Jesse Hernandez is interesting.  Made it to A+ in 2012 and was hit around (6.61 ERA 1.3 HR/9). 2013 he had a 3.49 ERA 0.6 HR/9 2.6 BB/9 and 6.0 K/9. Given the number of pitchers in the Jays system I can see why he was left in A+ to start this year, although at 24 last year he was getting old for A+ (0.9 years older than average).  This year in A+ he has a 3.03 ERA 0.7 HR/9 1.4 BB/9 and 4.9 K/9 in 7 starts, 5 1/2 IP per start.  Good numbers, but not 'wow'. 

Also in A+ rotation this year...
7 Starts...
Taylor Cole 24 2.31 ERA 0.2 HR/9 2.1 BB/9 10.8 K/9
Daniel Norris 21 0.81 ERA 0 HR 2.7 BB/9 11.3 K/9
Ben White 25 3.00 ERA 0.4 HR/9 2.4 BB/9 4.5 K/9
5 Starts then promoted to AA...
Matt Boyd 0.29 ERA (!) 0.3 HR/9 (that 1 HR was the only run he allowed) 1.5 BB/9 10.7 K/9
3 Starts after promoted from A ball...
Kendall Graveman 3.60 ERA 0 HR 1.2 BB/9 6.6 K/9

3 other guys had starts, 2 rehabbing major leaguers (Happ & Janssen) and Kramer Champlin (10 relief, 1 start).

Looking at that list I think Hernandez has a long wait to get to AA.  Boyd clearly was beyond this level, Norris should be promoted next, then Cole (or vice versa, both are worthy), then a 3 way fight between Hernandez, White and Graveman as all 3 are having success just not 'wow' success like Boyd/Norris/Cole.  I don't see anyone in the system thinking Hernandez is hard done by right now.

Next challenge is who is in that AA rotation....
Deck McGuire, Aaron Sanchez, and Casey Lawrence all have ERA's in the 3.10-3.30 range. IE: doing well but not well enough to force the Jays hand to put them in AAA.  Matt Boyd has been getting his butt handed back to him in AA with a 10.00 ERA in 3 starts 9 IP 20 H 1 HR 5 BB 12 SO.  Hopefully his next start goes better.  The 5th slot has been all over the place, Scott Copeland had 5 starts (3.58 ERA), Austin Bibens-Dirkx got 2 as did Shawn Hill with both getting promoted to AAA, plus 2 starts for a rehabbing Janssen.

Right now Boyd is hurting the rest of the A+ rotation by not doing well in AA. If he tore apart AA like he did A+ then the rest of them would be seen as more likely to handle it I'd think. Still, this is a good problem - too many guys doing well in A+ means more for AA next year and AAA as well.  Ideally in a year or two there just wouldn't be room in the high minors for guys like Romero who cannot get guy out (6 starts, 6.00 ERA, 23 walks in 27 IP vs 20 K).

As far as promotions go, I wonder if making the playoff is a factor. Buffalo is in 1st and looks good. Dunedin should qualify in the 1st half, they look comfortable. Lansing has to get pretty hot to qualify in the 1st half. NH, does not look good.
For A & A+, the 1st half should be finished in about a month, I think.

Update on the Ricky Romero Experiment:

The good news is Ricky has a no-hitter through 2 IP. The bad news is the Bisons are losing 2-0 as a result of 5 consecutive walks issued by Romero in the top of the 2nd. He has currently thrown 17 of 49 pitches for strikes and issued 6 walks overall.

I still think he should be demoted or released. Keeping him in Buffalo is doing no-one any good. Promote Deck to Bisons.

I hate to be a broken record, but Romero is not blocking McGuire.  Nolin's now on the 7 day DL, so there are two spots in the Bisons rotation occupied by the Shawn Hill's of the org. 

Nice to see Goins looking good at the plate in AAA.

Not saying Ricky is blocking McGuire...saying McGuire can go to Buffalo so they have adequate # of starters. Ricky should not remain in Buffalo because his present level is FAR below that of AAA.  His whip is 1.98....His starts average  LESS than 5 innings. I am sure that Bison fans are pissed and they should be....probably players too though no-one would say so. I have nothing personal against RR. He is probably a good man but it's time to get real.

There is still hope for McGuire....realistically,  there is no hope for RR returning to majors. Whatever is decided for Deck, the bottom line is that RR should not remain where he is and likely won't much longer.

What has happened to Romero has now morphed into a full-fledged case of Steve Blass Disease. Which, historically, has been a career-ender.

MILB.com has pitch counts tonight for Dunedin. Norris threw 88 pitches in 6.2 IP. Not much of pitch count that would explain the two previous 4.2 inning starts. Regardless, the clock is ticking on Norris' A ball career.

As I avert my eyes from the pitching disasters in Buffalo and Lansing, my mind wanders to Dunedin and I ponder the odds of Norris joining New Hampshire once Dunedin has clinched the first half title. The man gave up one earned run in 6.2 IP and it caused his ERA to rise.

Thanks John N for your post with links on the Dunedin rotation. Promotions have been earned by those pitchers. Before looking I concluded that if the promotions took place, nobody from Lansing would be able to replace them.
So after looking, M Dermody, C De Jong & J Gabryszwski may be able to handle A+, but after another 5 starts. De Jong & Tirado are tandem starters who can now go up to 5 innings per game. Tirado has a great ERA 2.70 but the walks are very high. I would keep him in Lansing until that facet improves.