With a every new batch of draft picks is a new batch of contract offers and pro careers. As the newest Blue Jays Prospects make their way to minor league affiliates, we begin the (seemingly) endless process of nitpicking and pontificating over their career comparables and big league odds. In honour of the newest additions to the pipeline, I’ll be taking a look at some 2011 picks who have already gotten their pro careers underway.

Names with links are to their twitter pages. Follow @JaysProspects and your favourite Jays on twitter.

Jacob Anderson, OF – 35th pick overall, signed August 12, 2011

In 6 games with the GCL BlueJays, Anderson has a 409 AVG and two home runs

With Tyler Beede opting for college over the Jays, Anderson has officially become the top pick from 2011. For a player who has only been in the system for 11 days, Anderson is making his presence felt with the GCL Blue Jays. While it may be a small sample, Jays fans can’t help but get excited about Anderson’s potential development as a big league outfielder in the system. Through six games in the GCL Anderson has nine hits – two home runs – in 22 at-bats and has put up a .409 AVG and a 1.273 OPS.

A product of Chino High School in California, Anderson was taken with the 35th pick overall which was a compensatory pick after the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim signed away former Jays’ reliever Scott Downs. He was seen as one of the Jays’ “high risk, high reward” picks in this draft as he had previously committed to Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. At 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, Anderson should only get bigger and stronger given that he’ll be turning 19 years old this November.

I’d expect him somewhere in the A-ball realm by the start of next season if he continues to put up these numbers.

Joe Musgrove, RHP – 46th pick overall, signed June 22, 2011

In eight games for the GCL Blue Jays, Musgrove has gone 21.2 innings, struck out 16 while walking four, with a 0.99 WHIP.

The Jays love their big pitchers and continued to draft them when they picked Musgrove 46th overall. At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds Musgrove is cut from the same mold as Deck McGuire (Toronto’s first rounder in 2010). Musgrove played his high school ball at Grossmont High School in California and had initially committed to play for San Diego State before signing with Toronto. In eight games for the GCL Blue Jays – seven of which have been starts – Musgrove has gone 21.2 innings, struck out 16 while walking four, and has posted a 0.99 WHIP. As he continues to develop greater consistency with his fastball and additional movement on his secondary pitches Musgrove will become an even bigger part of the Jays’ pitching future.

Jeremy Gabryszwski, RHP – 78th pick overall, signed July 27, 2011

In two appearances with the GCL Blue Jays, Gabryswkski has struck out four and walked one in 2.1 innings

Gabryszwski brings a lot to the table for the Jays beyond the title of “most difficult name to spell, 2011.” Another big pitching prospect who stands at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds Gabryszwski is a Texas native who projects as a hard thrower with good breaking pitches as he gets a better idea of how to pitch when he gets bigger and stronger. In two appearances with the GCL Blue Jays he has struck out four and walked one in 2.1 innings of work for a WHIP of 0.95. Again, small sample sizes but it’s encouraging to see the ability come through so close to the transition from high school.

 

Andrew Burns, SS – 349th pick overall, signed July 27, 2011

In five games with the GCL Blue Jays, Burns posted a .625 AVG and a 1.463 OPS. He has since earned the promotion to the Vancouver Canadians.

Burns joins the Toronto system out of the Arizona Wildcats baseball program (by way of Kentucky) and is an example of the Jays drafting what they believe to be “premier positions” namely: centre field, shortstop, catcher. After signing with the Jays, Burns went to the GCL Blue Jays and ripped through the league. In five games, Burns posted a .625 AVG and a 1.463 OPS which prompted a promotion to the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League. The Fort Collins, Colorado native has struggled to adjust to the stiffer competition and has only mustered a .182 AVG and .515 OPS. Burns was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 25th round of the 2008 draft.

 

Jonathon Berti, SS – 559th pick overall, signed June 14, 2011

With the Vancouver Canadians, Berti has posted a .310 AVG and has stolen 20 bases.

Berti went straight from his alma mater of Bowling Green to the Vancouver Canadians. In 50 games with the Canadians, Berti has asserted himself as a productive offensive player, posting a .310 AVG and a .410 OBP. He has also been a threat on the basepaths, stealing 20 bases and has only been thrown out five times. Berti was one of the top offensive players in the MAC and figures to be another one of the Jays’ offensively gifted infield prospects.

 

Chris Lund is a freelance sports writer and diehard baseball fan. You can follow him on twitter under @thechrislund. Feel free to comment below and/or send him an e-mail at chris.lund89@gmail.com.