Hi. Here, finally, is the second part of what I loftily call the Blue Jays Minor League Register. Here is info on every Blue Jays pitching prospect I could think of, and had data for.
As before, I've divided this into two parts to keep Da Box's server from imploding.
Links to Part I: Hitters A-K, Hitters L-Z.
Clayton Andrews
Buzz Factor: 4
Gritty left-hander who liked to challenge hitters; unfortunately, at higher levels, the hitters could more than meet the challenge. Briefly called up in 2000 when the Jays had a desperate case of the pitching shorts. Was traded to Cincinnati after the season as part of the deal that brought Steve Parris to Toronto. (You winced just now, didn't you?)
Luis Aquino
Buzz Factor: 3
Converted to the bullpen in 1984, Aquino was traded for Juan Beniquez in 1987. He went on to have an eight-year career as a long reliever and spot starter. K/IP ratios much better in the minors than they were in the majors.
Jason Arnold
Buzz Factor: 7
To be fair: comparing Arnold to the other Jays' pitching prospects is a bit like comparing apples and oranges, as the other prospects haven't reached Triple-A yet - and, in a small sample size, Arnold's AA numbers are better than anyone else's. But there's nothing good about Arnold's 2003 numbers in Syracuse: his ERA is up, his HR allowed is up, and his K/IP is way down. He could bounce back - with pitchers, you never can tell - but at this point, it looks like he'll have trouble making it to the big league level.
John Bale
Buzz Factor: 5
While high K/IP factors usually mean that a prospect is destined for success in the majors, some minor-league strikeout phenoms don't make it all the way. After failing to crack the Toronto, Baltimore and Cincinnati rosters, Bale is (I believe) off to Japan this year. Had an 0.38 ERA in his final year of high school baseball.
Chris Baker
Buzz Factor: 3
His K/IP ratio indicates that he doesn't have enough stuff to succeed at the major league level. Got stomped in a couple of outings at Syracuse this year. Presumably, he'll only be around until the next wave of kids comes up from class-A ball. 29th round draft pick.
Pete Bauer
Buzz Factor: 3
A great big guy (6'7", 243), Bauer was a second round pick, but basically has turned out the same as Baker, except with more hits and fewer homers allowed. Likely will not ever need to convert any of his spending money into Canadian currency.
Willie Blair
Buzz Factor: 5
I recalled him as being a plucky little guy, but he was 6'1". His strikeout rates weren't that good in the minors. Lasted 12 years in the majors, and parlayed one slightly flukey 16-win season with Detroit into a lucrative contract. Good for him. Started his minor-league career in the bullpen, and didn't start a game until he reached Double-A.
Denis Boucher
Buzz Factor: 7
Back in the day, the Jays were often accused of rushing their starting pitching prospects. Case 1-A for the prosecution would be Boucher, who was bounced from Dunedin straight to Syracuse, and then placed on the major league roster the very next year. Still, you can't blame the Jays: his ERA in Dunedin was 0.75, and his ratios in Syracuse were good. I suppose you have to ensure that your prospects' first taste of failure is in the minors - but what do you do if a player just keeps gettin' 'em out? How do you keep them down on the farm then? Eventually wound up in Montreal, which was inevitable. Widely touted as the next Jimmy Key, which he wasn't.
Brian Bowles
Buzz Factor: 3
Bowles hardly ever gives up any home runs, and he hits a bunch of batters. These two facts may be connected. He's another minor league closer, which means he's not likely to succeed.
David Bush
Buzz Factor: 6
The scouts aren't as high on him as they are on McGowan, but so far he looks good. K/IP is not overwhelming, but it's good enough.
Chris Carpenter
Buzz Factor: 8
It's not that surprising that Carpenter was something of a disappointment in the majors, when all is said and done: his minor league numbers just aren't that good. In fact, his lowest earned-run average at the AA level or higher is 3.94. It's probably best to forget about him entirely, and think good thoughts about Dustin McGowan. There, that feels better, doesn't it? Carpenter, who is from Manchester, N.H., was also a pretty good hockey player in high school.
Scott Cassidy
Buzz Factor: 3
Didn't really have major league stuff, but was called up to be part of the back end of the bullpen in 2002 when the Jays didn't have anybody better. I still remember when he tried to challenge Manny Ramirez with a fastball in Fenway Park. That ball may still be travelling. Discovered he was diabetic in 2000; missed the last six weeks of the season due to complications from his illness.
John Cerutti
Buzz Factor: 5
Some of you are probably reaching for your MUTE button now, as a kind of reflex action. An Amherst alumnus; the 1986 guide claims that Cerutti was the most scouted player in Amherst history, which isn't surprising, given that it isn't exactly a baseball hotbed. Clearly, he's smarter than most pitchers, which is why he lasted several years in the majors despite having only marginal stuff, and why he is on the nation's airwaves today.
Vinnie Chulk
Buzz Factor: 4
Moved into Tennessee's starting rotation in 2002 and had a good year, becoming the R. Howard Webster award winner. Has to take a big step forward, and do it now, if he wants to make it - there's an army coming up behind him.
Stan Clarke
Buzz Factor: 7
Touted as the closer of the future at a time when the Jays desperately needed a closer of the present. He was never able to harness his stuff. I seem to recall that he was rather high-strung and excitable; in his media guide photo, his grin does look a little manic. His nickname, apparently, was "Lefty"; baseball players aren't the most imaginative people in the world.
Pasqual Coco
Buzz Factor: 5
Looked like a prospect after his first year in Tennessee, but stalled. Resorted to allegedly stealing a teammate's wallet in order to get out of the organization. Now in the Brewers' system, where he isn't doing any better. Originally signed as an outfielder; converted to pitching in his first season as a pro.
Tim Crabtree
Buzz Factor: 5
Converted to the bullpen in 1994. Unlike many of the suspects from the Jays' Years of Darkness, Crabtree could actually pitch a little - he had a couple of decent years with Toronto, and a couple more with Texas. His K/IP ratios tell the story, though - he just didn't quite have the overwhelming stuff to become a dominating closer. Studied criminal justice in university, and earned an orange belt in karate in the 1996-97 offseason; do not mess with this guy.
Steve Cummings
Buzz Factor: 6
If Alex Sanchez was to be the next Dave Stieb, then Steve Cummings was to be the next Jim Clancy: he was touted as a solid, reliable inning-eater. One look at his K/IP ratio suggests that he wasn't really a prospect, which turned out to be the case. College graduate (University of Houston, majored in science), so he was old (at the time) for his leagues. Graduate of J. Frank Dobie High School in Houston.
Tom Davey
Buzz Factor: 6
Huge, hulking right-handed relief pitcher; at one time considered the closer of the future before Billy Koch seized the job. Did not start pitching until he was in college. His problem: he was wilder than a sack of angry cats.
Steve Davis
Buzz Factor: 6
His claim to fame is that he won 20 games in the minors in 1985 - 17 with Knoxville, and 3 with Syracuse. He won two more in a Toronto callup, giving him a total of 22. He threw 218 innings, which we now know is a lot at age 24, and he came back to earth with a thud the next year. By 1987, he was off the 40-man roster. Like so many young pitchers, he never really harnessed his stuff. A 21st round draft pick.
Mark Eichhorn
Buzz Factor: 3
Bill James once wrote that he didn't see why more organizations tried converting failed prospects to sidearmers or submariners. After all, what have they got to lose? Eichhorn is Exhibit A to support James's case: according to the media guides, Ike started experimenting with his sidearm delivery in 1984, when he was busy getting beaten like a gong. Did you know that Eichhorn pitched 6 1/3 perfect innings in a major league start in 1982? I didn't, either. The 1993 media guide notes that he is an accomplished impressionist.
Kelvim Escobar
Buzz Factor: 7
We are the playthings of the gods, Escobar especially so. Epy Guerrero signing; I believe he was one of the last ones.
Bob File
Buzz Factor: 3
Has everything you need to be a quality major league reliever except durability. Every arm has only so many pitches in it, and it looks like File's already reached his limit. It's a darn shame, really. Graduate of the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science; pitched only six innings in college.
Huck Flener
Buzz Factor: 7
Starcrossed. Once ranked roughly equal to Steve Karsay, Flener battled arm problems, then suffered a career-ending eye injury in 2001 after being hit by a line drive. There were portents: according to Jayson Stark, Flener once chipped a collarbone while flying to spring training when a bag fell out of the overhead rack and hit him in the shoulder. His real name, by the way, is Gregory Alan Flener, and he studied "business curriculum" at Cal-State Fullerton, whatever that is.
Gary Glover
Buzz Factor: 4
Yet another big right-handed high-school pitcher - he is 6'5". For a while there, the Jays must have been ranking pitching prospects by height. Here is the complete personal information on Glover, from the 2000 media guide: "John Gary Glover II...Graduated from Deland High School in Florida." Why is he a II and not a Jr.? There's probably a story here, but the media guide isn't telling.
Mauro Gozzo
Buzz Factor: 3
Gooooose! Gooose! The Goose was a minor-league draftee in 1989, and was promoted all the way to The Show that year. He did OK in a couple of spot starts and relief appearances, but he didn't really have major-league stuff.
Don Gordon
Buzz Factor: 2
Not really a prospect; picked up when the Tigers released him. Eventually became the player to be named later in the deal that sent Phil Niekro to Toronto. I seem to recall that he became a pitching coach somewhere. Or maybe I have him confused with somebody else. Whatever.
Juan Guzman
Buzz Factor: 5
The minor leagues are densely populated with pitchers with awesome stuff and no idea where it's going. Guzman was one such player until 1991. Had much better control in his first two years in the majors than he did at any point in the minors, which suggests a pitcher who wasn't confident enough to trust his stuff. Often compared to Escobar, which is unfair to Guzman. Intelligent; reading is listed as one of his hobbies, which is unusual for a ballplayer. Did not become a fulltime starter until 1991; was a spot starter in 1990, and was in the pen in 1988 and 1989.
Roy Halladay
Buzz Factor: 9
You could make a movie out of this guy's life, and it would make Seabiscuit seem like a glum film noir classic. In retrospect, I think it's obvious that he was rushed: his numbers in the low minors look like the Doc we've come to know, but he struggled in Knoxville and was promoted to Syracuse anyway. I think that near no-hitter in Detroit in 1998 may have cost him a year or two of development, as everyone thought he was a finished product when he wasn't.
Mark Hendrickson
Buzz Factor: 3
Whatever you think of Lurch, and I've never rated him that highly, you have to give him credit: he has now played at the major league level in two sports. Most athletes don't make it in even one. Last played basketball for Cleveland in 1999-2000, signing three ten-day contracts with the club before finally being let go on January 27. I love reading minor league records of star prospects, because they're so overwhelming: in his senior year of high school, Lurch was 10-1 with an 0.84 ERA and 115 strikeouts. Drafted six times by various baseball teams, being picked in the 12th, 21st, 32nd, 16th, 19th, and 20th rounds (the last by the Jays in 1997). He was drafted in the second round of the 1996 NBA draft, which is undoubtedly why he tried basketball first. That, and it pays better than minor-league baseball.
Tom Henke
Buzz Factor: 3, then 9
A totally unknown quantity when obtained by the Jays as compensation for losing Cliff Johnson to free agency, Henke went down to Syracuse and put up numbers that were basically mindboggling. (That hit total is not a misprint.) He then came to Toronto and put up numbers that were almost equally mindboggling. He has a degree in building construction, which is just the sort of practical thing you'd imagine him studying. I still miss him.
Pat Hentgen
Buzz Factor: 6
I didn't hear much about him as a prospect coming up. This is surprising, since his numbers look pretty darn good. Good K/IP ratios are a sign of good things to come. Took a bit of time to adjust to both AAA and the majors, though. Welcome back, Pat - I hope his first start is at home.
Marty Janzen
Buzz Factor: 5
Basically, what the Jays got for David Cone when they traded him to the Yankees. The Jays were so desperate for pitching in 1996 that they called Janzen up, despite his having an ERA of 6.51 in five starts. Needless to say, he didn't do any better in the big time. His minor league record suggests that he had a good fastball, but that it was straight: his strikeout totals in the low minors are good, but his home runs allowed spike sharply at the AAA level. The 1997 media guide informs us that he once aspired to a career in bowling.
Steve Karsay
Buzz Factor: 8
At the time of the Rickey Henderson trade, many people predicted that the Jays would regret giving up Karsay for him. He sure looked like a good pitcher: at Dunedin in 1992, he struck out more than a man an inning and had a K/W ratio of exactly 3-to-1. And he turned out to be a good pitcher - he just hasn't been able to stay healthy.
Jimmy Key
Buzz Factor: 6
The most poised young pitcher I've ever seen. Didn't have the outstanding stuff that other young Jays prospects had, but he knew how to pitch, and he never panicked under pressure. Here's a fact for you: we often think of the 1983-1984 Jays as being a young team, and they were - but Key was the only rookie to stick with the 1984 club all season. Vulnerable to the home run. (I knew I was getting old when I noticed that this guy was going grey at the temples. Sigh.)
Billy Koch
Buzz Factor: 6
In retrospect, it seems obvious: if you pluck a guy out of the minors and tell him to just throw the ball down the middle, he'll never learn to do anything else. Only pitched in seven games above class-A before getting the call. I seem to recall that he got to 100 career saves faster than anyone else in major league history. Was a starter in the minors, all the way; in another universe, he's in his prime as a starter. Did you know that he'll be 30 this year? For some reason, he seems younger.
As before, I've divided this into two parts to keep Da Box's server from imploding.
Links to Part I: Hitters A-K, Hitters L-Z.
Clayton Andrews
Buzz Factor: 4
Gritty left-hander who liked to challenge hitters; unfortunately, at higher levels, the hitters could more than meet the challenge. Briefly called up in 2000 when the Jays had a desperate case of the pitching shorts. Was traded to Cincinnati after the season as part of the deal that brought Steve Parris to Toronto. (You winced just now, didn't you?)
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 21 | 1999 | Knoxville-AA | 10 | 8 | 3.90 | 25 | 25 | 132.2 | 143 | 13 | 69 | 93 | |
| 21 | 1999 | Syracuse-AAA | 0 | 1 | 7.80 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 13 | 9 | yow! |
Luis Aquino
Buzz Factor: 3
Converted to the bullpen in 1984, Aquino was traded for Juan Beniquez in 1987. He went on to have an eight-year career as a long reliever and spot starter. K/IP ratios much better in the minors than they were in the majors.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 20 | 1985 | Knoxville-AA | 5 | 7 | 2.60 | 50 | 0 | 83 | 58 | 4 | 32 | 82 | 20 SV |
Jason Arnold
Buzz Factor: 7
To be fair: comparing Arnold to the other Jays' pitching prospects is a bit like comparing apples and oranges, as the other prospects haven't reached Triple-A yet - and, in a small sample size, Arnold's AA numbers are better than anyone else's. But there's nothing good about Arnold's 2003 numbers in Syracuse: his ERA is up, his HR allowed is up, and his K/IP is way down. He could bounce back - with pitchers, you never can tell - but at this point, it looks like he'll have trouble making it to the big league level.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 24 | 2003 | NewHaven-AA | 3 | 1 | 1.53 | 6 | 6 | 35.1 | 18 | 2 | 11 | 33 | |
| 24 | 2003 | Syracuse-AAA | 4 | 8 | 4.33 | 21 | 20 | 120.2 | 121 | 16 | 46 | 82 |
John Bale
Buzz Factor: 5
While high K/IP factors usually mean that a prospect is destined for success in the majors, some minor-league strikeout phenoms don't make it all the way. After failing to crack the Toronto, Baltimore and Cincinnati rosters, Bale is (I believe) off to Japan this year. Had an 0.38 ERA in his final year of high school baseball.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 25 | 1999 | Knoxville-AA | 2 | 2 | 3.75 | 33 | 4 | 62.1 | 64 | 7 | 16 | 91 | whoosh! |
| 25 | 1999 | Syracuse-AAA | 0 | 3 | 3.97 | 6 | 4 | 22.2 | 16 | 1 | 10 | 10 |
Chris Baker
Buzz Factor: 3
His K/IP ratio indicates that he doesn't have enough stuff to succeed at the major league level. Got stomped in a couple of outings at Syracuse this year. Presumably, he'll only be around until the next wave of kids comes up from class-A ball. 29th round draft pick.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 23 | 2001 | Tennessee-AA | 15 | 6 | 3.37 | 28 | 26 | 179 | 162 | 22 | 42 | 121 | lots of taters |
| 24 | 2002 | Syracuse-AAA | 4 | 7 | 4.33 | 18 | 15 | 89.1 | 94 | 13 | 29 | 42 | DL with shoulder strain |
| 25 | 2003 | NewHaven-AA | 9 | 6 | 3.90 | 25 | 25 | 147.2 | 158 | 10 | 37 | 95 |
Pete Bauer
Buzz Factor: 3
A great big guy (6'7", 243), Bauer was a second round pick, but basically has turned out the same as Baker, except with more hits and fewer homers allowed. Likely will not ever need to convert any of his spending money into Canadian currency.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 22 | 2001 | Tennessee-AA | 6 | 8 | 5.11 | 21 | 21 | 128.2 | 147 | 12 | 37 | 71 | 10 HB |
| 23 | 2002 | Tennessee-AA | 6 | 13 | 4.42 | 28 | 28 | 177 | 208 | 14 | 53 | 93 | 12 HB |
| 24 | 2003 | NewHaven-AA | 5 | 6 | 4.96 | 29 | 13 | 103.1 | 116 | 6 | 45 | 60 |
Willie Blair
Buzz Factor: 5
I recalled him as being a plucky little guy, but he was 6'1". His strikeout rates weren't that good in the minors. Lasted 12 years in the majors, and parlayed one slightly flukey 16-win season with Detroit into a lucrative contract. Good for him. Started his minor-league career in the bullpen, and didn't start a game until he reached Double-A.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 22 | 1988 | Knoxville-AA | 5 | 5 | 3.62 | 34 | 9 | 102 | 94 | 7 | 35 | 76 | |
| 23 | 1989 | Syracuse-AAA | 5 | 6 | 3.97 | 19 | 17 | 106.2 | 94 | 10 | 38 | 76 | one month on DL |
Denis Boucher
Buzz Factor: 7
Back in the day, the Jays were often accused of rushing their starting pitching prospects. Case 1-A for the prosecution would be Boucher, who was bounced from Dunedin straight to Syracuse, and then placed on the major league roster the very next year. Still, you can't blame the Jays: his ERA in Dunedin was 0.75, and his ratios in Syracuse were good. I suppose you have to ensure that your prospects' first taste of failure is in the minors - but what do you do if a player just keeps gettin' 'em out? How do you keep them down on the farm then? Eventually wound up in Montreal, which was inevitable. Widely touted as the next Jimmy Key, which he wasn't.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 22 | 1990 | Syracuse-AAA | 8 | 5 | 3.85 | 17 | 17 | 107.2 | 100 | 7 | 37 | 80 |
Brian Bowles
Buzz Factor: 3
Bowles hardly ever gives up any home runs, and he hits a bunch of batters. These two facts may be connected. He's another minor league closer, which means he's not likely to succeed.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 23 | 2000 | Tennessee-AA | 4 | 4 | 2.98 | 49 | 0 | 81.2 | 64 | 1 | 36 | 82 | 8 HB |
| 24 | 2001 | Syracuse-AAA | 3 | 5 | 2.91 | 66 | 0 | 77.1 | 56 | 3 | 44 | 81 | 7 HB |
| 25 | 2002 | Syracuse-AAA | 4 | 7 | 3.36 | 59 | 0 | 59.0 | 46 | 4 | 32 | 53 | K/IP down; 8 HB; 17 G in Tor |
David Bush
Buzz Factor: 6
The scouts aren't as high on him as they are on McGowan, but so far he looks good. K/IP is not overwhelming, but it's good enough.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 23 | 2003 | NewHaven-AA | 7 | 3 | 2.78 | 14 | 14 | 81 | 73 | 4 | 19 | 73 | low HR total |
Chris Carpenter
Buzz Factor: 8
It's not that surprising that Carpenter was something of a disappointment in the majors, when all is said and done: his minor league numbers just aren't that good. In fact, his lowest earned-run average at the AA level or higher is 3.94. It's probably best to forget about him entirely, and think good thoughts about Dustin McGowan. There, that feels better, doesn't it? Carpenter, who is from Manchester, N.H., was also a pretty good hockey player in high school.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 20 | 1995 | Knoxville-AA | 3 | 7 | 5.18 | 12 | 12 | 64.1 | 71 | 3 | 31 | 53 | 2.86 ERA in last 7 G |
| 21 | 1996 | Knoxville-AA | 7 | 9 | 3.94 | 28 | 28 | 171.1 | 161 | 13 | 91 | 150 | |
| 22 | 1997 | Syracuse-AAA | 4 | 9 | 4.50 | 19 | 19 | 120 | 113 | 16 | 53 | 97 |
Scott Cassidy
Buzz Factor: 3
Didn't really have major league stuff, but was called up to be part of the back end of the bullpen in 2002 when the Jays didn't have anybody better. I still remember when he tried to challenge Manny Ramirez with a fastball in Fenway Park. That ball may still be travelling. Discovered he was diabetic in 2000; missed the last six weeks of the season due to complications from his illness.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 24 | 2000 | Tennessee-AA | 2 | 2 | 5.91 | 8 | 7 | 42.2 | 48 | 7 | 15 | 39 | |
| 25 | 2001 | Tennessee-AA | 6 | 6 | 3.44 | 16 | 15 | 96.2 | 78 | 10 | 27 | 81 | 3 shutouts |
| 25 | 2001 | Syracuse-AAA | 3 | 3 | 2.71 | 11 | 11 | 63 | 60 | 6 | 26 | 48 | 6 HB |
| 27 | 2003 | Syracuse-AAA | 3 | 4 | 3.24 | 57 | 0 | 80.2 | 75 | 3 | 46 | 75 |
John Cerutti
Buzz Factor: 5
Some of you are probably reaching for your MUTE button now, as a kind of reflex action. An Amherst alumnus; the 1986 guide claims that Cerutti was the most scouted player in Amherst history, which isn't surprising, given that it isn't exactly a baseball hotbed. Clearly, he's smarter than most pitchers, which is why he lasted several years in the majors despite having only marginal stuff, and why he is on the nation's airwaves today.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 22 | 1982 | Knoxville-AA | 4 | 0 | 1.11 | 4 | 4 | 32.1 | 18 | 0 | 10 | 17 | |
| 22 | 1982 | Syracuse-AAA | 0 | 3 | 6.60 | 6 | 6 | 30 | 42 | 6 | 16 | 20 | |
| 23 | 1983 | Knoxville-AA | 9 | 13 | 3.43 | 29 | 28 | 188.2 | 182 | 16 | 65 | 131 | |
| 24 | 1984 | Syracuse-AAA | 7 | 13 | 4.44 | 29 | 22 | 148 | 152 | 20 | 52 | 114 | |
| 25 | 1985 | Syracuse-AAA | 11 | 9 | 2.97 | 28 | 27 | 182 | 165 | 10 | 60 | 110 |
Vinnie Chulk
Buzz Factor: 4
Moved into Tennessee's starting rotation in 2002 and had a good year, becoming the R. Howard Webster award winner. Has to take a big step forward, and do it now, if he wants to make it - there's an army coming up behind him.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 22 | 2001 | Syracuse-AAA | 1 | 0 | 1.50 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 3 | |
| 22 | 2001 | Tennessee-AA | 2 | 5 | 3.14 | 24 | 1 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 8 | 43 | |
| 23 | 2002 | Tennessee-AA | 13 | 5 | 2.96 | 25 | 24 | 152 | 133 | 12 | 53 | 108 | |
| 23 | 2002 | Syracuse-AAA | 0 | 1 | 5.79 | 2 | 1 | 4.2 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 2 | |
| 24 | 2003 | Syracuse-AAA | 8 | 10 | 4.22 | 23 | 21 | 119.1 | 118 | 14 | 46 | 90 |
Stan Clarke
Buzz Factor: 7
Touted as the closer of the future at a time when the Jays desperately needed a closer of the present. He was never able to harness his stuff. I seem to recall that he was rather high-strung and excitable; in his media guide photo, his grin does look a little manic. His nickname, apparently, was "Lefty"; baseball players aren't the most imaginative people in the world.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 21 | 1982 | Knoxville-AA | 0 | 1 | 1.69 | 11 | 0 | 16 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 12 | |
| 22 | 1983 | Knoxville-AA | 2 | 4 | 2.49 | 26 | 0 | 43.1 | 30 | 2 | 20 | 51 | only 4 SV; when was he used? |
| 23 | 1983 | Syracuse-AAA | 0 | 3 | 2.89 | 33 | 0 | 53 | 39 | 4 | 34 | 57 | also 10G with Toronto |
| 24 | 1984 | Syracuse-AAA | 2 | 3 | 4.13 | 29 | 5 | 56.2 | 40 | 6 | 46 | 55 | DL twice; shoulder |
| 25 | 1985 | Syracuse-AAA | 14 | 4 | 3.27 | 43 | 14 | 117.2 | 106 | 13 | 66 | 98 | 14 W as spot starter! |
Pasqual Coco
Buzz Factor: 5
Looked like a prospect after his first year in Tennessee, but stalled. Resorted to allegedly stealing a teammate's wallet in order to get out of the organization. Now in the Brewers' system, where he isn't doing any better. Originally signed as an outfielder; converted to pitching in his first season as a pro.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 22 | 2000 | Tennessee-AA | 12 | 7 | 3.76 | 27 | 26 | 167.2 | 154 | 16 | 68 | 142 | 17 HB - ouch! |
| 23 | 2001 | Tennessee-AA | 0 | 1 | 3.94 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 13 | |
| 23 | 2001 | Syracuse-AAA | 8 | 6 | 4.66 | 22 | 22 | 121.2 | 128 | 11 | 50 | 82 |
Tim Crabtree
Buzz Factor: 5
Converted to the bullpen in 1994. Unlike many of the suspects from the Jays' Years of Darkness, Crabtree could actually pitch a little - he had a couple of decent years with Toronto, and a couple more with Texas. His K/IP ratios tell the story, though - he just didn't quite have the overwhelming stuff to become a dominating closer. Studied criminal justice in university, and earned an orange belt in karate in the 1996-97 offseason; do not mess with this guy.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 22 | 1992 | Knoxville-AA | 0 | 2 | 0.95 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 13 | RHW winner in class-A |
| 23 | 1993 | Knoxville-AA | 9 | 14 | 4.08 | 27 | 27 | 158.2 | 178 | 11 | 59 | 67 | less than 6 IP per start |
| 24 | 1994 | Syracuse-AAA | 2 | 6 | 4.17 | 51 | 9 | 108 | 125 | 5 | 49 | 58 | |
| 25 | 1995 | Syracuse-AAA | 0 | 2 | 5.40 | 26 | 0 | 31.2 | 38 | 1 | 12 | 22 | called up; 3.09 ERA in TO |
Steve Cummings
Buzz Factor: 6
If Alex Sanchez was to be the next Dave Stieb, then Steve Cummings was to be the next Jim Clancy: he was touted as a solid, reliable inning-eater. One look at his K/IP ratio suggests that he wasn't really a prospect, which turned out to be the case. College graduate (University of Houston, majored in science), so he was old (at the time) for his leagues. Graduate of J. Frank Dobie High School in Houston.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 23 | 1988 | Knoxville-AA | 14 | 11 | 2.75 | 35 | 33 | 212.2 | 206 | 5 | 64 | 131 | that's a workload! |
| 24 | 1989 | Syracuse-AAA | 7 | 5 | 3.14 | 19 | 17 | 106 | 97 | 7 | 41 | 60 |
Tom Davey
Buzz Factor: 6
Huge, hulking right-handed relief pitcher; at one time considered the closer of the future before Billy Koch seized the job. Did not start pitching until he was in college. His problem: he was wilder than a sack of angry cats.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 23 | 1997 | Knoxville-AA | 6 | 7 | 5.83 | 20 | 16 | 92.2 | 108 | 5 | 50 | 72 | 14 WP |
| 24 | 1998 | Knoxville-AA | 5 | 3 | 3.87 | 43 | 9 | 76.2 | 70 | 2 | 52 | 78 | aim for the pentagon, big guy |
Steve Davis
Buzz Factor: 6
His claim to fame is that he won 20 games in the minors in 1985 - 17 with Knoxville, and 3 with Syracuse. He won two more in a Toronto callup, giving him a total of 22. He threw 218 innings, which we now know is a lot at age 24, and he came back to earth with a thud the next year. By 1987, he was off the 40-man roster. Like so many young pitchers, he never really harnessed his stuff. A 21st round draft pick.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 22 | 1983 | Knoxville-AA | 1 | 3 | 6.95 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 26 | 2 | 14 | 18 | |
| 23 | 1984 | Knoxville-AA | 9 | 6 | 3.49 | 27 | 25 | 154.2 | 123 | 7 | 96 | 77 | everybody duck! |
| 24 | 1985 | Knoxville-AA | 17 | 6 | 2.45 | 27 | 24 | 154 | 114 | 8 | 72 | 107 | RHW winner |
| 24 | 1985 | Syracuse-AAA | 3 | 2 | 2.50 | 6 | 6 | 36 | 19 | 2 | 17 | 34 | feelin' gooooood |
| 25 | 1986 | Syracuse-AAA | 5 | 7 | 5.59 | 23 | 19 | 104.2 | 104 | -- | 57 | 80 | hurt? |
| 27 | 1988 | Syracuse-AAA | 10 | 15 | 3.29 | 31 | 31 | 178 | 166 | -- | 66 | 130 | I don't have 1987 stats |
Mark Eichhorn
Buzz Factor: 3
Bill James once wrote that he didn't see why more organizations tried converting failed prospects to sidearmers or submariners. After all, what have they got to lose? Eichhorn is Exhibit A to support James's case: according to the media guides, Ike started experimenting with his sidearm delivery in 1984, when he was busy getting beaten like a gong. Did you know that Eichhorn pitched 6 1/3 perfect innings in a major league start in 1982? I didn't, either. The 1993 media guide notes that he is an accomplished impressionist.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 20 | 1981 | Knoxville-AA | 10 | 14 | 3.98 | 30 | 29 | 192 | 202 | 23 | 57 | 99 | |
| 21 | 1982 | Syracuse-AAA | 10 | 12 | 4.54 | 27 | 27 | 156.2 | 158 | 18 | 83 | 71 | called up |
| 22 | 1983 | Syracuse-AAA | 0 | 5 | 7.92 | 7 | 5 | 30.2 | 36 | 8 | 21 | 12 | ugh ugh ugh |
| 22 | 1983 | Knoxville-AA | 6 | 12 | 4.33 | 21 | 20 | 120.2 | 124 | 17 | 47 | 54 | can't win here either |
| 23 | 1984 | Syracuse-AAA | 5 | 9 | 5.97 | 36 | 18 | 117.2 | 147 | 13 | 51 | 54 | spot starter by now |
| 24 | 1985 | Knoxville-AA | 5 | 1 | 3.02 | 26 | 10 | 116.1 | 101 | 11 | 34 | 75 | new delivery |
| 24 | 1985 | Syracuse-AAA | 2 | 5 | 4.82 | 8 | 7 | 37.1 | 38 | 5 | 7 | 27 |
Kelvim Escobar
Buzz Factor: 7
We are the playthings of the gods, Escobar especially so. Epy Guerrero signing; I believe he was one of the last ones.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 20 | 1996 | Knoxville-AA | 3 | 4 | 5.33 | 10 | 10 | 54.0 | 61 | 7 | 24 | 44 | |
| 21 | 1997 | Knoxville-AA | 2 | 1 | 3.70 | 5 | 5 | 24.1 | 20 | 1 | 16 | 31 | callup to Jays bullpen |
| 22 | 1998 | Syracuse-AAA | 2 | 2 | 3.77 | 13 | 10 | 59.2 | 51 | 7 | 24 | 63 |
Bob File
Buzz Factor: 3
Has everything you need to be a quality major league reliever except durability. Every arm has only so many pitches in it, and it looks like File's already reached his limit. It's a darn shame, really. Graduate of the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science; pitched only six innings in college.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 23 | 2000 | Tennessee-AA | 4 | 3 | 3.12 | 36 | 0 | 34.2 | 29 | 1 | 13 | 40 | 20 SV |
| 23 | 2000 | Syracuse-AAA | 2 | 0 | 0.93 | 20 | 0 | 19.1 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 SV |
Huck Flener
Buzz Factor: 7
Starcrossed. Once ranked roughly equal to Steve Karsay, Flener battled arm problems, then suffered a career-ending eye injury in 2001 after being hit by a line drive. There were portents: according to Jayson Stark, Flener once chipped a collarbone while flying to spring training when a bag fell out of the overhead rack and hit him in the shoulder. His real name, by the way, is Gregory Alan Flener, and he studied "business curriculum" at Cal-State Fullerton, whatever that is.
Gary Glover
Buzz Factor: 4
Yet another big right-handed high-school pitcher - he is 6'5". For a while there, the Jays must have been ranking pitching prospects by height. Here is the complete personal information on Glover, from the 2000 media guide: "John Gary Glover II...Graduated from Deland High School in Florida." Why is he a II and not a Jr.? There's probably a story here, but the media guide isn't telling.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 21 | 1998 | Knoxville-AA | 0 | 5 | 6.75 | 8 | 8 | 37.1 | 41 | 2 | 28 | 14 | ...and back to Dunedin he goes |
| 22 | 1999 | Knoxville-AA | 8 | 2 | 3.56 | 13 | 13 | 86 | 70 | 5 | 27 | 77 | much better! |
| 22 | 1999 | Syracuse-AAA | 4 | 6 | 5.19 | 14 | 14 | 76.1 | 93 | 10 | 35 | 57 | balks at each hurdle |
Mauro Gozzo
Buzz Factor: 3
Gooooose! Gooose! The Goose was a minor-league draftee in 1989, and was promoted all the way to The Show that year. He did OK in a couple of spot starts and relief appearances, but he didn't really have major-league stuff.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 23 | 1989 | Knoxville-AA | 7 | 0 | 2.98 | 18 | 6 | 60.1 | 59 | 1 | 12 | 37 | |
| 23 | 1989 | Syracuse-AAA | 5 | 1 | 2.76 | 12 | 7 | 62 | 56 | 3 | 19 | 34 |
Don Gordon
Buzz Factor: 2
Not really a prospect; picked up when the Tigers released him. Eventually became the player to be named later in the deal that sent Phil Niekro to Toronto. I seem to recall that he became a pitching coach somewhere. Or maybe I have him confused with somebody else. Whatever.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 24 | 1984 | Knoxville-AA | 3 | 2 | 1.79 | 27 | 1 | 55.1 | 37 | 0 | 15 | 30 | 4.97 ERA in Det organization |
| 25 | 1985 | Syracuse-AAA | 8 | 5 | 2.07 | 51 | 0 | 113 | 93 | 4 | 21 | 43 | that's a lot of innings |
Juan Guzman
Buzz Factor: 5
The minor leagues are densely populated with pitchers with awesome stuff and no idea where it's going. Guzman was one such player until 1991. Had much better control in his first two years in the majors than he did at any point in the minors, which suggests a pitcher who wasn't confident enough to trust his stuff. Often compared to Escobar, which is unfair to Guzman. Intelligent; reading is listed as one of his hobbies, which is unusual for a ballplayer. Did not become a fulltime starter until 1991; was a spot starter in 1990, and was in the pen in 1988 and 1989.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 21 | 1988 | Knoxville-AA | 4 | 5 | 2.36 | 46 | 2 | 84 | 52 | 1 | 61 | 90 | unguided missile launcher |
| 22 | 1989 | Syracuse-AAA | 1 | 1 | 3.98 | 14 | 0 | 20.1 | 13 | 0 | 30 | 28 | sent back for safety reasons |
| 22 | 1989 | Knoxville-AA | 1 | 4 | 6.23 | 22 | 8 | 48.2 | 34 | 2 | 60 | 50 | discouraged, I guess |
| 23 | 1990 | Knoxville-AA | 11 | 9 | 4.24 | 37 | 21 | 157 | 145 | 10 | 80 | 138 | 21 WP |
| 24 | 1991 | Syracuse-AAA | 4 | 5 | 4.03 | 12 | 11 | 67 | 46 | 4 | 42 | 67 |
Roy Halladay
Buzz Factor: 9
You could make a movie out of this guy's life, and it would make Seabiscuit seem like a glum film noir classic. In retrospect, I think it's obvious that he was rushed: his numbers in the low minors look like the Doc we've come to know, but he struggled in Knoxville and was promoted to Syracuse anyway. I think that near no-hitter in Detroit in 1998 may have cost him a year or two of development, as everyone thought he was a finished product when he wasn't.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 20 | 1997 | Knoxville-AA | 2 | 3 | 5.40 | 7 | 7 | 36.2 | 46 | 4 | 11 | 30 | |
| 20 | 1997 | Syracuse-AAA | 7 | 10 | 4.58 | 22 | 22 | 125.2 | 132 | 13 | 53 | 64 | |
| 21 | 1998 | Syracuse-AAA | 9 | 5 | 3.79 | 21 | 21 | 116.1 | 107 | 11 | 53 | 71 | |
| 23 | 2000 | Syracuse-AAA | 2 | 3 | 5.50 | 11 | 11 | 73.2 | 85 | 10 | 21 | 38 | bottomed out |
| 24 | 2001 | Tennessee-AA | 2 | 1 | 2.12 | 5 | 5 | 34 | 25 | 2 | 6 | 29 | 13 G in Dunedin |
| 24 | 2001 | Syracuse-AAA | 1 | 0 | 3.21 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 13 | the rest is history |
Mark Hendrickson
Buzz Factor: 3
Whatever you think of Lurch, and I've never rated him that highly, you have to give him credit: he has now played at the major league level in two sports. Most athletes don't make it in even one. Last played basketball for Cleveland in 1999-2000, signing three ten-day contracts with the club before finally being let go on January 27. I love reading minor league records of star prospects, because they're so overwhelming: in his senior year of high school, Lurch was 10-1 with an 0.84 ERA and 115 strikeouts. Drafted six times by various baseball teams, being picked in the 12th, 21st, 32nd, 16th, 19th, and 20th rounds (the last by the Jays in 1997). He was drafted in the second round of the 1996 NBA draft, which is undoubtedly why he tried basketball first. That, and it pays better than minor-league baseball.
| Age | Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | Notes |
| 25 | 1999 | Knoxville-AA | 2 | 7 | 6.63 | 12 | 11 | 55.2 | 73 | 4 | 21 | 39 | yurgh |
| 26 | 2000 | Tennessee-AA | 3 | 1 | 3.63 | 6 | 6 | 39.2 | 32 | 5 | 12 | 29 | started in Dunedin |
| 27 | 2001 | Syracuse-AAA | 2 | 9 | 4.66 | 38 | 6 | 73.1 | 80 | 13 | 18 | 33 | |
| 28 | 2002 | Syracuse-AAA | 7 | 5 | 3.52 | 19 | 14 | 92 | 90 | 12 | 22 | 68 |
Tom Henke
Buzz Factor: 3, then 9
A totally unknown quantity when obtained by the Jays as compensation for losing Cliff Johnson to free agency, Henke went down to Syracuse and put up numbers that were basically mindboggling. (That hit total is not a misprint.) He then came to Toronto and put up numbers that were almost equally mindboggling. He has a degree in building construction, which is just the sort of practical thing you'd imagine him studying. I still miss him.
Pat Hentgen
Buzz Factor: 6
I didn't hear much about him as a prospect coming up. This is surprising, since his numbers look pretty darn good. Good K/IP ratios are a sign of good things to come. Took a bit of time to adjust to both AAA and the majors, though. Welcome back, Pat - I hope his first start is at home.
Marty Janzen
Buzz Factor: 5
Basically, what the Jays got for David Cone when they traded him to the Yankees. The Jays were so desperate for pitching in 1996 that they called Janzen up, despite his having an ERA of 6.51 in five starts. Needless to say, he didn't do any better in the big time. His minor league record suggests that he had a good fastball, but that it was straight: his strikeout totals in the low minors are good, but his home runs allowed spike sharply at the AAA level. The 1997 media guide informs us that he once aspired to a career in bowling.
Steve Karsay
Buzz Factor: 8
At the time of the Rickey Henderson trade, many people predicted that the Jays would regret giving up Karsay for him. He sure looked like a good pitcher: at Dunedin in 1992, he struck out more than a man an inning and had a K/W ratio of exactly 3-to-1. And he turned out to be a good pitcher - he just hasn't been able to stay healthy.
Jimmy Key
Buzz Factor: 6
The most poised young pitcher I've ever seen. Didn't have the outstanding stuff that other young Jays prospects had, but he knew how to pitch, and he never panicked under pressure. Here's a fact for you: we often think of the 1983-1984 Jays as being a young team, and they were - but Key was the only rookie to stick with the 1984 club all season. Vulnerable to the home run. (I knew I was getting old when I noticed that this guy was going grey at the temples. Sigh.)
Billy Koch
Buzz Factor: 6
In retrospect, it seems obvious: if you pluck a guy out of the minors and tell him to just throw the ball down the middle, he'll never learn to do anything else. Only pitched in seven games above class-A before getting the call. I seem to recall that he got to 100 career saves faster than anyone else in major league history. Was a starter in the minors, all the way; in another universe, he's in his prime as a starter. Did you know that he'll be 30 this year? For some reason, he seems younger.
