Interviews
Interview with newly-acquired first-baseman, Gabe Jacobo, and his wife, Tanne
52 weeks ago
While Gabe Jacobo was drafted by the Angels in the 10th round of the 2008 Draft, he joined the Blue Jays organization this year in the Rule 5 Draft
This past December, the Toronto Blue Jays were fortunate to be able to grab first baseman, Gabe Jacobo, in the Rule 5 Draft from the Los Angeles Angels. Being new to the organization, JaysProspects was very fortunate to be able to sit down with not only the strong prospect, but also his wife, Tanne, who both discussed Gabe’s baseball journey thus far.
Jacobo was drafted in the 10th round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels, a professional team only a few hours from his hometown of Visalia, California. “Being drafted by any MLB team has always been a dream of mine. So when a team in my home state picked me it was pretty exciting, but at the same time I realized I would be all over the country until eventually playing in California,” Jacobo said.
Jacobo was right about the needed travel as he started with the Angels in Orem Utah and with the Cedar Rapids (A) in Iowa. Collectively that year he posted a .324 average in 70 games, recording 28 doubles, three triples, 10 homeruns and 56 RBIS.
“I really enjoyed my first year in pro ball with the Angels. I would say that my most memorable moment would be my first at bat, when I hit a homerun on the first pitch. That is something I will never forget.” (more…)
Interview with Taylor Cole: Right-Hander Now on a Different ‘Mission’
41 month ago
Taylor Cole was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 29th round of the 2011 draft (photo credit: Vancouver Canadians)
While Taylor Cole was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2007 and the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008, he joined the Blue Jays’ organization in 2011 after being selected in the 29th round.
Cole admitted that he did not sign in 2007 as he felt he would greatly benefit from playing college ball. In 2008, he also mentioned that he decided to bypass the draft and serve on a mission, which, interestingly enough, was in Toronto, Ontario.
In fact, Cole’s two-year mission was initiated thanks to advice from Baltimore Orioles’ Jeremy Guthrie. Cole told JaysProspects: “After my first year in college, at the age of 19, I served a two-year mission for my church in, of all places, Toronto Canada. I have grown to love Canada from both serving my mission in Toronto and playing my first year of pro ball in Vancouver. Serving the mission was a very difficult time, but I know that it was the right thing to do for me at that time in my life.”
After his mission, Cole returned back to the game, attending Brigham Young University, a school that combines both the importance of church and athletics. There, as a softmore, he posted a 5-5 record with a 2.99 ERA. “BYU was a great school in which I spent the first year back from my mission,” Cole stated. “It was a good transition because they were able to help me get back in baseball shape because they deal with return missionaries coming home each year. I am grateful for the time spent there and the lifelong friends that I made.” (more…)
Interview with Wes Etheridge: From ‘Saviour’ to ‘Saver’
41 month ago
While Wes Etheridge was drafted by the Brewers in 2007, he joined the Toronto Blue Jays this past season
Wes Etheridge followed many paths on his journey to the Toronto Blue Jays’ organization. It included being drafted by the Brewers in the 12th round of the 2007 draft, changing career paths to become a youth pastor, then re-pursuing his career in baseball and joining the Maui Independent League, before finally joining the Blue Jays’ organization this past season. Etheridge sat down with JaysProspects to discuss his exciting but challenging journey back to professional baseball.
Etheridge admitted that when he had heard he was drafted by the Brewers in the 12th round of the 2007 draft, he was playing in a game for his college team. “I was in a super-regional, so I wasn’t able to get to spend it with my family, but my dad was at the super regional so that was cool having him there because he taught me how to play.” he said. “I remember being excited mostly because I didn’t have to go to school anymore and I always figured it was pretty amazing being able to play a sport and get paid for it.”
Etheridge joined the Brewers’ organization in 2008 playing both rookie-ball and A-ball, where he posted a 0-1 record with four saves and a 5.00ERA. In 36 innings, he struck out 30 and walked only nine. When asked which of his pitches enable him to find such success on the mound, the right-handed replied, “I basically just throw a sinking fastball. Every once and a while I will throw a breaking ball but mainly just my sinker.” (more…)
140 characters with…. Baseball America’s Jim Callis
51 month ago
by Doug Plourd
in Interviews
For a baseball prospect junkie like me, there is no better time than January, as the excitement for the Baseball America Prospect Handbook builds as the days click off the calendar. When I see the ball drop at midnight, and after I exchange, “Happy New Years” with the family, the next thought is “less than four weeks til I get to devour 900 scouting reports.” Jim Callis is the Executive Editor of Baseball America, and is nationally known as one of the “go to guys” in the world of baseball prospects. With the draft and playoffs behind him and the Prospect Handbook off to the printers, Jim graciously found the time to induct himself into the “140″ club.
140 characters, for the new readers, is an interview that has no rules, except that questions and answers must be confined to Twitter direct messages, thus 140 characters. With that said…
@dougplourd:
Jim, thanks for taking the time to do the “140,” as you know we at @JaysProspects are big fans of BA. Ready?
@jimcallisBA:
Sure, fire away. (more…)
Interview with Casey Lawrence: Blue Jays prospect celebrates new year by reflecting on past successful year
21 month ago
Casey Lawrence joined the Blue Jays organization after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2010
Casey Lawrence joined the Blue Jays’ organization in 2010 upon signing as a non-drafted free agent. In his first year sporting a Blue Jays’ uniform, the 24-year-old prospect from Pennsylvania had a very successful first season.
Lawrence previously discussed his highlights of that season with JaysProspects (which you can read here) but with the new year now upon us, JaysProspects was anxious to hear his thoughts on his most recent season and his plans and resolutions for the future.
While Lawrence joined both the Auburn Doubledays and the Lansing Lugnuts in 2010, this year, the right handed pitcher rejoined the Lugnuts for 22 games before he ended the season with Dunedin.
Comparing his first two seasons, Lawrence said that this past season was very much a learning experience for him. “I didn’t get off to the kind of start I had envisioned after a strong Spring Training,” he said. “I have to give two people a lot of credit in getting me back on track: our pitching coach in Lansing, Vince Horsemen, and one of our catchers, Jack Murphy. Vince had me get back to what had worked for me in the past and that was command of my fastball. I had gotten away from one of my strengths and it was something I worked very hard on during my sides.”
In addition, Lawrence added that teammate, Jack Murphy, was instrumental to helping him find success in 2012: (more…)
Interview with Randall Thompson: Blue Jays’ pitching prospect celebrates his first professional season with success
41 month ago
In 2011, Randall Thompson signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as an undrafted free agent
Randall Thompson has already become a common name discussed when talking about talented prospects within the Blue Jays’ organization. While he was originally a middle infielder in high school, Thompson has most recently found success as a right-handed pitcher for the GCL Blue Jays. Thompson sat down with JaysProspects to discuss his success and his path to professional baseball.
Thompson’s journey in professional baseball began in 2011 when he signed as an undrafted free agent by the Blue Jays. Thompson admits to being hopeful on draft day, but knew that there was no guarantee he would be drafted. “I thought I had a chance to be selected, but I knew it was not a sure thing,” said Thompson.
“I was not surprised after I was not selected; rather I was eager to find a way to get signed. Therefore, I stayed in contact with coach B (Greg Berkemeier) and coach Merc (Matt Mercurio) during the latter part of the draft to discuss options if I went unselected. They both assured me that they would do everything in their power to help me out and that eased my eagerness and apprehension. Sure enough it worked out, and with the help from Florida Tech’s coaching staff, I signed a free agent contract with the Blue Jays.” (more…)
Interview with Chris Roman: Blue Jays’ pitching prospect discusses his first professional season
41 month ago
Chris Roman was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011s
Converted from an outfielder to a pitcher in high school, Chris Roman has found success on the mound at every step of his professional journey in baseball. In fact, he most recently found success with the GCL Blue Jays in 2011 after signing as an undrafted free agent with the Toronto Blue Jays.
“To be honest, I was surprised I wasn’t drafted,” said Roman. “Watching the last round and not hearing my name was painful but shortly after my coach at Nova Southeastern, Greg Brown, called me to let me know a number of teams were interested in signing me as a free agent. After that call, the wait for a team to contact me was worse than not hearing my name in the draft because I still could not be 100 percent sure I would get the opportunity.”
He concluded: “There is no denying that I felt incredibly relieved and excited after signing the contract. I am so thankful for the opportunity to play professional baseball with the Toronto Blue Jays.”
This year, in his first year in the organization, Roman joined the GCL Blue Jays where he posted a 4-2 record with a 6.12 ERA in 17 games played, recording 22 strikeouts while walking only eight. (more…)