Posts tagged Baltimore Orioles
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…)
How the New Updates to the Competitive Balance Lottery will Affect the Blue Jays
32 months ago
by GCM1979
in News and Notes
With the new changes to the CBA, how will this affect MLB teams?
Jonathan Mayo has recently posted an article up at mlb.com regarding additional details regarding the competitive balance lottery. Here are a summary of those details:
- The lottery will occur one day after the draft signing period. The tentative date is July 14th, 2012
- Teams will only be allowed to trade picks during the season. That is, from July 14th, 2012 until the end of the regular season. Teams will not be allowed to trade their draft picks until opening day of the following season leading up until the draft.
- Mayo also provides a list of the teams that will be involved in the lottery. They’re chance of winning is based on their prior year record. Teams are as follows:
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Cleveland Indians
- Oakland Athletics
- San Diego Padres
- Cincinnati Reds
- Miami Marlins
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Baltimore Orioles
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Colorado Rockies
- Milwaukee Brewers
Interview with Art Charles: Behind the Scenes with the First-Baseman Prospect
03 months ago
Art Charles was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 20th round of the 2010 MLB Draft
Arthur (Art) Charles was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. He is a 20-year-old first baseman within the Toronto Blue Jays organization. Those are two pieces of information that all Blue Jays’ fans know. But what do they not know? To find this out, Charles sat down with JaysProspects to share his journey to the Blue Jays’ organization.
The Blue Jays are fortunate to have had the opportunity to sign first baseman, Arthur (Art) Charles in the 20th round of the MLB Draft. In fact, he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2008 and by the Kansas City Royals in 2009. “I waited to sign until the 2010 draft because I felt the timing wasn’t right in the previous drafts. I felt I wasn’t that mature in the 2008 draft and that I wanted to get stronger and mentally tougher as well before starting my career. When the 2009 draft came around I wanted to sign, I felt I was ready but things just didn’t work out so I knew going into 2010 that I wanted to sign and start my professional career,” Charles told JaysProspects.
“I signed with the Blue Jays because I felt they were the team and organization I wanted to be a part of even before they actually drafted me. I went to the Rogers Centre for a pre-draft workout and loved it; from the stadium to the staff, my experience in Toronto was a good one and that sold me. I was hoping to be drafted by the Blue Jays; it’s an honor to be a part of this organization.” (more…)
Decision Time on Adam Loewen
35 months ago
by cmessina85
in Las Vegas 51s
Adam Loewen, while now with the Toronto Blue Jays, was drafted 4th overall by the Baltimore Orioles
Adam Loewen’s career is an interesting story. Baseball fans remember him as the big left-handed pitching prospect in the Baltimore Orioles system. But now it is decision time for the Toronto Blue Jays on the 6,6 235 lbs outfielder.
When Loewen signed with the Jays in October 2008, Rick Ankiel had just made it back to the big leagues as a hitter. Ankiel a converted pitcher had arm issues himself and then decided to get back to the big leagues with Cardinals as a position player. He made it back to the Bigs a centerfielder with St. Louis in 2007 at the age of 27 (the same age Loewen is now) and had success as a major league hitter with a career high 25 Homers in 2008. That off-season the Jays decided to make Adam Loewen their own project. Toronto liked him enough they gave him a two-year minor league deal. Usually minor league contracts are 1-year. Last winter, the Jays renewed Loewen’s deal through the 2011 season.
Loewen has moved up a level each year in his three seasons in the Jays farm system. He started out in high-A Dunedin in 2009 and hit .236 with 4 HR and 31 RBI with .695 OPS in 335 at bats. Last year in AA New Hampshire he had a .246 average, but the power numbers improved. The former Oriole belted 13 homers and drove in 70 runs, while posted an OPS of .763. After the Fisher Cats were eliminated from the Eastern League playoffs, he had a month off, before playing in the Arizona Fall League to get some more at bats.
Today, AAA Las Vegas heads into the final game of the regular season and Loewen has seen a rise in his numbers again this year. In the hitter friendly Pacific Coast League, Loewen has hit .308, hit 17 HR and picked up 84 RBI. Most impressive is his .888 OPS. From all reports he’s pretty good defensively as he has a strong throwing arm.
If he is called-up he might not get a chance to be an everyday player, at least for Toronto. Many believe Loewen is best suited as a fourth Outfielder and left-handed power bat off the bench.
Adam Loewen pitched an amazing game against Team USA at the World Baseball Classic
Despite the number of high-ceiling prospects the Jays have in their organization Canadian baseball fans have a soft spot for the native of Surrey, British Columbia. He was selected 4th overall by the Baltimore Orioles in 2002. At the time he was the highest Canadian ever taken in the Major League Baseball Draft. He had some good moments in a Baseball Canada uniform, the highlight being the 2006 World Baseball Classic when he defeated Team USA at Chase Field in Phoenix.
Loewen reached the Major Leagues in 2006 with
the Baltimore Orioles at the age of 22. He appeared in 22 games (19 starts) for the Orioles that season. Then the arm issues began. He only lasted parts of three seasons in the big leagues as a pitcher. Then he made the decision to try and hit his way back to the big leagues.
After the 51’s season finale today, we will find out what Toronto thinks of Adam Loewen the hitter. Regardless of whether he is called-up it was still nice to see Canada’s only Major League club give a Canadian a second shot at baseball.
All of us here at Jays Prospects would like to wish Adam the best of luck!
As always I look forward to hearing the reader’s feedback on my articles. Please leave your comments below and/or give me a follow on twitter @cmessina85.
Lawrie and Order: The Debut
36 months ago
by Cody Cockrum
in News and Notes
Very rarely does one game sum up a player’s strengths, weaknesses, and abilities, but highly touted prospect Brett Lawrie’s MLB debut did just that tonight.
The Blue Jays top prospect was able to show off his above average athleticism and arm right away in the first inning on a Nick Markakis ground ball down the line. Lawrie, playing well off the line, got to the ball quickly and made a strong throw to first, albeit off target. However, you cannot teach athleticism or arm strength and Lawrie has plenty of it.
Lawrie put his best tool, his bat, to use in his first Major League at-bat. After working himself into a favorable 2-0 count by laying off two close cutters, he fouled off a couple more tough offerings from Tommy Hunter before smacking a line drive back up the middle for his first career hit and RBI in a Blue Jays uniform.
A lot has been said about Lawrie’s aggressive approach at the plate and the Jays front office specifically asked him to work on his approach and he showcased that improvement in his first at-bat by taking close pitches, working the count, and having a solid two-strike approach by shortening up and looking to hit the ball up the middle. Although his next two at-bats were not as successful as the first, he still showed a strong presence, mature approach, and the ability to get down the line quickly. He showed off his bat speed again in his final plate appearance by getting on top of a high fastball and crushing a single to left field.
Lawrie found the hot corner to be a tougher challenge than his natural hitting ability. It may be nerves, but he appears to be very jumpy at third, causing two balls hit off his glove, with scored an error. Granted, these were hard hit balls, but those are plays that Major League third basemen have to make. He also made a low throw to Hill when trying to turn a double play, causing the batter to reach first safely. To me, Lawrie looks like a future corner outfielder, with his athleticism and strong arm. His actions just did not appear to play well at third.
However, I was most impressed with Lawrie’s confidence. I loved his demeanor at the plate, he looked and acted he belonged there. He has a necessary arrogance that successful players possess. Every time the camera was on him, he looked like he belonged in a Major League uniform. I believe this will be Lawrie’s biggest asset as his young career progresses. He won’t be fazed by the failures that come with playing baseball at the highest level, whether at the plate or in the field.
He has all the tools to be a star for the Jays for the next 15 years. Once he is moved to the outfield, I believe he will be able to relax even more about his defense and concentrate more on hitting, the Ryan Braun effect. Hopefully he is managed correctly by playing every day and it will be interesting to see if he is moved around in the line-up, possibly replacing Thames in the number two spot.
Lawrie says he isn’t a savior now, but he has the right attitude and skills when it’s time to be one.