Hot Prospects: May Edition

Throughout the minors, there are so many players to keep up with.  It is often difficult to know who or what to pay attention to.  With that in mind, right here, right now we'll take a glance at some of the top performers throughout the Blue Jays' system this season and get you all caught up.


Lansing Lugnuts….34-13 record, 1st place in the Class A Midwest League’s Eastern division.

David Rollins, a 24th round draft choice out of San Jacinto College North last year, has posted outstanding numbers for the Lugnuts. The 22-year-old lefty hurler has a 4-0 record with a 2.64 ERA while striking out 41 batters and walking just 15 in 44 1/3 innings through 10 starts this season. Rollins, who stands 6-feet-1-inch tall and weighs around 195 pounds, sports a 1.45 ERA in 4 road games this year. Last year, in 7 combined starts with Bluefield and Vancouver, Rollins went 4-0 with a 1.77 ERA.

Outfielder Chris Hawkins, a 3rd round draft selection in 2010, has put up some excellent numbers for Lansing as well. The 20-year-old has a .327 batting average with 6 doubles, 2 triples and 1 HR while driving in 15 runs in 42 games this season. He has also stolen 6 bases without being caught. In his previous two professional seasons, mainly in the Gulf Coast League and at rookie level Bluefield, Hawkins, a lefty hitter, tallied a .290 batting average with a .783 OPS.

Andrew Burns is another one of the Lugnuts’ offensive threats. The 21-year-old was drafted last season in the 11th round by Toronto out of the University of Arizona. Through 42 games this season, the shortstop is batting .283 with 15 doubles, 2 triples, 7 HR and 22 RBI. His .931 OPS is second best in the league. The righty hitting Burns batted .250 with 3 HR and 14 RBI in 28 combined games last year for the GCL Blue Jays and with short-season Class A Vancouver.


Dunedin Blue Jays….31-17 record, 1st place in the Class A Advanced Florida State League’s North division.

Gabe Jacobo has put up some very solid production for Dunedin. The Rule 5 draft selection from last year, out of the Angels system, has hit .301 with 11 doubles, 2 homers and 17 RBI through 20 games this season. The 25-year-old Jacobo, who plays first base, is a right-handed hitter that was a career .284 hitter in the minors before joining the Toronto system.

Left-handed hurler Sean Nolin may be on the verge of a promotion, as his numbers just keep getting better in the FSL. The 22-year-old, who was drafted in the 6th round by Toronto in 2010, has gone 5-0 with a 2.25 ERA while striking out 57 batters in 56 innings over 10 starts for Dunedin. The San Jacinto Junior College product, who stands 6-feet-5-inches tall and weighs 235 pounds, went 4-4 with a 3.49 ERA with 113 K’s in 108 1/3 innings pitched last season for Lansing.

Dunedin’s closer, Danny Barnes, has a 1-1 record with 16 saves and a 2.08 ERA in 22 appearances this season. The Princeton University product was a 35th round draft selection in 2010 by the Blue Jays. The right-handed Barnes has a 1.69 ERA in 10 May games. In his previous 2 pro seasons, Barnes posted a 6-2 record with a 2.26 ERA and a .203 batting average against in 66 games (2 starts).


New Hampshire Fisher Cats…19-27 record, 5th place in the Double-A Eastern League’s Eastern division.

Ryan Goins has been scorching hot all season for NH. The lefty hitting second baseman has a .331 batting average with 12 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR and 22 RBI through 44 games this season. In 22 May games, the lefty batting Goins has posted a remarkable .380 batting average. Goins, 24, was a 4th round draft pick in 2009.

Catcher Sean Ochinko has done a very good job filling in for injured counterpart AJ Jimenez (elbow ligament). In 6 games since joining the Fisher Cats, the 24-year-old Louisiana State University product is batting .333 with 2 doubles and 2 HR.

Left-handed reliever Aaron Loup has continued a strong campaign out of the NH bullpen. The 24-year-old is 0-1 with 2 saves and a 1.46 ERA in 20 relief outings this season. Drafted in the 9th round by Toronto in 2009, Loup made the Midwest League All-star team the following year in his first full season as a pro. Loup could be well on his way to getting another such honor this season if his production keeps up.


Las Vegas 51’s….25-23 record, 3rd place in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League’s Southern division.

Highly touted shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria is posting strong numbers for the 51’s. Through 47 games played, the Cuba native is batting .322 with 14 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HR and 34 RBI with 6 stolen bases. Hechavarria, 23, was a career .255 hitter with 12 HR in 2 seasons in the minors prior to this year.

Catcher Travis d’Arnaud, fresh off an MVP season in the Eastern League, is having another big year. Through 40 games, the 22-year-old is hitting .307 with a team leading 10 HR and 25 RBI. d'Arnaud was, of course, acquired from Philadlephia in the December, 2009 Roy Halladay trade.

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Gomes Reflects on Success, Wants More

Yan Gomes knows the Blue Jays are fully stocked with strong young catching talent, but that won't stop him from striving to achieve his dream of reaching the big leagues. Currently assigned to the Phoenix Desert Dogs, Gomes welcomes the chance to play against the tough Arizona Fall League competition, to improve his game.

Gomes discribed the AFL assignment as an honor. He is pleased to be among the small group of players representing the Toronto organization in the off-season league and feels that facing some solid talent from other leagues might help to improve his game.

"It's a chance to up your game. Everybody's out here looking to do good and show off a bit, so I am looking forward to getting my playing time against great pitchers and great players," Gomes stated.

Off to somewhat of a slow start, through 6 games played for the Desert Dogs, Gomes has gone 3-for-17 (.176 avg) with 1 RBI.

Ranked behind such stud backstops as J.P. Arencibia and Travis d'Arnaud, with Carlos Perez and A.J. Jimenez on the rise, Gomes doesn't wish to get lost in the shuffle. The 24-year-old Brazilian born prospect wants to seize every opportunity he can.

In 79 games for the Double-A Eastern League champion New Hampshire Fisher Cats in 2011, Gomes posted a .250/.317/.464 line with 13 homeruns and 51 RBI. Gomes, a 10th round draft choice by Toronto in 2009, also spent some time with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51's, appearing in 4 games with them.

The 6-foot-2-inch 215-pounder feels the brief time playing up one level was beneficial to his game as he moves forward.

"I got to experience the next level and go from Double-A to Triple-A," Gomes said. "It was kind of like a sneak peak at what's up there. There are a lot of veterans with experience (in the Pacific Coast League). I feel like I did pretty good, even though my stats (3-for-14) may not show it, but I felt pretty comfortable up there, so that's definitely a good thing."

While he's excited to be playing in the AFL this autumn and grateful for the opportunity to play at Triple-A for a short spell, the highlight of the year for Gomes was certainly helping the Fisher Cats lock down their third ever EL title. As far as Gomes is concerned, there's nothing greater than sharing that level of success with all of your teammates.

"It was such a great year (with the Fisher Cats). With that team camaraderie, everybody did good and that just helped everyone out. We all fed off of each other and it was definitely a great experience all around for everybody and we all value the success we had."
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1BJW Interview: Yan Gomes

Over the weekend, Blue Jays minor leaguer Yan Gomes was promoted from Double A New Hampshire to Triple A Las Vegas. Prior to the move upward, Gomes had spent the season as a back up to Travis d'Arnaud with the NH Fisher Cats. In 36 games with the Cats, the 23-year-old posted a .238 batting average with 5 HR and 27 RBI.

A 10th round draft selection by Toronto in 2009, the righty batting Gomes is among the Blue Jays' collection of well regarded catching prospects.

In 2010, Gomes played 75 combined games at Class A Lansing and High A level Dunedin, while posting a .270 average with 9 HR and 48 RBI.

Gomes, who stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs around 215 pounds, made his pro debut after signing in 2009 and played in 64 games combined between the Gulf Coast League and the short season New York-Penn League. That season, Gomes posted a combined .300 average with a solid .809 OPS.

In his Triple A debut with the Las Vegas 51s on Monday night, Gomes went 1-for-5 with an RBI single.

Last week, prior to Yan's promotion, I caught up with the man who grew up as a Blue Jays fan and we spoke about the New Hampshire pitching staff, playing for former Major League catcher Sal Fasano, his personal progress and plenty more. Check out the media player below to listen to the full interview.


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Minors Wrap Up, 4/16/11

Blue Jays fans, here's a piece we hope to make a regular feature on the site this season...a trip around the Blue Jays' developmental system. Standings, stats, other notes...check it out.


The Triple A Las Vegas 51's are currently 5-4 and in second place in the Pacific South division, 1 game behind Fresno in the Pacific Coast League.

Eric Thames, who was a beast with New Hampshire last season, is wrecking opposing pitchers up a level thus far in the new season. Through 9 games, Thames has posted a .389 batting average with 5 doubles a HR and 9 RBI.

Brett Lawrie, who was acquired in the Shaun Marcum trade, has also excelled with the 51's and has a .462 average with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 5 RBI and 2 steals. Lawrie, a British Columbia native, is tied for the league lead in hits with 18.

First baseman David Cooper leads the team with 10 RBI through 9 games.

Former big leaguer Chad Cordero has appeared in 3 games and has a 12.71 ERA.


The Double A New Hampshire Fisher Cats are 5-4 and two games behind New Britain in 3rd place in the Eastern League's Eastern Division.

Through 2 starts righty hurler Zach Stewart is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA, 5 walks and 5 strike outs in 12 innings pitched. Stewart was of course acquired in the Scott Rolen trade.

First baseman Mike McDade is leading the team in batting with a .361 average through 9 games. McDade has just 1 RBI to date this season.

Highly regarded catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud has struggled thus far this season. In 7 games, d'Arnaud is 2-for-26 (.077 avg) with a double and 1 RBI.

Centerfielder Anthony Gose is batting .194 through 9 games. Thus far in the new season, the speedy prospect has not scored a run yet. Two seasons ago for Lakewood in the Class A South Atlantic League, Gose stole 76 bases.


The High A Level Dunedin Blue Jays have a 1-8 record and are currently in last place in the Florida State League's North Division.

Infielder Justin Jackson is leading the team in hitting with a .368 average in 7 games. Jackson has stolen 1 base in 3 attempts.

21-year-old right-handed pitcher Deck McGuire has struck out 10 batters in 8 2/3 innings. McGuire was the 11th overall draft pick by the Blue Jays last year out of Georgia Tech.

In 2 starts with Dunedin, Jays pitcher Brandon Morrow is 0-1 with a 10.13 ERA. Opponents are batting .373 against Morrow, who is rehabbing from a right forearm strain. Morrow is slated to make one more start in the minors on Sunday before returning to the active Toronto roster.


The Class A Lansing Lugnuts are currently 4-2, a half game behind first place Bowling Green in the MID Eastern Division of the Midwest League.

Catcher Carlos Perez is batting .405 and has a 1.025 OPS through 5 games.

Outfielder Michael Crouse is batting .250 in six games and has the team's only homerun. The 20-year-old Crouse was a 16th round draft selection in 2008.

Right-hander Drew Hutchison had one strong start so far for the 'Nuts, striking out 11 and allowing no runs over 7 innings.

Stay tuned throughout the season as 1BlueJaysWay's minor league insider Jay Floyd brings you exclusive player profiles and interviews from the Toronto system and beyond.
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Heating up in Vegas

In case you missed it, Triple-A Las Vegas scored 10 runs in the 5th inning yesterday to rock Colorado Springs (Rockies), 12-7.

Luis Figueroa and Adam Calderone each homered in the big inning. J.P. Arencibia had already launched his 11th homer of the season an inning earlier.

Vegas had been in a huge tailspin, but they've now won three in a row. Figueroa's batting .469 in the month (15-for-32) and Jorge Padilla's at a mere .467 (14-for-30).

What happens in Vegas...

It's the PCL and so all offensive numbers need to be taken with a grain of salt... but it's good to see that the Las Vegas 51s are simply crushing the baseball early on.

Brett Wallace (.283 avg, .377 obp, .630 slg) is leading the team in walks, tied for the league lead (five homers) and is batting a cool .375 against southpaws.

J.P. Arencibia and Brian Dopirak are tied for the team lead in RBIs (9), but neither one has been great so far. Give them time.

Third baseman Christian Colonel's batting .343... but also has eight errors in 12 games.

Brad Mills (2-0, 2.04 ERA in three starts) has found his mojo. How does 24 strikeouts and four walks work for you in 17 2/3 innings? Not a bad start out of Brett Cecil (2-0, 2.45 in two starts). Closer Rommie Lewis is 5-for-5 in saves, tied for the league lead.

In summary... nothing spectacular, but a lot of encouraging performances taking shape.