Posts tagged JaysProspects
Fisher Cats get swept by the Rock Cats in first Home Series
01 month ago
The Fisher Cats got swept to the Rock Cats in their first home series at Safe Auto Stadium (Photo credit: Josh Bisson / JaysProspects.com)
The Fisher Cats battled New Britain in the first four of 28 games of their 2012 campaign. Unfortunately, the Rock Cats fought hard, sweeping the home town heroes for the first time since being swept by Harrisburg in August 2011.
The home opener saw a dominating performance by Jason Marquis, but the Rock Cats kept the momentum in their favor for the entire series. On Friday night, New Britain stormed out to a three-run lead in the first inning, which was all they needed to secure the win as New Hampshire was held to only one run on three hits.
Saturday saw the Cats quiet through seven, before an electric finish narrowly overcoming a six-run ninth inningdeficit to take the loss 7-6.
Sunday’s finale saw the Fisher Cats quieted again by another pitcher with Major League experience. This time it was New Britain’s Luke French keeping the bats on ice. Sunday was also the second-three-hit effort in this series for the Fisher Cats. Coincidentally, New Hampshire was swept at home last April 11-13th against Reading. That team rebounded and ended up winning the EL title, so it just may be a thing for Sal’s Sons.
“They’re definitely one of the better teams that we’re seen here in New Hampshire,” said manager, Sal Fasano, shortly after Sundays Loss.
Despite the losses, the atmosphere was far from glum in the club house after Sunday’s game. When asked about the recent skid, Brad Glenn confidently stated, “We need to have a short memory, keep working hard, and go and get them tomorrow.”
While Glenn opened many eyes in Lansing, he has certainly impressed in 2012 with the Fisher Cats
New to New Hampshire, Brad Glenn, may even remind some of Brett Lawrie. Glenn, a California native and the 23rd round pick for the Blue Jays in 2009, is as feisty as any Fisher Cat who has ever played the right field position in Manchester.
Meeting Glenn off the field is in no way a reflection of his tenacious demeanor in and around the baseball diamond.” He plays each game as if it was his last,” states Fasano on his right-fielder.
Glenn, who said he had had no idea he even had a seven game hitting streak broken, credits hitting coach, Jon Nuttally for his early success at the plate. His plate presence is amazing, and he looks ready to pounce on opposing pitching. Needless to say pitchers will need to take notice on #44.
Another big improvement that has been recognized early in the season is from center fielder Justin Jackson. The former 1st-round pick appears to be coming into his own in 2012, having entered Sunday’s game with an impressive .429 batting average. Jackson gained ten pounds over the off-season and has been working hard in improving on multiple facets of his game. He also credits hitting coach Jon Nuttally for his assistance and direction starting in Spring Training.
Howard spoke to JaysProspects after Saturday's game (Photo credit: Josh Bisson)
Sal Fasano pointed out that Nuttally was also a former accomplished outfielder, and has been able to help Jackson (a natural shortstop) to his new role in center field. On his transition, he further confidently stated, “Justin has an incredible arm.”
To listen to JaysProspects interview with Justin Jackson, click here: Justin Jackson
The best hit of the series was, without a doubt, the three run bomb hit by Kevin Howard in the ninth in Saturday’s matinee. I had a bird eyes view of a picture perfect swing, as Howard drove off his back foot exploding on contact and driving that baseball over the service road onto the gravel between the train tracks.
JaysProspects was fortunate to speak with Howard after the hit, and to hear what the veteran had to say, click here: Kevin Howard
The best inning pitched was the first inning of Sunday’s game where Drew Hutchison retired the side striking out the final two batters in the frame. (And for those wondering, Hutchison did not seem to have any knowledge of a call-up to Toronto when asked by the Union Leader’s Kevin Gray.)
Matt Wright made his Fisher Cat debut on Friday after getting the call after Evan Crawford was called up to the Big League club. He retired the first six batters he faced before giving up a hit in his third frame. He looked poised on the mound and has a very smooth delivery.
Former Fisher Cat, Ricky Romero,had tweeted a picture of a newspaper article (http://twitpic.com/99cngh) featuring the three Fisher Cat aces Deck McGuire, Chad Jenkins, and Drew Hutchinson. “Toronto really up in arms,” is the headline. Our other JaysProspects affiliate reporters will be quick to excite Blue Jays fans with a reminder that the lower levels are just as stacked in talent as NH. We look forward for names like Norris, Syndergaard, Nicolino, Sanchez and Wojciechowski as they travel through New Hampshire on the road to the show.
The Fisher Cats are back at it again tomorrow when Binghamton comes into town for three games to complete this seven-game opening home stand. New Hampshire will start righty Ryan Tepera against south paw Mark Cohoon of the B-Mets.
Blue Jays Prospect Report: Lansing Lugnuts (Class-A)
21 month ago
By Daniel Jarrett @ProspectD2J
The Blue Jays Class-A affiliate, the Lansing Lugnuts are off to an impressive start to the 2012 Midwest League season. The team is 8-1 to start the year, after reaching the league championship series a year ago. Both editions of the team have featured very talented rosters, but the 2012 club’s strength is on the mound, as opposed to in the outfield the previous year.
The 2011 edition of the Lansing Lugnuts featured the impressive young outfield trio of Jake Marisnick, Marcus Knecht and Michael Crouse.
The 2012 squad features the impressive trio of RHP Noah Syndergaard, LHP Justin Nicolino and RHP Aaron Sanchez.
I had the chance to visit the Lugnuts during their season opening series against the Great Lakes Loons, and Syndergaard was front and centre on opening night.
Syndergaard warming up on the mound prior to his start. Click here to watch more video of Syndergaard from his Opening Day start.
Syndergaard used his mid 90′s fastball, and improving off speed pitches to strike out six Loons hitters over his three innings pitched. He worked quickly and pitched ahead in the count most of the night, which kept the opposing team off balance at the plate. It was only due to his innings/pitch limit that he only worked three outings in his first start of the season. The Lugnuts have been piggy-backing starters on many nights in an effort to limit the innings of the respective pitchers.
Syndergaard strikes out Great Lakes Loons 2B Kevin Taylor
Syndergaard looked sharp during 2012 minor league spring training as well, and he has the potential to move quickly through the lower levels of the farm system. After making two starts for the Lugnuts at the end of the 2011 season, Syndergaard could easily pitch his way to Class-A+ Dunedin with a string of 10-15 consistent starts.
Lugnuts C Carlos Perez
Although the early season buzz around this year’s club has been about the talent on the mound, there are some very talented young hitters on the roster as well. C Carlos Perez, 1B K.C. Hobson and OF Markus Brisker are key returnees from the 2011 roster. 3B Kellen Sweeney, OF Chris Hawkins, 2B Jonathon Berti, SS Andrew Burns, OF Kenny Wilson and SS Jorge Vega all bring different elements of offensive and defensive talent to the team. Sweeney and Hawkins are impact, potential middle of the order bats. Wilson and Berti are top of the lineup catalysts who like to work the count and wreak havoc on the bases with their speed. Burns and Vega are talented infielder who will share time at the shortstop position. Burns saw time in Major League games during spring training, while Vega was a Gulf Coast League All-Star in 2011.
For video of the following Lugnuts hitters, click on each of their names:
Carlos Perez | K.C. Hobson | Markus Brisker | Kellen Sweeney | Chris Hawkins
Jonathon Berti | Andrew Burns | Kenny Wilson | Jorge Vega
Hobson wasn’t with the team over the weekend, as he spent a few extra days down at the Blue Jays spring training facility in Florida. Perez, Sweeney, Wilson and 1B Kevin Patterson led the offense with the bats. Syndergaard, RHP Anthony DeSclafani, LHP David Rollins, RHP Marcus Walden and RHP Ajay Meyer led the Lugnuts pitchers in shutting down the Great Lakes Loons hitters. Rollins was the Blue Jays 24th round draft pick in 2011, and he made seven impressive starts last season between the Bluefield Blue Jays and the Vancouver Canadians, pitching to a 4-0 record with a 1.77 ERA. In 35.2 innings pitched, he allowed just three walks while striking out 29 batters.
We released our updated Blue Jays prospect rankings at MLBProspectPortal.com, and four Lugnuts are featured among the team’s top 20 prospects, RHP Noah Syndergaard (#5), LHP Justin Nicolino (#6), RHP Aaron Sanchez (#9) and C Carlos Perez (#16). There is outstanding depth throughout the organization right now as several prospects who are currently on the outside of the top 20 looking in, would be feature players, and locks to make the top 20 list of almost any other team in baseball.
Lugnuts RHP Anthony DeSclafani
Sweeney and Hawkins are the two hitters who are poised to make the biggest jump up the rankings if they stay healthy and play well this season. 1B K.C. Hobson is another hitter who could break out this year, as he looks like a completely different hitter as he enters his second season with the Lugnuts.
RHP Anthony DeSclafani has been impressive throughout camp and now early on into the season, and he could be a pitcher that works his way into the top 20 discussion come midseason.
Over the next week or so, I’ll be posting more video clips of different Lugnuts players from their opening series with the Great Lakes Loons so stay tuned to JaysProspects.com and follow me on Twitter @ProspectD2J. The Lugnuts are on an exciting role to open the season, and they’re helping the Blue Jays develop yet another wave of talented young ball players.
The relationship between the Midwest League Lansing Lugnuts and the Toronto Blue Jays should only continue to prosper over the next few seasons, considering the amount of young talent the team has stockpiled through the amateur draft and the international free agent market over the past couple of years.
Many of those players will make their full season minor league debuts wearing Lugnuts colours. LHP Daniel Norris, RHP Adonys Cardona, OF Jake Anderson, 3B Matt Dean, RHP Kevin Comer, RHP Joe Musgrove, , OF Dwight Smith Jr, OF Dalton Pompey and RHP Roberto Osuna are prominant names among the next wave(s) of Blue Jays prospects that should get their feet wet in Lansing in the next 12-18 months.
Fisher Cats lose first home game to the Rock Cats
01 month ago
Justin Jackson went 3-3 in Thursday's game against the Rock Cats, raising his batting average to a team-leading, -3 with two stolen bases for New Hampshire raising his average to a team-leading .409.
The Fisher Cats opened the season before a crowd of over 6,500 Thursday night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Unfortunately they had to face Rehabbing MLB pitcher Jason Marquis who got the start for the New Britain Rock Cats. Chad Jenkins took the hill for New Hampshire and Mother Nature picked up right where she left off last year with intermittent rain falling on Chad’s night to pitch.
Deibinson Romero had the honors of having the first home run of 2012, striking a hanging home run just inside the left field foul pole in the top of the second putting New Britain up 1-0. The Rock Cats struck again in the 4th, this time Aaron Hicks delivering a solo home run over the right field onto the service road. Things remained quiet until the sixth inning. After an Aaron Hicks sacrifice RBI, Deibinson Robinson hit his 2nd home run of the game (a two run shot) that gave New Britain a five-run lead.
The Fisher Cats got on the board in the bottom of the sixth with Justin Jackson scoring on a Jonathan Diaz ground-out, after a double and a steal. The loudest moment of the night was in the bottom of the 8th new fan favorite Koby Clemens homered to dead center field bringing the deficit down to three runs. Brad Glenn had the final RBI in the bottom of the ninth bringing in Ryan Goins with a single.
Marquis (1-0) threw eight innings, allowing five hits, two runs with seven strikeouts. He stayed ahead in the count, and had the Fisher Cats on their toes at the plate. Jason did not allow a walk, and soon will be pitching with the Minnesota Twins who signed him to a $3 Million dollar contract in the off season.
Jenkins (1-1) pitched seven innings with five hits and five runs allowed. He only issued one walk and struck out five in his first home start of the campaign. Justin Jackson continued his hot start going 3-3 with two stolen bases for New Hampshire bringing his average up to a team leading .409.
Deck McGuire takes the mound tomorrow at 5:05 for New Hampshire in the second of a four-game series.
A New Era in Lansing
01 month ago
Returning again to the Lugnuts in 2012, Brisker is already showing off his skills
On Thursday, the Lansing Lugnuts started their season strong with a 7-0 exhibition win over Michigan State University in their annual Crosstown Showdown. Friday, however, marked their offficial start, where they kicked off their season against their in-state rival, the Great Lakes Loons. Thanks to a strong outing by pitchers Noah Syndergaard and Brandon Berl, and key hits from Kevin Patterson, Chris Hawkins and Kenny Wilson, the Lugnuts defeated the Loons by a score of 3-2.
On Saturday, to give the players Easter Sunday off, the two teams played a double-header, which I was delighted to see live and witness what the Lugnuts have to showcase this season with a new manager, new faces and high expectations after being the Midwest League runner-ups last season.
First thing I observed was that the team has great speed and likes to run. In fact, they stole eight bases in two games without getting caught stealing once! Another thing I noticed was the team is very strong defensively.
One of the players who really stood out was Markus Brisker. The 21-year-old-who was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 6th round of the 2008 MLB draft out of Winter Haven High School in Winter Haven Florida. In the first game, Brisker singled to lead off the 2nd inning and wasted no time stealing 2nd and 3rd base and scoring on an Andy Burns sacrifice fly. In the second game Brisker reached base on a walk in the 2nd inning and he made it home on a Kellen Sweeney double. (more…)
Five Bold Predictions and my AL East preview
11 month ago
by Doug Plourd
in News and Notes
Thursday is Milb and MLB Opening Day
It is in the air…can you see it? The sun shining brightly helps create shadows in the infield, as nine men play on a diamond. Can you smell it? Freshly cut grass mixes with the aroma of roasted peanuts and hot dogs. Can you hear it? The loud roar of the crowd after the distinctive crack of the bat. It is in the air…optimism, confidence, hope. It’s that time of year again, where everyone starts with the identical record, all with the one goal, of raising a trophy in late October !(ok, the Orioles theoretically are already 15 games out of first place).
So, not only does the season begin for the players, it’s also the start of six months of ups and downs for us, the fans. Opening day (or in the case of 2012, opening day part TROIS) should be a holiday. (as should the Monday after the SuperBowl…and March 18th…and May 6th…but I digress). The days leading up to our favorite team taking the field for the first real games of the year, are as long as the week leading up to Christmas when you are 8 years old. But alas, the clock finally turns, the ump yells play ball, and the first pitch is thrown.
The week leading up to the first pitch, is also a time for predictions. Everyone does them, and we all are just guessing, but in the end, it is fun and if you hit on just ONE against-the-grain pick, you hold it over your friends forever. So below are five predictions for the upcoming season regarding current and past JaysProspects. I didn’t want to go TOO overly aggressive (Kevin Comer pitches game 1 of the World Series in Toronto) but didn’t want to lay in the conservative camp either. (Brett Lawrie will hit at LEAST .175 this year) (more…)
Interview with Trystan Magnuson: Right-handed pitcher happy to re-join the Blue Jays organization
01 month ago
by April Whitzman
in Interviews
Magnuson was selected 56th overall by the Blue Jays in the 2007 MLB Draft (photo credit: Eddie Michels)
Trystan Magnuson was drafted in the 1st round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. An experience, the former 56th overall pick, could only describe as being incredible.
“I was in my college locker room watching the draft. There was quite a bit of anticipation about who was going to draft me,” he said. “I knew that there were several teams that were interested in having me, but I didn’t know who was the most interested or where in the draft they had me slotted. Then the news came that I was picked by the Blue Jays! There was a wave of excitement and also a bit of doubt about whether this was actually real. Did I just get drafted with the 56th pick? Did I just get drafted by the team that I watched win the ’92 and ’93 World Series as a kid on TV in Winnipeg? And then just flat out excitement as I thought about how much I was going to enjoy the next years playing for the Jays.”
In his first year with the Jays’ organization, Magnuson joined the Lansing Lugnuts in 2008, where he went 0-9 with a 5.40 ERA in 24 starts, striking out 49 and walking 35 in 81 2/3 innings.
“That year was tough,” said Magnuson of his first taste of minor league ball. “There was a lot of excitement and anticipation going into my first season. And a lot of expectations about my pro career from myself. After having a season in college where I was the closer on the University of Louisville team that went to Omaha, and having only given up 1 run the entire regular season, I put a lot of expectations and pressure on myself. It was an amazing learning experience, not only with my baseball skill, but more so mentally and spiritually. (more…)
Five years of first-rounders: What the Blue Jays have done with their first-round picks over the last five years
11 month ago
Drafting players is an interesting element of baseball. While it is an extremely important event that shapes the future of an organization, an overwhelming majority of these prospects do not even touch the big leagues. With the ever-growing attention and raised awareness regarding the draft, it is more important than ever for front offices to use their picks wisely – especially when that pick is in the first round. Drafting first round talent poses a big challenge, and there are both great successes and dismal failures among the 18 first-rounders selected by the Blue Jays in the past 5 years.
Let’s take a look at where they are, what they’ve done, and what they’ll be doing in 2012.
Snider was selected in the 1st round (14th overall) of the 2006 MLB Draft
Travis Snider 2006 (14th overall)
Snider was drafted in ‘06 as an 18 year-old who was built to hit home runs. Fast forward to 2012 and we have a 23-year-old who has yet to fulfill his full potential and is most-definitely looking towards the 2012 season to prove he can compete at the major league level . Snider whizzed his way through the Blue Jays farm system like few have done before him, posting stats such as a .313 BA with 16 HR and 93 RBI in 118 games with Lansing in ‘07. In ‘08 Snider earned three promotions and ended his season in Toronto as the youngest position player in all of Major League Baseball at the age of 20.
As we all know, Snider has shown flashes of brilliance during his stints in the bigs and few question his ability to generate offense or get on base. It is simply consistency and an ability to keep providing solid at-bats that will be vital to Snider’s progression and return in the upcoming season.
Kevin Ahrens 2007 (16th overall)
Kevin Ahrens was drafted to eventually become a staple in Toronto’s middle-infield. While the Texan, who turns 23 in April, has since shifted to the hot corner, he also has been stuck in a revolving door between Lansing and Dunedin since 2008. Ahrens has hit .240 during his five years in the minors and will also look to improve upon his lackluster numbers in the field.
Ahrens is figured to begin his season in Dunedin and will hopefully progress and make his climb up the system. While he still has time to improve, Ahrens is unfortunately, not yet looking like a strong investment at 16th overall as we enter the 2012 season. (more…)