This is the third installment of what I hope is going to be a bi-monthly article updating fans on the Toronto Blue Jays ‘ minor league teams and prospects. A new one should be available every second Thursday.
Las Vegas 51’s (AAA) —(37-43, Third in PCL Pacific South Division)
The 51’s remain in the same place they were as of last update. Pitching is still a huge problem, while the offense has been firing on all cylinders since day one of the 2010 season.
Catcher JP Arencibia (pictured), has been on an absolute tear this past couple of months, raising his average from a .266 to .308 and hitting 15 home runs for a season total of 18.
Brett Wallace has been able to rebound from a bad slump he had in late May/early June and is hitting at a .301 clip with 14 home runs, three of those in his last nine games after suffering through a prolonged power outage.
Third baseman Edwin Encarnacion has been tearing it up in Las Vegas since being sent down by the Toronto Blue Jays for poor performance. He is currently hitting .438 with three home runs and 13 RBI’s, although in limited at bats.
Jarrett Hoffpauir , Luis Figueroa , and Jesus Merchan are all also hitting well above .300 with good power. Brian Dopirak has been able to rebound from a terrible start, now hitting .275 with eight home runs.
Reidier Gonzalez has continued to be knocked around, sporting a 9.18 ERA in 16 starts, although he still has a 6-6 record. Lance Broadway (2-7, 6.83 ERA) and Mark Rzepczynski (4-3, 6.66 ERA) have only been marginally better.
The 51’s best starting pitcher so far has been lefty Brad Mills , who has a 4.67 ERA to go along with a 4-4 record in 13 starts. Jeremy Accardo (21.2 IP, 2.91 ERA) and Sean Henn (49.1 IP, 1.82 ERA) have been the go to guys in the bullpen.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA) —(47-32, Second in EAS Northern Division)
Despite a paltry .193 average down at Dunedin, Adeiny Hechavarria has been promoted to play shortstop for the Fisher Cats and has participated in two games so far.
The Fisher Cats have been able to maintain there high level of play because they have been getting contributions from many different sources. Manny Mayorson (.316 AVG, .376 OBP), Darin Mastroianni (.300 AVG, .394 OBP) and Brian Jeroloman (.289 AVG, .449 OBP) have all been able to get on base a lot to set up great run scoring opportunities for the big bats on the Cats roster.
Shawn Bowman (12 HR, 39 RBI), Eric Thames (12 HR, 54 RBI), and David Cooper (11 HR, 41 RBI) have been able to make the most out of the Fisher Cats run scoring opportunities.
Kyle Drabek has continued to pitch well with a 7-8 record and 3.49 ERA in 98 innings pitched, although his strikeouts are down considerably. Zach Stewart (6-2, 4.54 ERA) and Luis Perez (5-6, 4.54 ERA) have also pitched well this season.
The bullpen has gotten great seasons from many pitchers including: Trystan Magnuson (2.30 ERA, 43 IP), Tim Collins (2.77 ERA, 39 IP), and Adrian Martin (2.70 ERA, 36.2 IP).
Dunedin Blue Jays (A) —(41-29, First in FSL North Division)
The Dunedin Blue Jays were able to finish well ahead of the competition in the first half of the season with good hitting and great pitching from almost every pitcher on the roster.
Top catching prospect Travis D’Arnaud has rebounded well from his back injury and is now hitting .283 with six home runs on the season. A call up to New Hampshire may happen sooner rather then later.
Although both have simmered down a little since their incredible starts, Henderson Alvarez (6-4, 3.38 ERA) and Chuck Huggins (5-2, 2.84 ERA) have continued to be revelations for the Dunedin Blue Jays and the main reasons for their first half record.
Toronto’s highest drafted player from last year, Chad Jenkins , has been called up to Dunedin from Lansing and has gone 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts so far.
Lansing Lugnuts (Low A) —(40-35, Third in Eastern Division)
A lot of players from Lansing are now with Dunedin, or even New Hampshire. The best player that remains is catcher AJ Jimenez , who is hitting .308 with an amazing 15 stolen bases.
Now that Chad Jenkins has been called to Dunedin, Ryan Tepera is far and away the Lugnuts best pitcher, sporting a 7-2 record to go along with a 3.08 ERA in 14 starts and 80 innings pitched.
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