Happy Mother’s Day to the wonderful baseball moms around the world who drive their kids to a game that is 2 hours away, play catch when their kid is bored and needs to spend some energy, and get their kids to countless practices.  Without your organization and commitment, dads everywhere would probably go crazy.

On to my Blue Jays Prospects of the Week.  We have two new up and comers to honour this week, both playing for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in Class AA.  Reidier Gonzalez has been quietly putting up solid numbers for the Fisher Cats.  In his 6 starts, Gonzalez has not allowed more than 2ER in a game, and has 5 quality starts.  On the offensive side of things, Mike McDade had a big week, hitting .400 over 7 games.  Both of these players have been vital to the Fisher Cats great start, holding a 17-11, sitting 1.5 games back out of first place in the EAS Eastern League.

Reidier Gonzalez is a 5’9, 215lb right handed pitcher, who was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays out of St. Petersburg College in the 19th round (566th overall) of the 2005 First Year Player Draft.  Reidier had an outstanding week, logging 2 quality starts.  He pitched a combined 14.2 innings, allowing 11 hits, 1ER, and struck out 8 while walking 3.  He earned the win in his start on May 2nd against the first place Reading Phillies, recording all but one out in an 8.2 inning masterpiece.   On May 8th against the Binghamton Mets, Reidier got a no decision in a 4-0 New Hampshire loss.

This is Redier’s 6th year in the minor leagues.  He made his professional debut at the age of 19 with the Pulaski Blue Jays of the Appalachian Rookie League.  In 2 seasons with Pulaski, Reidier had a 5-5 record over 20 starts, with a 3.44ERA over 89 innings of work.  He had a 7.5K/9IP ratio, and a miniscule 2.2BB/9IP ratio.  Over the next 3 years, Reidier climbed the ladder, starting for Class A Lansing Lugnuts in ’07, Class Advanced A Dunedin Blue Jays in ’08, and the Class AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats in ’09.  Over that span, Reidier held a 25-17 record with a 3.21ERA over 344.4 innings.  After a rough stint with the Las Vegas 51’s of Class AAA in 16 starts, it was decided that Reidier would start the 2011 season in AA New Hampshire, a vast change from the thin air of Las Vegas.

Reidier Gonzalez has been lights out for the Fisher Cats (Photo by Kevin Pataky/MiLB.com)

Honourable Pitching Lines of the Week:
RHP Nestor Molina (Dunedin Blue Jays): 1-0, 7IP, 4H, 1R, 0ER, 7K, 0BB
RHP Chad Jenkins (Dunedin Blue Jays): 0-0, 5IP, 4H, 1ER, 3K, 0BB
LHP Brad Mills (Las Vegas 51′s): 1-0, 7IP, 6H, 1ER, 7K, 1BB

Mike McDade is a big, 6’1, 260lb first baseman for the Class AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats.  He was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2007 in the 6th round (205th overall) of the First Year Player’s Draft, as a catcher.  He was immediately converted to a first baseman.  McDade brings size, power, and solid defensive ability to the corner position.  This past week, McDade went 10/25 (.400) with 3 doubles, a home run, 3 runs batted in, and 7 runs scored.  Over this span, the Fisher Cats were 5-2.

McDade struggled in his first 2 years of pro baseball in 2007 and 2008, spending time with 3 different teams. (GCL Blue Jays in Rookie ball, Auburn Doubledays in the Class Low-A NY Penn League, and the Lansing Lugnuts in the Class-A Midwest League).  It was not until 2009 where McDade broke out and got Blue Jays fans excited.  He had a career high .277 average, with 27 doubles, 16HR, and 57RBI’s for the Lugnuts.  Last year in 2010, McDade played a full season with the Class-A Advanced Dunedin Blue Jays, where he hit .267 with 22 doubles, 21HR (led the Florida State League), and 64 RBI’s.  While impressive, McDade struck out 141 times in 517 plate appearances, something he will have to lower if he wants to play in the Major Leagues.  This season, McDade has started where he left off in Dunedin, this time playing with the Class AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats, where he’s hitting  .342/.387/.495 through 28 games, hitting 2 home runs, and driving in 10.  With David Cooper playing for the Blue Jays, and McDade continuing to hit well, he could see a call up to AAA Las Vegas in the near future.

McDade is looking to build from last season, putting up big power numbers (Photo by Jordan Megenhardt/MLB.com)

Honourable Hitting Lines of the Week:
LF Eric Thames (Las Vegas 51′s): 8/27 (.296), 1 triple, 2HR, 5RBI, 6R, 1SB
2B/SS Jonathan Diaz (Las Vegas 51′s): 9/23 (.391), 2 doubles, 1HR, 6RBI, 3R, 1SB

If the rain ever subsides in Manchester, New Hampshire, Fisher Cat fans should flock to Northeast Delta Stadium to see this well rounded group of prospects play their baseball.  It is no surprise to see their success as they are being managed by Sal Fasano, a lifetime student and mentor of the game, who continues to help young players reach their potential.  He has done a wonderful job of managing in his short 2 years of work.

Congratulations to Reidier (Rey) Gonzalez and Mike (Michael) McDade on fine weeks of baseball, and for being my Blue Jays Prospects of the Week.

Prospect of the Week History:

Week 1 (April 11-17): RHP Nestor Molina, 3B Brett Lawrie
Week 2 (April 18-24): RHP Zach Stewart, C AJ Jimenez
Week 3 (April 25-May 1): LHP Brad Mills, CF Jake Marisnick
Week 4 (May 2-8): RHP Reidier Gonzalez, 1B Michael McDade