Interview with Kevin Ahrens

Kevin Ahrens was selected 16th overall in 2007 as an 18 year old.  Your Toronto Blue Jays made 5 picks in the first round of that draft and Kevin was taken the highest.  He was drafted out of Memorial high school in Texas as a switch hitting shortstop and received a $1,440,000.00 signing bonus.

Here is a quick look at his stats:

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG
2007	18	Blue Jays	GULF	Rk	TOR	48	192	165	19	38	6	0	3	21	3	0	25	47	.230	.339	.321
2008	19	Lansing	MIDW	A	TOR	122	514	460	54	119	25	5	5	42	5	1	45	135	.259	.329	.367
2009	20	Dunedin	FLOR	A+	TOR	105	423	377	35	81	17	2	4	36	1	1	37	76	.215	.282	.302
2010	21	2 Teams	2 Lgs	A+-A	TOR	37	155	145	14	25	8	1	1	11	2	2	7	35	.172	.214	.262
2010	21	Lansing	MIDW	A	TOR	13	56	55	2	9	3	0	0	5	1	2	1	18	.164	.179	.218
2010	21	Dunedin	FLOR	A+	TOR	24	99	90	12	16	5	1	1	6	1	0	6	17	.178	.235	.289
4 Seasons						312	1284	1147	122	263	56	8	13	110	11	4	114	293	.229	.301	.326
A (2 seasons)						135	570	515	56	128	28	5	5	47	6	3	46	153	.249	.314	.351
A+ (2 seasons)						129	522	467	47	97	22	3	5	42	2	1	43	93	.208	.273	.300
Rk (1 season)						48	192	165	19	38	6	0	3	21	3	0	25	47	.230	.339	.321

Considering he was selected higher than both Brett Cecil who has made it to the Majors Leagues and J.P. Arencibia who is beating down the door in AAA, I think it is fair to say the organization expected more.  Still just 21 years old, he has been sent back to Lansing, told to drop the left handed side of the switch hit and focus on his natural right hand swing.  After taking a look at his minor league splits, I think I see why.  In 865 at bats against RHP he is hitting .216 and slugging .303 with 9 home runs and 227 strike outs.  

Our boy Jesse caught up with Kevin this week and talked to him about his move to third base as well as his transformation as a hitter.  A very insightful interview.  Check it: