Blue Jays Minor League Register - Hitters, A-K

Thursday, November 20 2003 @ 09:43 AM EST

Contributed by: Dave Till

Here, for your enlightenment, enjoyment, or whatever, is info on every Blue Jays hitting prospect I could think of since the dawn of recorded time. Needless to say, this project grew to be rather larger than expected! (Eventually, I'll do the pitchers too, but not right away.)

I've divided the list into two parts - A-K and L-Z - as I don't want to choke a single thread. Hopefully the formatting will work out - I tested it in another thread, and on two browsers, before posting it here. Scream if there are any problems!

Each player has a Buzz Factor listed, which is a non-scientific estimate of the amount of hype the player generated, from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

Hope you find some of this useful, and enjoy!

Brent Abernathy
Buzz Factor: 3
In many organizations, this guy would have been a barn-burning prospect after his 1999 season, but the Jays also had Izturis, Lopez and Hudson, so they could afford to trade Abernathy for Mark Guthrie and Steve "ZZZZZ" Trachsel in 2000. His major league numbers seem to show that he just wasn't quite good enough. Is it more of a tragedy to make it 95% of the way to the dream of your lifetime, or to stop well short? In his dreams, he rolls the clock back four years, to when he seemed to have the world by the tail.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
199921Knoxville-AA.2915774211362554734--

Russ Adams
Buzz Factor: 7
We'll need a year or so to know more. But it's too early to get excited - compare Adams' AA stats to those of Alex Gonzalez. He and Aaron Hill are very similar players, but it looks like Hill is just a touch better. Strikeout rate is low, which is a good sign.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
200322NewHaven-AA.277271104426303781

Jimmy Alvarez
Buzz Factor: 3
Has good plate discipline, but high strikeout totals. This looks like a case of Cruz Junior Syndrome: there's pitches he can't hit, and he's learned to lay off them. Unfortunately, as he climbs higher, more pitchers throw the pitches he can't hit. Not really a prospect; might be a throw-in in a deal sometime, like Abernathy.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
200222Knoxville-AA.27849732386979121201113 sac bunts
200323Syracuse-AAA.25734213742545921159 sac bunts

Jesse Barfield
Buzz Factor: 8
A broad base of skills, including very high triples totals. Had high walk totals and strikeout totals, which suggests somebody who waited for his pitch, but didn't always hit it when he got it. This is exactly the player that Barfield became in the majors. One of the few players to become successful in The Show despite high strikeout totals in the minors.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
198020Knoxville-AA.2404331281465571131122 weeks on DL in August
198121Knoxville-AA.26152424131670591112511

Kevin Batiste
Buzz Factor: 2
Famous for being caught packing a gun in his suitcase when boarding a flight with the Jays in 1989. Ran like a scalded cat: he stole 70 bases at Dunedin in 1987. Not really ever a prospect.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
198821Knoxville-AA.234363144322311193113
198821Syracuse-AAA.229105611943984
198922Knoxville-AA.22227988125408120--triples a typo?

Howard Battle
Buzz Factor: 4
Third-base prospect who was loudly cheered when he appeared in a few games as a late-season callup in 1995, which gives you an idea how highly Ed Sprague was regarded in Toronto. Traded to Philly in the deal that brought Paul Quantrill to Toronto; failed there, and kicked around for a while in the high minors, briefly surfacing in Atlanta.

Kash Beauchamp
Buzz Factor: 2
Outfield prospect whom I'd completely forgotten about. Coulda been a leadoff man (or a contender) but was stuck behind Bell, Moseby, Barfield, Shepherd, Webster, Campusano, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. In baseball, like in comedy and life, timing is everything.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
1985??Knoxville-AA.276497145434606325-J.P. would have loved him
1986??Knoxville-AA.33719310182517405-
1986??Syracuse-AAA.26319811172113446-or maybe not

Derek Bell
Buzz Factor: 8
I've never met the man, but I suspect that his major problem was that he was as thick as two planks. A smarter man would never have invented "Operation Shutdown". In 1991, he led the International League in virtually everything (AVG, R, 3B, RBI). When young, played on a team that went to the Little League World Series three consecutive years.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
198920Knoxville-AA.24251322616752692157free swinger!
199021Syracuse-AAA.2614021357562375217two hammy pulls
199122Syracuse-AAA.3464572212139357692711RHW winner

George Bell
Buzz Factor: 7
You know all this stuff already. Stomped all over A-ball pitching as an 18-year-old in the Philly system; injuries and a Rule V year cost him three years of development. I'm told that the Phillies fired somebody (their scouting director?) after the Jays drafted him.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
198222Syracuse-AAA.2001255431914222injured; BB total a typo?
198323Syracuse-AAA.2713171141559235453called up midseason

Jossephang Bernhardt
Buzz Factor: 5
Not one of Gord Ash's better ideas. 'Nuff said.

Geronimo Berroa
Buzz Factor: 6
You've probably forgotten about this guy. Would have been a star prospect everywhere but Toronto, after mashing Southern League pitching into a pulp, but found his way blocked by Bell, Moseby, Barfield, and, ulp, Campusano, which undoubtedly discouraged him. Eventually donated to the Atlanta Braves, who often served as a dumping ground for players that the Jays no longer wanted. After an off-year with the Braves, he proceeded to pound Triple-A pitching in three different leagues before finally getting a shot with Oakland. Was called up in September of 1987, but Jimy Williams never used him, so the collapse wasn't his fault, unless he cheered poorly or something.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
198722Knoxville-AA.287523333361084610421RHW winner
198823Syracuse-AAA.260470291864388875where did my HR swing go?

Casey Blake
Buzz Factor: 4
Square-jawed third base prospect who hit .350 or better at two minor league levels in 1998, which is the way to get everyone's attention. Was optioned to the New York-Penn League for one game in 1999. It's not clear why. Was voted the best defensive third baseman in the International League in 1999; it's too bad they don't allow you to hit with your glove. Still hovering around, trying to hook on with a team here and there.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
199824Knoxville-AA.3721721547382225100alien possession?
199925Syracuse-AAA.2453871622275618200nice power

Pat Borders
Buzz Factor: 5
Wasn't a particularly good catcher coming up, which is understandable, since he was originally a third baseman, and then a first baseman. He finally moved behind the plate in 1986. I seem to recall that he was good at blocking pitches, which is probably what got him here so quickly. The 1990 media guide lists Borders' baseball hero as Pete Rose.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
198724Knoxville-AA.2923491411151205625old for his league
198825Syracuse-AAA.24212080314162200in Tor first half; rehab

Rich Butler
Buzz Factor: 8
Considered a better prospect than his older brother, as he was bigger and had more power. Had one good season at Syracuse, which led to his being plucked by the Devil Rays in the 1995 expansion draft. He crashed and burned in his first year in Tampa in 1998, and dropped off the major league radar screen shortly after.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
199724Syracuse-AAA.30053730924876010720

Rob Butler
Buzz Factor: 7
Somewhere, there's an alternative universe in which Butler The Elder had a long career as a leadoff man. In this world, for reasons which became tragically obvious many years later, Butler never could get his game together. (Butler was abused by a babysitter as a child, which took him years to recover from.) Shot through the system very quickly: hit .358 in Dunedin in 1992, and was in Toronto one year later.

Francisco Cabrera
Buzz Factor: 6
Probably still can get free drinks in many bars in the South. Traded to Atlanta in 1989 as part of the deal that brought Jim Acker back to Toronto. Signed by Epy Guerrero. At 6'4", was probably too tall to be a successful catcher; Phelps and Delgado, who both started as catchers, are also big men. Organizations should probably move the big guys to the outfield or first base early, to give them a chance to develop defensive skills. Cabrera might have had more of a career had the Jays done that.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
198820Knoxville-AA.2844291912054267543
198921Syracuse-AAA.29942830597120724-homers became doubles

Sil Campusano
Buzz Factor: 9
Jays fans of a certain age are wincing already. What I didn't realize about Jimy's Folly was that he had good plate discipline in the minors. This, combined with his relatively low batting average and high strikeout totals, suggests a case of Cruz Junior Syndrome: as he moved up, more pitchers found his weaknesses, and he never adjusted. I strongly suspect that Campusano's age was a baseball fiction, as his growth path is atypical, but I have no way to prove this.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
198518Knoxville-AA.303178906291432104also 88 games in Florence (A)
198619Knoxville-AA.2564933261459611101811
198720Syracuse-AAA.26448120101463471102715
198821Syracuse-AAA.21062300322012unhappy camper
198922Syracuse-AAA.242356194630448117--the bloom is off this rose

Kevin Cash
Buzz Factor: 8
I am beginning to think that Tennessee is a hitter's park. It's too early to write Cash off, of course, but lots of people have hit .277 in AA and stalled out higher up. Has some power and some plate discipline, which are the Holy Virtues, so it's worth giving him a full shot. He's been old for his levels, though, so becoming a marginal regular is the best he can hope for.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
200224Tennessee-AA.277213151844364452
200224Syracuse-AAA.2202361801026257201
200325Syracuse-AAA.270326282837298110K/W ratio worse - oh oh

Domingo Cedeno
Buzz Factor: 3
Light-hitting infielder who unexpectedly got hot in 1996, basically forcing Cito Gaston to play him until his bat inevitably died. There's no way around this problem: you can't bench somebody who's hitting .350. Epy Guerrero signing.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
199122Knoxville-AA.22333676126297811612 sac bunts
199223Knoxville-AA.22633777221188889
199223Syracuse-AAA.19357400531400

Felipe Crespo
Buzz Factor: 5
The standard stathead orthodoxy of the late 1990's was that Crespo deserved to be the club's second baseman. He actually won the job in 1996, but pulled a hamstring in spring training (apparently while stretching in the on-deck circle); while he was out, Domingo Cedeno got hot. Eventually, the Jays decided that Crespo couldn't play second. Spent a week as the regular third baseman in 1997 after Sprague and Evans got hurt, but then got hurt himself. Finally wound up on the roster in 1998 as a bat off the bench and occasional outfielder, but didn't hit or field.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
199421Knoxville-AA.2695023048495795208
199522Syracuse-AAA.29434720513414156127on DL with leg contusion
199623Syracuse-AAA.28235525085856391011great K/W ratio
199724Syracuse-AAA.2592901201226463877I can hit HR now, too!

Juan De La Rosa
Buzz Factor: 2
I'd completely forgotten about him. In fact, I still don't remember anything about him. He had a good season in 1992, but that was repeating the league. A Dominican who was not signed by Epy Guerrero, as far as I can tell - at least it's not mentioned. Had more extra-base hits than RBI's in 1992 - how do you do that? Swung at absolutely everything, which is why I don't remember him.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
199122Knoxville-AA.21538211143317951711
199223Knoxville-AA.3295083212125315941612RHW winner

Carlos Delgado
Buzz Factor: 10
Without question, the most highly-touted prospect in Jays history, as he started appearing on radar screens in 1991 after pounding 18 home runs at Myrtle Beach. When he dismantled Florida State League pitching in 1992, batting .324 with 30 home runs and 100 RBI, people were starting to name their children after him. (He won the Baseball Weekly Minor League Player of the Year award that year, and was the first player in eight years to reach the 100 RBI plateau in the FSL.) Jays' management have been accused of keeping Carlos in the minors too long, but the problem they faced was that they had no position for him. They didn't want him to catch, he couldn't play the outfield, and first base and DH were occupied by John Olerud and Paul Molitor. Had he been able to play the outfield even a little bit, he would have come back up in 1994. Played in one game for the 1993 Jays. Won the R. Howard Webster award three times.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
199320Knoxville-AA.303468280251021029810310 SB's!? League MVP; RHW
199421Syracuse-AAA.3193071101958425810
199522Syracuse-AAA.3183332342274457804nothing left to learn here

Rob Ducey
Buzz Factor: 8
Widely heralded because of his nationality: he was the first player from Ontario to play for the Blue Jays. Something I'm beginning to look for in a prospect is one or more specific superior skills: what is this guy capable of doing better than virtually anyone else in the league? In Ducey's case, there isn't any such skill. He doesn't have much power, which puts his teams at a disadvantage compared to teams with outfielders who do have power. While he had good plate discipline, he wasn't as good at leading off as some other teams' outfielders, who ran better and reached base better. Ducey did have enough skills to put in a serviceable career as a spare part, and was better than some players who did get fulltime jobs. Had his career derailed in 1989 by a freak knee injury sustained on the SkyDome's outfield fence; I believe he wound up filing a lawsuit over that. Fascinating fact: he played his first game of baseball (as opposed to softball) at age 16.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
198621Knoxville-AA.3083442231158295977
198722Syracuse-AAA.28435914101060618987
198823Syracuse-AAA.256317144742438176holding pattern

Tom Evans
Buzz Factor: 6
Projected as the Jays' regular third baseman at one point, but injured his shoulder in 1996, 1997 and 1998, earning the nickname "Mr. Lucky" from the regulars on the Blue Jays Usenet newsgroup. (Hi, Spooky, if you ever read this - I hope you're writing something for somebody, somewhere.) Had good plate discipline, and one year in which he drew a freakishly high number of walks, thus sending the good folks at Baseball Prospectus into a frenzy of praise. (To be fair, it was a pretty good season.) Good defender - the difference between him and Sprague at third was noticeable even to the casual observer. After being cut loose by the Jays, Evans earned a job as the Rangers' starting third baseman, and was doing well before, yes, injuring his shoulder.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
199621Knoxville-AA.282394271176511511340Bat glued to shoulder?
199722Syracuse-AAA.26337617115655310412
199823Syracuse-AAA.30040032115555074117

Shawn Fagan
Buzz Factor: 2
How can a player draw so many walks at AA, but so few at AAA? The answer, I would guess, is that Fagan has Cruz Junior's Disease: high walks plus high strikeouts equals noticeable weakness equals no prospect.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
200224Tennessee-AA.26842124012691028763
200325NewHaven-AA.314421143550628242
200325Syracuse-AAA.20758300522210

Junior Felix
Buzz Factor: 7
Signed by Epy Guerrero at a track meet; Felix hadn't played baseball since he was a child. According to the 1989 media guide, Felix was suspended for the balance of the season on July 15 for "insubordination". While Felix undoubtedly was hard to handle, suspending a star prospect is a sign that a manager can't handle his players. The Knoxville manager that year was Barry Foote; needless to say, he didn't go on to manage in the majors. Still, you have to feel sorry for Foote: his starting outfield that year was Felix, Kevin "Bam-Bam" Batiste, and Glenallen Hill. Boy, it must have been fun to report to work every day. Is on two of my all-time Jays lists: he was my least favourite Jay ever, but was the fastest Jay I ever saw.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
198820?Knoxville-AA.25336016532520824016

Tony Fernandez
Buzz Factor: 10
Except for Delgado, Fernandez was possibly the most-heralded prospect in Blue Jays history. Skipped AA ball entirely, and was playing AAA ball at 18 (!!). Arguably could have been in Toronto in 1983. A free-swinger in his first years in the majors, Tony had good strike zone judgement in Syracuse. Has six brothers and four sisters, including a twin brother, Jose, who was signed by the Jays; Jose batted .272 for Florence in 1983, but with no home runs. Epy Guerrero signing; won the R. Howard Webster Award in both 1982 and 1983; went 4-for-4 on the final day of the 1983 season to make .300.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
198118Syracuse-AAA.278115621971595on DL in August
198219Syracuse-AAA.30252321645642312213note K/W ratio
198320Syracuse-AAA.30043718653857273515even better K/W ratio
198421Syracuse-AAA.25594100613913struggling with broken hand

Cecil Fielder
Buzz Factor: 8
The year before the Jays acquired him, Big Daddy hit 19 home runs in 61 games in Single-A ball. Why, exactly, did the Royals trade him for Leon Roberts? Started off behind McGriff on the Jays' organizational ladder, but passed him in 1985 when Freddy got hurt. Basically ate his way to Japan, as the Jays wound up going with the more svelte McGriff at first.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
198420Knoxville-AA.254236122944224801
198521Knoxville-AA.294361262188145830074 at-bats in Tor; .311 AVG
198622Syracuse-AAA.2803251331868329100

Ryan Freel
Buzz Factor: 3
Hustling ballplayer who made a good impression in a brief trial in 2001 before hurting himself and getting sent back to the minors. Now trying to hook on with Cincinnati; may still have a career. There's nothing in his minor league numbers to suggest that he won't, though he does seem to need time to adjust to each level. Spent most of 1999 hurt.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
199721Knoxville-AA.202941104191353nice K/W even then
199822Knoxville-AA.2862521734363332186
199822Syracuse-AAA.22911840212261694
199923Knoxville-AA.2834651198442
199923Syracuse-AAA.2997732111813103
200024Syracuse-AAA.28628314510303544307

Ray Giannelli
Buzz Factor: 1
Was considered a semi-prospect for a while basically because the Jays didn't have anybody better. 38th round pick.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
199226Syracuse-AAA.2292499252248442--good plate discipline; old

Jay Gibbons
Buzz Factor: 4
Never played in the high minors in the Toronto system, but mentioned here because he was Rule V'd by Baltimore. Would never have made it to Toronto, as he would have been blocked by Delgado and Phelps.

Alex Gonzalez
Buzz Factor: 8
One of the things I'd like to know about a prospect is how soon he matured. Early maturers can gain their adult height and weight as much as four years earlier than late bloomers. A-Gonzo looked pretty young when he came up, but I wonder whether he was already fully mature. This may explain why he looked good when he was young, but never got better. Mind you, the high strikeout totals might explain everything, too.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
199320Knoxville-AA.2895612971669391103813pretty damn good, y'know
199421Syracuse-AAA.28443722412575392236my God! he even drew walks!

Otis Green
Buzz Factor: 0
Here's stats for an outfield prospect that didn't work out. As you can see, Green did a little bit of everything, but not much of anything.
also in Syracuse in 1989, but, frankly, I'm not gonna bother
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
198521Knoxville-AA.2904921951168447198injured for a month
198622Syracuse-AAA.28148024855332621210

Shawn Green
Buzz Factor: 9
Highly touted, even when his minor-league numbers weren't good; many many people said that Green reminded them of a young Ted Williams. Won a batting title at Syracuse at the age of 21. He sure didn't look like a power hitter when he was younger, as he was, basically, scrawny. Note the low strikeout total in his year in Syracuse. Listed as 200 pounds in the Jays' media guide, but 190 pounds in Who's Who In Baseball. Here's Bill James' 1994 Player Ratings Book on Green: "It's too early to conclude that this was a wasted draft pick, since he just turned 21 in November, but he has work to do." I guess he did it.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
199320Knoxville-AA.283360142434267249what a horrible SB%
199421Syracuse-AAA.34443327313614054197great K/W ratio; RHW winner

Gabe Gross
Buzz Factor: 8
Extremely photogenic; if he makes it to the show, he'll rack up the endorsements. At this point, I don't project stardom for him - he doesn't have a lot of power or a lot of speed.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
200222Tennessee-AA.2384031751054537182good BB, even when slumping
200323Tennessee-AA.319310233751525332.423 OBP; whee!
200323Syracuse-AAA.264182162523315611

Kelly Gruber
Buzz Factor: 6
You've got to give Pat Gillick credit here: Gruber didn't really look like a top prospect when the Jays plucked him from the Cleveland system. Was a Rule V draftee in 1984, but was able to go down to the minors, as the Indians didn't want him back. A lot of people have said a lot of things about Gruber, but he did make the majors, and he was an All-Star once. Poor plate discipline all the way up the line in the minors.
YearAgeTeamAVGAB2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSNotes
198422Syracuse-AAA.26934212221552367122
198523Syracuse-AAA.24947316
Glenallen Hill
Buzz Factor: 8
All-or-nothing player with ludicrously high strikeout totals: fanned 211 times in Kinston in 1985. Called himself "Thrill" Hill; the 1986 media guide lists his nickname as "Chocolate Thunder", which is not a nickname you can give anyone nowadays. Was outrighted to Syracuse after the 1987 season; after the 1988 season, you could have gotten long odds on his becoming a major leaguer. Made a major adjustment in 1989, and the rest is history.

Orlando Hudson
Buzz Factor: 5
Took a sudden step forward in 2001 - before then, I don't recall anyone mentioning him on prospect lists. I suspect that a good work ethic has played a part here. Again, note the low strikeout totals.

Alexis Infante
Buzz Factor: 3
No-hit middle infielder who probably should have bought, not rented, in Syracuse. One of many Jays donated to Atlanta. Broke his collarbone in 1986.

Cesar Izturis
Buzz Factor: 6
My theory is that he was promoted so quickly that he never learned to master the strike zone, which means that major-league pitchers have eaten him up. His offensive numbers at Dunedin in 1999 were actually quite good. Mind you, his walk totals have been bad all the way along, which suggests that he'll never hit, ever.

Reed Johnson Buzz Factor: 3
His success in Toronto isn't that surprising when you look at his 2001 numbers (though he was old for his league).

Jimy Kelly
Buzz Factor: 8
Was signed in 1985 at the age of 14 out of the Dominican Republic, which basically amounts to the exploitation of child labour. What were they thinking? He was released in 1989 after struggling in Dunedin; I guess that if you hit .185 in Florida, you're not going to hit when you grow up. Theoretically, he's still young enough to play pro ball, as he just turned 33 this summer. Perhaps he and Jossephang Bernhardt are actually the same person.

Jeff Kent
Buzz Factor: 5
I saw him play in 1992, and I never would have predicted he would have a long career as an infielder - he looked sort of blocky out there. Had he bloomed one year earlier, the course of Blue Jays history might have changed, as they might not have traded for Alomar. Once Alomar arrived, there was no point in keeping Kent, as the two men are almost exactly the same age.

Randy Knorr
Buzz Factor: 4
Occasionally thought of as the catcher of the future in Toronto. Spent parts of five years in a Blue Jay uniform. Some statheads claimed that he was given a raw deal, but the stats shown here aren't exactly overwhelming. Actually was treated better in Toronto than elsewhere: he played at least part of eleven consecutive seasons in the majors, from 1991 to 2001, and his career highs in at-bats were 132, 124 and 101 - all with Toronto. He also played for Montreal, Texas, Florida, and Houston (twice). One hopes that he is not a bitter man. According to the 1990 media guide, his baseball hero is Dale Murphy, and his hobbies include reading (good for him).

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