

10. Francisco Rios, rhp

The breakout of the organization in 2016, Rios was having his best season as a pro as all his pitches have improved, as has his command of them. He’s a three-pitch righty whose fastball touched 95 mph in the Futures Game and sits 91-92 with life. He’s shown the ability to get swings and misses with both his spiderish breaking ball and changeup at times, but neither is consistently above-average.

RISING

Lefthander Angel Perdomo struggled in the Futures Game, but the appearance was a revelation for the gangly, tall southpaw in his first full season. He led the low Class A Midwest League in average against (.183) and ranked in the top five in strikeouts with 96 in 73 innings . . . Outfielder Jonathan Davis has had his best pro season with high Class A Dunedin, adding a career-high 11 home runs to his above-average speed and basestealing ability. He’s 24 but also is healthy for the first time, leading to his breakout . . . Righthander Dustin Antolin had never pitched above Double-A before 2016, when he found the strike zone more with a 91-95 mph fastball and hard slider to earn his first big league callup and spot on the 40-man roster . . . Infielder Jason Leblebijian has had his best season, earning a promotion at Double-A. He’s an above-average runner and solid middle-infield defender who can fill in at shortstop ably, giving him future utility value as long as he keeps hitting . . . Lefties Tim Mayza, with better control of his mid-90s fastball, and Matt Dermody, who has a cleaner delivery that has added deception to his low-90s fastball and low-80s slider, have a chance to be bullpen options soon.

FALLING

Outfielder D.J. Davis, a 2012 first-round pick, continues to lag behind with his offensive approach and was struggling in his first trip to high Class A Dunedin in his 40-man protection year . . . Outfielder Roemon Fields still has fourth-outfielder skills with his speed and defense, but his bat hasn’t come around yet . . . Righty Clinton Hollon was suspended for a second positive test for a drug of abuse after being suspended in 2015 for amphetamines use.

HURTING

Alford missed time twice, first thanks to a knee injury, then a concussion that set him back significantly. He’s handled the lost time professionally, but concussions are scary . . . Catcher Danny Jansen can’t quite shake the injury bug; after missing time in 2015 with a broken hand, he lost most of the first half with a broken hamate in his left hand before returning with a rehab stint in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in July. He then hit safely in six of his first seven games back with high Class A Dunedin.

GRADUATING

The only rookie to be a significant contributor in Toronto this year is Rule 5 draft pick Joe Biagini, a righthander who has proven an effective middle reliever who can get ground ball outs and keep the ball in the ballpark; he had not given up a home run in his first 34 innings.

COMING ABOARD (Check Draft Database for all picks)
The Blue Jays’ first five picks of the 2016 draft. (s-supplemental round)

1. T.J. Zeuch, rhp, Pittsburgh. For the second straight year, the Jays got a college righty with a chance to start. Like 2015 pick Jon Harris, Zeuch has some physical projection left and is young for the class (still just 20), but he has more fastball velocity than Harris did at the same stage, with less feel for his secondaries.

2. J.B. Woodman, of, Mississippi. A high school quarterback, Woodman added considerable polish as a junior, leading the Southeastern Conference in home runs, and has a chance to stick in center field, with enough arm for a move to right if needed.

2. Bo Bichette, ss, Lakewood HS, St. Petersburg, Fla. The son of ex-big leaguer Dante and younger brother of Yankees farmhand Dante Jr., Bo Bichette has raw power, solid athleticism and a chance to stick in the infield, likely at second or third base.

3. Zach Jackson, rhp, Arkansas. Jackson had a rough junior season, as did the Razorbacks, as he tried to adjust to starting. He had one of the best curveballs in the draft, a low-80s power breaking ball, but lacks command of his low-to-mid-90s fastball.

4. Josh Palacios, of, Auburn. Originally from the Bronx, Palacios was having a strong season playing mostly left field before a wrist injury ended his college year in April before he returned to the field, playing center field, in July.