In 2010, Drabek was a crucial member of the Fisher Cats. Enter JaysProspects contest to win his bobblehead.

Last week, I discussed my passion and knowledge for our beloved Fisher Cats. I shared as much as I possibly could on last season’s Fisher Cats pitchers. This week, it will be much the same, but on the position players.

What a crew this class of Jays’ prospects turned out to be. There were so many talented players that kept the summer nights filled with stars in the Granite State this past season. Fans were spoiled with these phenomenal players with prolific personalities.

Part I also included a giveaway for a Deck McGuire signed baseball which will be awarded this afternoon! This story, however, will have a Kyle Drabek bobblehead giveaway, which will be awarded next Friday! To qualify, all you need to do is submit a tweet with the website’s handle, @JaysProspects, my handle, @Fisher_Cats, and something about Drabek. Find room for a #JaysProspects hashtag for bonus points.

So with that being said, let’s get to know those Fisher Cats position players!

Part II – The position players

Mike McDade: Mike was the everyday first baseman for the Fisher Cats in 2011. He had a great year and showed he was an iron-man by playing the second half of the season with a knee injury. He was a leader on and off the field during his stay in New Hampshire. At the all star game, during the home-run derby, Mike out-dueled Moises Sierra to take the crown. If there was an award for the best dressed player in MILB, this would also be a crown that he would win. An emotional player, it is obvious this kid breathes baseball like we breathe oxygen.  As a switch hitter this guy shows pop from both sides of the plate, but seems more of a bomb threat from the left side. Mike has a tendency to throw the third-out baseballs he gets at first base into the third and fourth rows behind the dugout, so if you are ever in that neighborhood keep your eyes open for a souvenir. As a Las Vegas native we should expect big things from him next year, as he said he is looking forward to playing in his hometown next year. Mike also was a sport and gave me a batting practice update via twitter, saving me a drive to the ball park on a showery summer day. 

Travis d’Arnaud: Travis, who was a huge part of the Roy Halladay trade, had a breakout season this past year. Not only was he the Fisher Cats most valuable player, but was selected as MVP of the entire Eastern League. d’Arnaud received praise from every pitcher that I asked, and the consensus was this kid calls a heck of a game. A team player, he would sometimes catch the 20+ ceremonial first pitches on a game day. Travis and Mike McDade were consistently the last players out of the locker room throughout the entire season. The MVP was another great sport on this team as far as being interactive with the fans. The night him and his roommate Mike McDade went back to back, I was standing in the outfield and was right there to grab both blasts. When I was talking to the two of them after the game and mentioned how Travis was hit a little further, he reacted by flashing a grin to his roommate. I always wonder if that was the last time he heard about it or it became bragging rights. There was not one fan all year that was not given an autograph or a picture after the game, as Travis is simply the man in that department. He was always positive in his talk of teammates, and one day will be a diplomat of baseball for this Toronto organization.

Yan Gomes had a very successful season this past season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Yan Gomes: Yan is yet another one of my favorites wearing the Red and Blue. This Floridian had one his best professional campaigns in baseball in 2011. After a very cold start to the year, Yan numbers inflated accordingly once he received consistent playing time. Yan is no stranger to adversity as he backed up JPA at Tennessee and finds himself behind one of the best catching prospects in baseball. Sal Fasano’s patience paid off as Yan carried this team through a late July road trip, hitting upwards of .400 during that stint. A very calm personality suits Gomes after the game, but on the field that persona is nonexistent. Blue Jays fans take notice, as I see something in this kid that makes me think we will be talking about him in the summer to come.

John Tolisano: John pitched in all over the diamond during this past championship year. He played some second, and got some time in the outfield. A streaky switch hitter, when he is on –  he is on. John has some pop to his bad, as a few of his blasts out of Delta Dental were recovered over the railroad tracks. My favorite moment was how a loud yell of, “Go get em’ Diesel!” could draw a smile from John in the on deck circle. Between having a charismatic character and the physique of a gym rat, he was a favorite of the ladies as an occasional whistle would be heard from the crowd. 

Adeiny Hechavarria: Before d’Arnaud’s stellar campaign, Hech was the face of this franchise the past two seasons. Needless to say – his defense at shortstop, wins games. It is hard to believe how good this kid is, as he is a true game changer. I lost count of how many times Adeiny went into the hole and came up blasting for an out. While hitting was his Achilles heel, his stats in Vegas were ridiculous.  Hech was another fan favorite and was followed very closely due to his high profile signing as a free agent. Hech’s Cadillac Escalade was amongst the nicest cars on the streets of New Hampshire. In tow was a custom JL Audio sound system riding on at least 20 inch rims with “AH” in the middle. Groups of players would be seen rolling deep with Adeiny after games, and you could hear the low bass frequencies way off in the distance on his way out of the ballpark. He played the role of an all star very well with the fans. He would sign on the field before the game routinely and would stay after the game until everyone who was waiting got their autographs. Hech would also arrive at the stadium early to work with an English tutor and has made remarkable progress.

Mark Sobolewski: Sobo was another player who had a great year. A Miami graduate, Mark proudly has the Green and Orange U on his front license plate to prove it. The come from behind win versus New Britain on Memorial Day was one of the highlights of the season for many Fisher Cats fans. On a broken bat single, Sobo batted in the winning run to cap a huge 9th inning rally. That momentum carried over as Mark put together close to a 20-game hitting streak. Mark does not receive the praise he should for how he handles the hot corner. I saw him make some grabs that seemed destined for extra base hits, but he grabbed them all, and showed great range while doing it. He is another great character, as he would sign autographs and talk baseball after the ball game.

Jonathan Diaz was welcome back to the Fisher Cats after Hechavarria's promotion

Jonathan Diaz: Diaz stepped in at shortstop after Adeiny was called up to Vegas in August. Familiar with the Fisher Cats from past years, Jon did the best he could to replace a future gold glove winner at the fastest position on the diamond. Diaz had some clutch hits in the playoffs to help clinch the EL championship. Diaz was involved in a terrible taxi accident after a promising spring training out in Las Vegas, which is one of the reasons he was back for another tour in New Hampshire.

Moises Sierra: Mo made believers out of many fans as they enjoyed his share of walk off hits during this championship year.  Sierra had a cup of tea with the Fisher Cats in 2009, but this year he had a full-fledged tea party. The physical difference in his form was not only visible in his physique, but by the tape measure shots belted all over Manchester New Hampshire. It was rumored that the hotel in center field offered him a free room after he hit the window on an upper level floor in batting practice. One of his walk off home runs bounced off the roof of the Sam Adams bar and Grill and landed in the parking lot. A free-swinger, the only player in the Eastern League who hits more towering foul balls out of the park is Portland’s Jeremy Hazelbaker. Mo has a heart of gold and I have seen him interact with many fans over the past year. During one rain delay I had a great chat with Sierra, as he was simply sitting against the railing texting on his cell phone. I had a bat I wanted Adeiny to sign and he was down the stairs in front of the club house door on his cell phone. Sierra interrupted his conversation and asked him in Spanish to sign for me and of course it was no big deal at all. One of the most underestimated outfielders in the game, Sierra’s throws from right field come in on a rope, and he has pretty good range out in right.

Anthony Gose: The Golden Goose picked up right where he left off in 2011. He led the league in steals, and played center field at Delta Dental like he owned it. Gose was the personality of this team, and could be heard enjoying being a ball player whenever he was present. Anthony defiantly commands respect; just ask Corbin Joseph what will happen if you cross him.  As confident as they come, Anthony loves talking baseball and once he is on the base paths, he has a, “Catch Me if you Can” swagger that terrorized pitchers all year long. Watching this kid steal a base is unbelievable, as I counted seven strides followed by a slide that is more like a flash. Anthony would be the class clown of this Fisher Cat squad and has an infectious laughter. His routine at one of the baseball mini camps was priceless, and was a favorite of the young fans he got to spend the afternoon with. As a role model, he was very active in the community, and was more than generous with his time after the games. He spent a lot of time this past year working on his swing and I saw him on a few occasions out on the field working the technique up to an hour after batting practice had concluded. 

Darin Mastroianni had a veteran presence with the Fisher Cats in 2011.

Darin Mastroianni: Darin was a fan favorite in New Hampshire. The most emotional player in the Eastern League, he had a bad habit of yelling at himself after a bad play. However, more often than not, he made a spectacular play. A natural lead-off hitter, Darin had two tours of duty for the Fisher Cats, and had a very brief appearance in Toronto in 2011. Mastro may be the hardest hustling ball player ever to play in New Hampshire, and would give a 110% if it was mathematically possible. He had held the stolen base record for New Hampshire coming into the year, but eventually saw his record fall to Anthony Gose.

Kevin Howard: Talk about mission accomplished; Kohoe was the ELCS MVP, and did exactly what was asked of him when he was sent down from Vegas. I was fortunate enough to be the unofficial team greeter the day that Kevin arrived at Delta Dental for the first time. He asked me if I knew where the club house was and I walked him right to the door. He very politely introduced himself, shook my hand and thanked me for my help. I think he thought I was working for the team, but I must say it was another highlight of my summer. Kevin was rewarded for his accomplishments by being resigned in the off season by the Jays. Kevin is extremely nimble for his size and even saw some time in the middle infield. Another personable player, my chats with him after the games were always interesting. (Read his recent interview with JaysProspects here)

Calix Crabbe: This veteran is yet another fan favorite in Manchester. Calix was a huge contributor both on the field, and in the clubhouse. As a role player, we would see him play a variety of positions and he would always be smiling as he was doing it. Crabbe was one of the biggest providers of souvenirs during batting practice, peppering the service road with baseballs on the regular. He was also a mentor to many players as he saw some time in the show with San Diego. A very likable person, he had a variety of current major league players who send him bats for use in batting practice and as emergency replacements when needed. 

I will be following up this story next Friday with Part III, a picture story and another giveaway. This will feature an assortment of photos from the past season, as well as of memorabilia that I have obtained along this crazy season of minor league baseball. Every day that passes is a day closer to spring training. It simply cannot come quickly enough!

Looking forward to seeing your tweets! Part III due next!