The Gulf Coast League (GCL) Blue Jays finished the season in fourth place in the GCL North, eight games back of… you guessed it… the New York Yankees GCL team. They finished with a 27-32 record, having a winning record at home 16-14 and an away record of 11-18.

Despite a losing record overall, the team showed great promise featured star players including OF Eric Arce, shortstop Jorge Verga-Rosado, pitchers Colby Broussard and Tucker Jensen, and a few games featuring 2011 draft picks including Jacob Anderson, Andrew Burns, and Nico Taylor.

BATTING

The team finished fourth overall in terms of team batting stats, holding an overall .256 average and hitting as a team 51 homeruns (first overall), 15 triples, and 87 doubles. They also lead the league in walks taken with 245 (however, did strike out 478 times). This is a drastic improvement from 2010, where they placed 13th overall with a .238 average and only 34 homeruns. Several players can be attributed for the improvement, including:

After dominating performances, Eric Arce (pictured above) and teammate, Jorge Veda-Rosado, were named to the GCL All Star team.

1) Eric Arce: Arce had a tremendous year with the GCL Blue Jays. In 49 games played as the team’s DH, the young 19-year old from Tampa, Florida posted a .268 average and hit a league-leading 14 homeruns. To put this into perspective, the most homeruns hit last year from a player on the team was Michael Crouse… who hit three. Arce also led his team in triples (3), RBIs (40) and walks (38). This performance named him as a GCL All-Star. (Click here to read his Q&A).

2) Jorge Veda-Rosado: A shortstop from Puerto Rico, Veda-Rosado was dominating at the plate. In 51 games, he was second on the team in batting average (based on a minimum of 30 games played), batting .317; this was good for seventh overall in the league. The 20-year old prospect also showed his speed, having a team leading 22 stolen bases, getting caught four times, good for third overall in the league. The one thing this prospect will have to work on is his fielding, having committed a team-leading 11 errors. His dominance at the plate enabled him to also be named to the GCL All-Star team.

3) Nico Taylor: Drafted in the 38th round of this year’s player draft, Taylor played an impressive 30 games with the GCL team this year. Leading the team with a batting average of .319, the young Texan also scored 17 runs and hit eight doubles and three homeruns. The prospect also showed strong presence in the outfield, committing only one error on the season.

 

4) Dalton Pompey: Blue Jays fans love with Canadians do well, so of course they must be happy to hear that young Ontario-native, Dalton Pompey has showed great promise in his second-year with the organization. The young outfielder played in 42 games, hitting .259 with seven doubles, two triples and four homeruns. He showed great knowledge on the base paths as well, stealing 19 bases without getting caught once.

5)  Dickie Joe Thon: Yet another Puerto-Rico native proved what he could do this year with the GCL Blue Jays. While he started the season hot, hitting .348 in June, Thon only hit .109 in August.  While he only hit .223 overall, Thon shows great promise both at the plate and in the infield.  In 45 games played, he scored 23 runs and hit 15 RBI.

Honourable Mention: Jacob Anderson: Signing late after being drafted 35th overall in this year’s player draft, Anderson played only nine games in the Gulf Coast League – but what an amazing nine games it was! In 37 at-bats, the young Californian, had 15 hits, hit two doubles, two homeruns, and seven RBI, for an overall average of .405. It’s suffice to say that Blue Jays fans should be excited to see what he could do in a full season with the organization.

PITCHING

While the GCL Blue Jays finished third overall last year in team ERA, this year they were not as lucky. In 2011, the Jays ended the season dead last in ERA with 4.85, allowing 501 hits, 322 runs (272 earned), 36 walks, while walking 232 but striking out 446. Despite the higher ERA, many players hit the mound with a lot of potential this season, including:

1) Randal Thompson: Signed as a free-agent, Thompson excelled on the mound with the GCL Blue Jays. Leading the team in innings pitched, (47.0) and strikeouts, (44), the young Orlando native recorded a 1-2 record with a 2.87 ERA. He holds a 0.34 ERA when the bases are empty so in the future if Thompson can keep them empty, he can definitely expect success.

Adonys Cardona (pictured above) was one of the key pitchers for the GCL Blue Jays this season.

2) Griffin Murphy: Drafted 61st in the 2010 MLB Draft, Murphy proved why he was worth the extra signing bonus. Posting a 2-2 record with a 4.39 ERA, Murphy pitched in 41 complete innings, allowing only 20 earned runs, and having a great walk/strikeout ratio with 16 walks and 39 strikeouts. The one thing he will have to work in the future is allowing the long ball, as he lead the team in allowing six homeruns.

3) Adonys Cardona: Last year the Blue Jays signed Adonys Cardona to a $2.8 million contract. Only 17 years old, he is thought to be one of the best Venezuelan talent his age. That said, his numbers weren’t jaw-dropping this year, but did show great promise and composure on the mound. Cardona posted a 1-3 record with a 4.57 ERA. He had a great WHIP, thanks in part to allowing only 12 walks, while fanning 35. He also allowed only two homeruns in over 31 innings pitched.

4) Tucker Jensen: This starting pitcher became a favourite on JaysProspects.com and on the mound with the GCL Blue Jays. With a minimum of five games played, Tucker led the team with an ERA of 1.77.  Starting in all eight of his games played, Tucker pitched 40.2 innings, allowing only one homerun, eight homeruns, while walking only six and striking out 40. His performance with the GCL Blue Jays earned him a promotion to Bluefield and Lansing. (Click here and here to read his Q&As).

5) Joseph Musgrove: With the 46th pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, the Toronto Blue Jays selected pitcher Joe Musgrove from El Cajon, California. Musgrove wasted no time signing, eager to play professional ball. He played in eight games with the team before getting promoted to the Bluefield Blue Jays, posting a 0-1 record with a 4.57 ERA. In 21.2 innings pitched, Musgrove allowed only 17 hits, 11 earned runs, and one homerun. Much like the rest of his team, he also had an impressive walk to strikeout ratio, allowing four walks yet striking out 16. (Click here to read his Q&A).

Honourable Mention: Colby Broussard: Broussard was signed in the 44th round of this year’s player draft 2011. Upon signing, he joined the GCL Blue Jays for 18 games, where he had a very impressive 1-2 record and 1.85 ERA. In 24.1 innings pitched, he allowing only 12 hits, five earned runs, while striking out 17 and walking three. While his command and plate coverage was great, he did manage to hit three batters.

That sums up the season of the GCL Blue Jays. JaysProspects looks forward to seeing some new faces on next year’s team!

Stay tuned for the season recap of the Bluefield Blue Jays!