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Great stuff here and a cut and paste from a subscriber article about Adrian Pinto from Baseball Prospectus. Worth the 6.99!

Adrian Pinto (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=148118), 2B/OF, Toronto Blue Jays This is a fun player to watch. Sometimes those little RHH 2B in the minors who don’t look like much turn out to be superstars (Jose Altuve (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/player_search.php?search_name=Jose+Altuve) and José Ramírez come to mind), and Pinto has that free-swinging, excellent bat-to-ball, contact-oriented approach.

This guy definitely wants to hit and he swings like he hates the baseball. He simply doesn’t see a pitch near the strike zone that he doesn’t like and he does a great job of hitting the ball hard even if it doesn’t look pretty. He’s 22 years old and hasn’t played above High-A (and hasn’t played much because of injuries) but he has some sneaky late-bloomer upside. Keep an eye on him.

Now, I mentioned earlier in the article that the Fall League so far has seemed to b e light on pitching prospects, and even though that’s true—there’s not a ton of high-upside guys I’ve seen yet—there are a few names that showed something for me.

Quick Hits Toronto might have one of the better collection of arms that I’ve seen here. Kendry Rojas (http:/ /www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=150006), a 21-year-old LHP from Cuba, looks like a higher velo version of Reiver Sanmartin (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=106851). With a sneaky FB from 93-95, it looked like an invisi-ball and he threw strikes easily with it. The off-speed isn’t as developed yet with an inconsistent SL/FC thing and flashing a changeup on occasion, he has mid-rotation upside because he’s lefty with velo and throws strikes with a funky cross-fire delivery. If all else fails he’s definitely a nice bullpen piece and I love how he attacks hitters….

Meanwhile Lazaro Estrada (http:/ /www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=119528) is a smaller, thicker-built RHP also for the Jays organization out of Cuba and I believe will be Rule 5 eligible in his sixth professional season. The fastball was amazing, it was 90-94, sitting 93 but located very well and with some deception; he gets a fair amount of swings and misses with it. He also features a slow curve, a cutter that looks sliderish, and a split; nothing is plus but he throws strikes, changes locations effectively and pitches with enthusiasm and fun. He has a chance to be a back-end innings eater or a longman mop-up type… T.J. Brock (http:/ /www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php? id=159631) and Ryan Jennings

(http:/ /www.baseballprospectus.com/player_search.php?search_name=Ryan+Jennings) are both smaller RHP from the Jays org, both 25 years old and both pitching in relief in the fall league and neither have given up a run in each of their two innings pitched (Brock getting 5 Ks and Jennings with 4 Ks).

Brock might have the single best pitch I’ve seen here so far with a pure gyro slider that looks like a changeup and moves straight down at 88-89, generating a lot of whiffs from RHH and LHH, while Jennings has one of the better quality FBs from 94-96 that looks to have plus carry at the top of the zone and easily the best hosiery on the field… Rayner Castillo (http:/ /www.base ballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=150675), a 20-year-old RHP in the Tigers organization from the Dominican Repub lic might have the best upside of any pitcher I’ve seen so far. He pitched above the complex league for the first time this year and has really taken off… Castillo has a really good frame with a low-maintenance delivery, except when he wants to get extra on his FB. Sitting 93- 96 with a sinker that has solid arm-side run, at times bores in on RHH. Occasionally will overthrow and gets out of whack but he has the delivery of an above-average strike-thrower. The SL isn’t polished yet; sweepy and flat at 81- 83, but not sharp and no real bite—he shows advanced ability to spin it for better projection. I like his turnover changeup better than the SL at 89 with ability to throw it to RHH and LHH. Future starter profile with a heavy FB and feel for off-speed and a good frame with rather easy velocity.

Here’s Jennings’ stirrups and check in next week for more notes on the Fall League

Baseball Prospectus News on Vancouver Canadians | 9 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
jerjapan - Monday, October 28 2024 @ 02:24 PM EDT (#453582) #
'Best hosiery'?
Nice to see some intriguing upside in the AFL this time around (upside in terms of bench / bullpen roles and such). 
Kelekin - Monday, October 28 2024 @ 04:59 PM EDT (#453585) #
Nice to see those comments. Estrada and Jennings are both possible contributors next year (Brock needs more innings, but an impact bullpen arm not far behind). Rojas is the most exciting, but also wouldn't be shocked to see him traded with the helium on him this year.

Thanks for sharing.
ISLAND BOY - Tuesday, October 29 2024 @ 11:44 AM EDT (#453595) #
I don't know if trading him would be a good idea considering how scarce good pitching prospects who can stay healthy are in the Jay's minor league system.
mendocino - Wednesday, October 30 2024 @ 11:14 AM EDT (#453608) #
"5 Arizona Fall League Prospects With MLB Potential Flying Under The Radar"
1. T.J. Brock: a mid-90's fastball and a say-your-prayers slider

Peyton Williams swinging some SERIOUS lumber in the @MLBazFallLeague.
The @BlueJays prospect hammered a pair of homers which checked in at 453 and 433 feet!

https://x.com/MLBPipeline/status/1851413213352493091

Draft Report Card
Best Pure Hitter: 3B Sean Keys (4)
Best Power Hitter: C Aaron Parker (6)
Fastest Runner: OF Nick Mitchell (4c)
Best Defensive Player: SS Gavin Smith (17) glove, plus arm
Best Fastball: Trey Yesavage (1), Khal Stephen (2)
Best Secondary Pitch: Johnny King (3)
Best Pro Debut: Keys (4), Parker (6), Eddie Micheletti (8)
Best Athlete: Stephen (2)
Most Intriguing Background: C Brock Tibbitts (13)
Closest To The Majors: Yesavage (1)
Best Day Three Pick (Or NDFA): Jonathan Todd (15) Jays excited about fastball/slider combo. 92-95 mph
John Northey - Wednesday, October 30 2024 @ 01:56 PM EDT (#453609) #
Thanks mendocino - Peyton Williams is near the end if he doesn't climb the ladder fast - A+ at 23 is not a good place to be, but he did hit 288/375/470 overall in Rk/A/A+ last year. But again, he is a 1B/DH which limits his ability to climb unless he is a monster with the bat. So he sounds like he is doing what he needs to do - and to keep doing it in 2025 in AA.

T.J. Brock also is in a make it or break it year. Entering his age 25 season and had just 11 1/3 IP last year, 76 1/3 lifetime as a pro. Crazy 15.2 K/9 lifetime, but 4.2 BB/9 is not good. Still, guys who can do that level of K'ing can climb super fast as a reliever which he is. I'd expect him to get a LOT of looks this spring as the Jays decide if they want him in AA or AAA to start, then if he is an early call-up when someone inevitably goes down from the pen (multiple someone's always stink or get hurt in the pen at some point). His 10 K's in 5 IP in the fall league doesn't hurt. 2 H and 3 BB as well.

Lets hope for some luck for the Jays minors in 2025 - see some guys make it, or at least impress enough to be used in trades.
scottt - Wednesday, October 30 2024 @ 08:35 PM EDT (#453611) #
Age doesn't matter for a pitcher. Brock is rule 5 eligible in December. 
Fangraphs ranks him 5th in the Jays system.
Mason Fluharty is also interesting and rule 5 eligible.
bpoz - Wednesday, October 30 2024 @ 09:25 PM EDT (#453612) #
Brock and Fluharty were 2022 draft picks.
John Northey - Wednesday, October 30 2024 @ 11:11 PM EDT (#453614) #
FanGraphs has Brock as rule 5 eligible Dec 2025, not this winter. Guys drafted out of college in 2021 are eligible this winter, 2020 for high school/IFA.
scottt - Thursday, October 31 2024 @ 08:37 AM EDT (#453618) #
Yeah, my bad. Not having to be added for another year, there is no rush on Brock.
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