Top 20 Prospects - Bluejaysfan65's Dynasty

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Top 20 Prospects

Posted on July 17, 2013 at 06:10 PM.

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1. Aaron Sanchez (RHP)
If you wanted to build a prototype of what a big, strong, projectable pitching prospect should look like, starting with Sanchez might not be a bad idea. The Blue Jays had aggressively stockpiled young arms via the Draft in recent years. Some of them were used as trading chips, but Sanchez remains, and for good reason. His pure stuff is outstanding, with a plus fastball and an outstanding curve to give him as good a one-two punch as any pitching prospect. His changeup projects to be at least an average offering. He throws downhill and there�s room for him to add some strength. Sanchez needs to cut down on his walk rate to succeed as he moves up, but he has all the makings of a frontline starter if that happens as the Blue Jays start to take the kid gloves off.

2. Roberto Osuna (RHP)
While the Blue Jays used some of their young pitching depth in trades during the offseason, that didn�t leave that cupboard bare. As long as everyone can be patient, Osuna may help fill the void quite nicely. The nephew of former big league reliever Antonio Osuna, he will be just 18 years old for all of the 2013 season. Osuna has a plus fastball that can touch the mid-90s and he commands it pretty well. His slider will be solid in the future, though it�s a bit inconsistent right now and he has a better feel for a changeup than most teenagers. His overall command and pitchability is advanced for his age, which should enable him to continue to be young for his level, even if he�s developed cautiously.

3. Daniel Norris (LHP)
The Blue Jays were very aggressive in pursuing talent in the Draft in 2011, with Norris standing out as a prime example. He was the top high school lefty in the class but slid due to signability, but Toronto was able to get him to sign rather than head to Clemson. His pro debut was shaky results-wise, but the stuff is still there as is the projectability. His fastball can be plus for a lefty and he's done a good job of commanding it in the past. His curve has the chance to be above-average and his changeup gives him a third solid pitch to work with. He's had some delivery issues, but with his athleticism and makeup, he should be able to work through them in time.

4. D.J. Davis
It might be difficult to find a better athlete in the 2012 Draft class and there certainly isn't anyone faster. While he's sure to be a major basestealing threat, he's much more than a one-tool guy. Davis has the chance to hit, with good bat speed and even a bit of power to grow into. There's some refining to his approach that will need to happen, but he has an understanding of what his game will need to be hitting at the top of the lineup. He's able to outrun any mistakes in the outfield, but projects to be an above-average defender in the future. He's been compared to Michael Bourn, not a bad aspiration, but he might have the chance to have a little more pop and a little less swing-and-miss if things click for him.

5. Marcus Stroman (RHP)
It was difficult enough to evaluate Stroman coming out of Duke as an undersized right-hander who could fire mid-90s fastballs with surprising ease to go along with a power breaking ball. He even showed the ability to mix in a changeup and throw strikes as a starter in his final college season. That evaluation became tougher when Stroman was suspended for 50 games for taking a performance-enhancing drug, though Stroman said he unknowingly took the substance as part of an over-the-counter supplement. The Blue Jays sent Stroman out as a reliever and he had reached Double-A by August during his pro debut. If he can return to the game without any further issues, he still has the chance to be a very quick to the big leagues power arm coming out of the bullpen.

6. Anthony Alford (OF)
Alford was thought by many to be unsignable as a two-sport standout, one who had a scholarship to Southern Miss to play quarterback. But the Blue Jays were creative with their Draft pool and managed to sign the athletic outfielder, who got in a handful of Gulf Coast League games before heading to school to play football. He appeared in nine games for Southern Miss, starting five. Alford has considerable raw tools, with a Reggie Sanders-like upside, but hasn't had the opportunity to refine them with his focus split among two sports. His approach at the plate isn't bad and he has the chance to have above-average power in the future. He has plus speed that should allow him to be a threat on the bases as well as a solid defensive outfielder. It's going to take longer as he continues to play two sports, but the wait could be worth it.

7. Matthew Smoral (LHP)
Big lefties with big stuff and a feel for pitching don't grow on trees, so it's not surprising the Blue Jays got creative and found a way to sign the Ohio high school product, despite the fact he missed his senior season with a stress fracture in his foot. More projection than anything at this point, Smoral has the chance to have three at-least average pitches. He has an easy arm action and an above-average fastball that sits in the 91-92 mph range. He can reach back for a plus fastball at times and combines it with a solid changeup with good sink. He commands both of those pitches fairly well. Smoral throws a slider, but it's behind the other two pitches. If he can sharpen that, he has the chance to be a solid starting pitcher at the highest level, though it might take a while for him to get there.

8. Sean Nolin (LHP)
Following the big offseason trade with the Marlins, the Blue Jays system didn't have as much pitching depth as it once had, especially in terms of any advanced arms. Nolin, the San Jac junior college product, is an exception. The big lefty's stuff isn't necessarily eye-popping, but it all plays up because of his advanced feel for pitching. He'll locate his fastball well and he can reach back for a little extra when he needs it. His changeup is his best secondary pitch, but he also has two breaking balls: a slider that shows flashes of being an out pitch and an average curve he can get over for strikes. There's deception and overall decent command and he goes right after hitters, which should help him as a middle-of-the-rotation type in the future.

9. John Stilson (RHP)
A shoulder injury during his junior season at Texas A&M hurt Stilson's Draft stock, but the Blue Jays' willingness to take a shot in the third round might pay off. He didn't need surgery and reached Double-A in his first full season while staying healthy. His fastball touches plus, at 96 mph, and he goes after hitters with downhill sink and tail. He throws his changeup with a lot of deception and sink as well. The right-hander has two breaking balls, a big, downer curve or a wider, 3/4 slider. His delivery creates deception on all of his pitches, but it also comes with a lot of effort and hampers his ability to command the ball. Combine that with his injury history and some see a future coming out of the bullpen, something he did at the end of the 2012 season to limit his innings. A role switch like that could get him to the big leagues faster.

10. Adonys Cardona (RHP)
There is little question about Cardona's arm strength and he's added to it ever since he signed out of Venezuela. He's been brought along very slowly, spending two summers in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He's thrown just 47 1/3 innings combined, but has managed to strike out 10.5 per nine in that stretch. Cardona's fastball should be a plus pitch as he continues to mature and he's shown a better feel for a changeup than most his age, projecting to have an above-average offspeed pitch. His breaking ball isn't close to the other two pitches and he's struggled with command, leading some to believe he'll eventually have to move into a bullpen role. The 2013 season could go a long way in determining his furutre.

11. A.J. Jimenez (C)
Jimenez was off to a solid start during his first taste of Double-A ball in 2012 when he needed Tommy John surgery after just 27 games. He's a defensive-minded catcher, so getting that arm back healthy is important, especially considering it was responsible for throwing out 43 percent of would-be basestealers throughout his Minor League career. He's athletic and agile behind the plate, giving him outstanding defensive grades across the board. The backstop from Puerto Rico was showing that while he's glove first, he can do some things with his bat. He has quality at-bats, squares up consistently with some extra-base pop that could turn into a bit more. Once 100 percent, he has the chance to be a regular big league catcher and at least he doesn't have Travis d'Arnaud blocking him in the Minors anymore.

12. Christian Lopez (SS)
A subpar senior season hurt Lopes' Draft stock in 2011 and the Blue Jays went over-slot to sign the SoCal product. He had a solid pro debut in 2012, getting the chance to play at two levels and displaying some of the offensive skills that made him a prospect before his senior swoon. Lopes has the chance to be a solid offensive-minded middle infielder with good bat speed and some power. His hands and feet work well in the infield, but his fringy speed affects his range, meaning second base might be a better long-term home. That's where he played most of his games during his debut, so the Blue Jays might agree with that assessment.

13. Jacob Anderson (OF)
When the Blue Jays couldn't come to terms with first-round pick Tyler Beede in 2011, Anderson became the organization's highest pick to sign, one of four sandwich picks to do so. Anderson is all projection at this point, a tall and lean athlete who has shown some ability to hit to all fields. He should grow into more power and he has solid speed. He played a lot of first base in high school, but has settled into right field, where his defensive skills should be more than playable. More than anything, Anderson needs to refine his approach at the plate, His strikeout rate in 2012 was alarming, even for a young, raw player. He's a project, so patience is necessary.

14. Deck McGuire (RHP)
When the Blue Jays drafted McGuire out of Georgia Tech, it was with the hopes that his combination of stuff, pitchability and mound presence coming out of a major college program would allow him to move quickly. He did reach Double-A in his first full season, but when he went back there in 2012, he really struggled. When he's at his best, he mixes four pitches well and throws them for strikes. His fastball and slider are the best of the offerings, but he had shown progress with his changeup during his first season of pro ball. He didn't command the ball well in 2012, as his walk and hit rates went way up. He threw fairly well in a relief role in the Arizona Fall League, but it remains to be seen if that serves as a confidence builder moving forward.

15. Alberto Tirado (RHP)
Tirado made his United States debut a very successful one in 2012, pitching well in both the Gulf Coast and Appalachian Leagues. The right-hander has a fastball that can run up to 96 mph with good sink and he does a good job of keeping it down in the strike zone. He complements that with an above-average changeup. His breaking ball is developing and looks more like a slider than a breaking ball right now. While he's not gigantic, he's physical enough where his size isn't a concern. He'll spend all of 2013 at age 18, so it will be interesting to see how cautious the Blue Jays are with his development.

16. Dalton Pompey (OF)
Pompey was having a fine start to his 2012 season with short-season Vancouver when a broken hand knocked him out of action after just 11 games. He did eventually return to action, joining full-season Lansing at the end of the year and starting in center for their short-lived playoff run. The native of Ontario's best tool is his speed and it should allow him to steal bases (he's gone 32-for-35 thus far in his career) and play center field. He has good range as a result and could be an above-average defender as he improves his reads and routes. Pompey does have a chance to hit a little bit, albeit without much power, but as a top-of-the-order type, that's not as important.

17. Griffin Murphy (LHP)
Coming out of high school in 2010, Murphy was an interesting southpaw with excellent fastball command, a solid curve and the kind of pitching frame you like to see. He looked like the kind of prep lefty who could move more quickly than some other young arms. It hasn't exactly worked out that way. Murphy was a starter during his pro debut in 2011 in the Gulf Coast League, but he pitched almost exclusively out of the bullpen in 2012. He threw well in that role, albeit at age 21 in the Appalachian League. He still has similar stuff, along with the potential for an average changeup. In a relief role, his stuff may play up and he could start moving more quickly.

18. Ryan Goins (SS)
Goins has made steady progress through the Blue Jays system and is now poised to contribute in somce capacity in the near future. He's one of those middle infielders who's whole is greater than the sum of his parts, a gamer who plays the game the right way. He can hit a little bit, with an ability to put the ball in play and a little gap power. Coming out of Dallas Baptist, many thought he'd have to move to second base because of his lack of speed, but he's yet to play anywhere else and has more than enough arm for the position. He may not have wow factor, but he knows how to play the game and is the type of player who invariably finds his way onto a winning roster.

19. Danny Barnes (RHP)
The Princeton product led the Minor Leagues in saves in 2012, setting a Dunedin Blue Jays record in the process. He's moved one station at a time thus far in his career and has shown an ability to dominate in short stints at each stop. The right-hander relies mostly on an effective two-pitch combination: An above-average fastball with a little sink and a slider that gets a good share of swings and misses. He will also work in a changeup to give hitters a different look. At age 23 for all of the 2013 season, there's a chance Barnes could move a little more quickly and get to the big leagues faster. He may not ultimately close at the highest level, but could make a major contribution in a back-end role.

20. Matthew Dean (3B)
Another aggressive high school Draft pick who singed over slot in the 13th round in 2011, Dean made his pro debut in the Appalachian League in 2012. He struggled a bit with the bat, but he still has the raw tools to be a good all-around third baseman. A shortstop in high school, Dean has good actions and more than enough arm for the hot corner. He still has some things to iron out with his approach at the plate, but as he continues to fill out he should tap into his power in the future. As long as the Blue Jays continue to be patient with Dean, his work ethic and raw tools could allow the finished product to be an everyday big league third baseman.