Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Bluefield Ends on a Winning Note plus a Two Pitch Inning

Bluefield Ends on a Winning Note plus a Two Pitch Inning

Bluefield finished their season with a nice win. The GCL Jays will finish their season today, two games early, because of the approaching hurricane. Dunedin start their playoffs next Tuesday, they hope the hurricane will have passed through by then. It looks like Dunedin will be the only playoff team for the Jays. Three teams have a small chance to make the playoffs. Buffalo and Lansing have a tragic number of three, with five games remaining. Vancouver's tragic number is one. Wednesday saw a two pitch inning, that is very unusual. Read below to find out how.

Rochester 10 Buffalo 2

Trenton at New Hampshire - Postponed

Fort Myers 1 Dunedin 2 - Game one

Fort Myers 3 Dunedin 4 - Game two, 9 innings

West Michigan 6 Lansing 8

Tri-City 7 Vancouver 8

Burlington 3 Bluefield 8

GCL Blue Jays 3 GCL Tigers 2

This is what I noted from yesterday's games.

Santiago Espinal was hitless in his first four AAA games. Since then he has hit in 15 out of 18 games and moved his average from zero to .302. Espinal doesn't have a lot of power and he also doesn't walk much but he has taken to AAA well. His OPS in AAA is 763. He should be a Urena alternative.

Sean Reid-Foley had a rough start back in AAA. He just pitched three and a bit innings but gave up five runs. He needed 72 pitches to get through his innings. In addition to two walks, SRF hit three batters.

Conor Fisk followed SRF and he too was hit around. He gave up three runs in four innings. Fisk had a hot streak at the start of August but has been more hit and miss recently.

Josh Winkowski has had a few rough starts recently but on Wednesday he was one out short of a complete game. Winkowski went 6.2 innings in the first game of a doubleheader and only allowed one run. He didn't walk anyone and struck out three. Maximo Castillo and Winkowski should feature next week in the playoffs.

Samad Taylor hit his seventh home run.

Ryan Noda had three hits in game two of the DH. Noda's average is just .237 but his OPS is 787. Assuming Noda heads to AA next season, his walks will likely decline but can he retain his power?

The second game of the doubleheader went to extra innings. In extras a runner starts the inning on second base. Kyle Weatherley, pitching for the Jays, got a ground ball and a double play on consecutive pitches for a rare two pitch inning.

Adam Kloffenstein went six innings for the C's. He racked up eight K's, with one walk, and was charged with two earned runs. His ERA is 2.24.

McGregory Contreras hit a home run, his third, but is hitting .214 coming to the end of the season. Contreras was a marginal top 30 prospect a few years ago but he has topped out. Luis De Los Santos is similar. He too was a possible top 30 prospect but he is hitting .212, even with three hits on Wednesday.

Leonardo Jimenez went 3-4 in Bluefield's win. Jimenez has finished the season strongly with eleven hits in his last five games. Jimenez finished with a .754 OPS, good for an 18 year old.

Yhon Perez has gone unnoticed so far this season. Perez is a 19 year old who played in the DSL two years ago but didn't play last season due to a drug suspension. After his off year he started slowly. He hit just .196 in July. But he has hit consistently in August, his average is .435 with an OPS over 1100. He could be one to watch in 2020.

Michael Dominguez pitched three innings allowing one unearned run. He has had a good first season.

Three Stars

Third Star - Adam Kloffenstein

Second Star - Josh Winkowski

First Star - Yhon Perez

Boxes

Posted by Gerry on Thursday, August 29 2019 @ 08:46 AM EDT.

Bluefield Ends on a Winning Note plus a Two Pitch Inning | 20 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Mike Green - Thursday, August 29 2019 @ 10:03 AM EDT (#380608) #

Kloffenstein just turned 19, and has handled short season A ball with aplomb. He now has a performance marker to support the high opinion from scouts.

Leonardo Jimenez will surely start next year in Lansing. He's Rule 5 eligible as of December 2021 when he is only 20 years old. Hopefully he advances at a steady pace, and makes the decision an easy one for the club.

uglyone - Thursday, August 29 2019 @ 10:59 AM EDT (#380609) #

Jimenez' strong finish to the year allowed him to finish the season at 115wrc+, in the same vicinity as much more highly touted fellow 18yr old Hiraldo who ended at 126wrc+. Now this was based mostly on him making up for the power gap with a superior walk rate (not a great rate but much better than hiraldo's), and he needed a much higher babip to hit for the same average....but still, that js a very solid hitting line for a glove first SS who is young for his level (and he's even a young 18, as a May baby). Still needs his glove to be legit to be a real prospect but reports there are very good so far.

Vicuna was brought up as a potential comp earlier this year but Vicuna didn't even hit close to this well in the GCL when he was 18, and his glove ended up being not much to write home about in the end.

Glevin - Thursday, August 29 2019 @ 12:50 PM EDT (#380617) #

Kendall Williams with another good start. Now up to
16 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 7 BB, 19 Ks.

Jays going to send a bunch of players to the AFL. Warmoth, Large, and Smith. 4 pitchers will also go according to Scott Mitchell. Zeuch, Merryweather, and Murphy all possibilities.

cascando - Thursday, August 29 2019 @ 04:03 PM EDT (#380623) #

Today is the last day of games in the FSL. They've cancelled remaining games and the playoffs. Second time in three years.

I guess that means the Dunedin Jays are co-champions, again?

Gerry - Thursday, August 29 2019 @ 04:29 PM EDT (#380626) #

It also means that the Jays are very likely to have no teams playing after Monday.

Mike Green - Thursday, August 29 2019 @ 05:01 PM EDT (#380628) #

Fortunately, Zeuch and SWR are getting the starts today which definitely will improve an off-day.

dan gordon - Thursday, August 29 2019 @ 07:24 PM EDT (#380637) #

Yes, Jimenez really turned his hitting around in August, raising his BA by about 40 points. Very encouraging. Vicuna's range factor and fielding % as a SS in the minors are both better than Jimenez' numbers as a SS, and Jimenez has played more than 40% of his minor league games at 2B. Not sure what his strengths/weaknesses are as a defender.

Shoeless Joe - Thursday, August 29 2019 @ 08:03 PM EDT (#380640) #

SWR just seems churning out dominant outings, he is making most quick reactions to the Stroman trade look bad. It is hard to believe he's younger than Kendall Williams and dominating 4 levels ahead of him, and Williams has done well for himself..

bpoz - Thursday, August 29 2019 @ 08:10 PM EDT (#380641) #

Shoeless I cannot believe it but you are right about the ages of K Williams and SWR. For me shocking.

uglyone - Thursday, August 29 2019 @ 08:14 PM EDT (#380642) #

Otto is Midwest Batting Champ.

hypobole - Thursday, August 29 2019 @ 08:39 PM EDT (#380643) #

Another deadline acquisition who wasn't well received by some, Thomas Hatch, with a terrific final start.

7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 11 K.

Marlow - Thursday, August 29 2019 @ 09:04 PM EDT (#380644) #

It is rather interesting the difference between SWR and Kloffenstein. They both are from the same draft year, but SWR is ahead by 2 levels. Is it a matter of different philosophy for developing pitchers between the Mets and the Blue Jays or is SWR that much more advanced than Kloffenstein?

bpoz - Thursday, August 29 2019 @ 09:49 PM EDT (#380645) #

Great question Marlow?
My opinion is that it is the org decision. NYM are aggressive Jays are not.

uglyone - Thursday, August 29 2019 @ 10:20 PM EDT (#380646) #

Jays didnt have to push him to A+. They could have sent him to lansing.

John Northey - Friday, August 30 2019 @ 12:33 AM EDT (#380647) #

Given all the Jays traded to get Hatch was a guy they got for nothing (Phelps - $2.5 mil for the year plus an option) I'd say that looks good so far (24 year old in AA 6 starts 35 1/3 IP 2 BB vs 34 K's - 9 runs allowed, going 4-2-2-1-0-0). That is what you want to see, a kid who might have been misused by his last team for whatever reason who suddenly 'gets it' here. It'll be interesting to see if he keeps it up in 2020 - given his age and AA experience he will be fighting to make the team out of spring but unlikely to make it until May or June just because the team will want him to get some AAA time.

dan gordon - Friday, August 30 2019 @ 01:11 AM EDT (#380648) #

One reason for the difference is that Kloffenstein only pitched 2 innings for the Jays' organization last year, so this was basically his 1st year as a pro, and starting him in Vancouver is very reasonable. He'll probably be in Dunedin either to start the 2020 season, or a few weeks in. SWR in advanced A at the age of 18 is extremely unusual.

Great to see Hatch doing so well. Over his last 4 games, he has been totally dominant, striking out 25 and walking nobody, while allowing only 15 hits in 26 innings. You wonder if the Jays tweaked something in his delivery, because he had walked 37 in 100 IP with Tennessee, but since the trade, has walked only 2 in 35 1/3 IP. He should be in Buffalo to start next year, and could see some action with the big team, depending on injuries, offseason moves and how effective the other rotation candidates are. Just moved him up a few notches in my prospect rankings.

Dany Jimenez finished off Hatch's game with another shutout inning, including 2 more K's. He has a 1.93 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, opponents' BA of .188 and a 47:12 K:BB ratio since his promotion to NH. Could be another guy who sees some mlb action next year.

Will Robertson got off to a very slow start to his pro career, but he's been doing much better the last 6 weeks. He's 3 for 3 so far today, with his 4th HR, and now is 46 for his last 145, with a slash line of .317/.421/.483/.904 over that span. His poor start makes his overall line rather unimpressive.

As mentioned by Glevin above, Kendall Williams' final line for his 1st pro season is a very impressive one, 16 IP, 6 H, 7 BB, 19 K, 2 ER, 1.13 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and opponents' BA of .111. 19 year old Miguel Olivo finished up for him with his 8th consecutive scoreless appearance. Olivo's season line is 13 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 12 K, 1.56 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and opponents' BA of .156.

SWR finished off his season with 5 more shutout innings, 2 hits, no walks, 3 K's. Amazing.

Zeuch didn't strike out anybody today, but he gave up just 1 earned run in 5 IP.

I've been following the Jays since day 1 and I don't think I've ever seen so many good to excellent pitching prospects in the organization. Two more to come from Tampa Bay for Sogard. If they do trade Giles, and I prefer they sign him, I hope they get a couple of hitters.

hypobole - Friday, August 30 2019 @ 02:34 AM EDT (#380649) #

I'm going to give a mention to a guy who's been seemingly around forever but almost invisible. It's Michael De La Cruz 7th year in the org as a permanent backup catcher. But he's finally having a legit good season - 286/387/461 in Buffalo. Hit his 5th HR last night after hitting a total of 7 in the 6 years prior. Has 26 BB's vs 29 K's.

scottt - Friday, August 30 2019 @ 06:17 AM EDT (#380650) #

Vancouver are now officially eliminated.

Bisons are now 4 games back of both NY teams. Elimination number down to 1.
It's all over except for the crying.

ISLAND BOY - Friday, August 30 2019 @ 08:51 AM EDT (#380651) #

I've been a Leaf's fan for nearly 50 years so I know all about the crying part. Some years it was over before Christmas.

bpoz - Friday, August 30 2019 @ 08:57 AM EDT (#380652) #

UO, I too thought about SWR going to A+ as aggressive which is unusual for the Jays. However when SWR was told about the trade he was with his parents driving to the NYM's A+ team. I suppose it is protocol for the Mets to phone first and then the Jays to welcome him.

I love the personal stories on the prospects. After the phone calls he told his parents and the car turned around and headed to Dunedin. I don't think the Jays would tell him to forget his promotion by the Mets to A+.

Now he is a Jay and a champion.

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