Future Blue Jays MiLB Notebook

The rest of the minor league rosters, a new ownership regime in YVR, and some other stuff.

The Rosters

There were few surprises with the release of the rosters for New Hampshire, Vancouver, and Dunedin - many returnees, but few aggressive promotions. Let’s take a look……these are unofficial rosters, but should be confirmed shortly.

New Hampshire

Maybe it’s a reflection of the depth in the system, or maybe the farm department wanted to send a message, but there are a few names here that I originally thought would appear on Buffalo’s list.

Adrian Hernandez had spent all season in the International League last year, and if not for shoulder issues which shut him down for a spell mid-season, he and his wizardly changeup seemed on the cusp of a big league job. But getting AAA hitters out is one thing, MLB is another matter, and it was no secret that the organization wanted Hernandez to develop more velo to help with the separation of his change. It might be the depth ahead of him, or it may be that the player devo staff wanted him to work on his fastball in a less stressful environment, but I was surprised by this move.

Orelvis had his issues last season. Word got around the Eastern League pretty quickly that he would chase, and he saw a steady diet of fastballs on the inner half/breaking stuff away, and while he hit a New Hampshire franchise record 30 HRs, a pedestrian (for him) .732 OPS told much of the story. With Leo Jimenez on the roster, it’s very reasonable to expect Martinez spends a fair bit of time at 3rd this season.

Surrey, BC’s Damiano Palmegiani had a breakout 2022, and the organization has rewarded him with a promotion to AA. Palmegiani should split time between 3rd and 1st, and if there’s anything for him to work on, it’s his defence.

If I had to predict a rotation, it would be Robberse, Robbins, Kloff, Quinones, Fraze, and Schultz. Keep an eye on flame-throwing Watson in the bullpen.

With Palmegiani, Britton, and Martinez in the lineup, there should be some pop, but this may be a lineup that otherwise struggles to score runs. Jimenez is very much a player in the spotlight this year. He’s shown plenty of promise - enough to get a spot on the 40 in the fall of 2021 - but has had trouble staying healthy.

Vancouver

The 2023 Northwest League finalists have 23 of 30 players returning to their roster, augmented by some of the guys who led Dunedin to a second-half surge.

Again, few surprises here. Doughty, Roden, and Machado bolster an already strong lineup. The rotation should be Macko, Santos, Dominguez (a guy the farm department is very high on), Dallas, Benson, and Wallace. While the long term plan for Macko is likely a relief role, he’ll start this year to help accelerate his development and make up for time missed due to injury. TJ Brock can hit triple digits, and just needs to improve his command to move up - he was a guy who I thought would start in AA.

Certainly, the makeup of this roster will be different by season’s end, but this is a lineup that could compete for a title. Nunez, Martinez, Brown (Dasan and Devante), Sosa, Kasevitch and Doughty is about a strong a core as you’re likely to see at this level.

Dunedin

You really have to know your Blue Jays farm system to recognize some of these names. You’ll no doubt take notice of the fact that Brandon Barriera isn’t on the list, but that’s not surprising. His development this season will be taken very gradually. 2nd round pick Tucker Toman is on the list, along with INF Adrian Pinto, who came over from the Rockies last season and showed great promise before being shut down for the season. DeCastro and Beltre are solid up-the-middle guys, and Williams is a Tellez-esque figure at 1st who I had thought might start at High A. Salinas was one of the D-Jays best hitters in last year’s playoffs. Robert Robertis impressed in a late season promotion to AA, and could be this year’s Gabriel Martinez.

On the pitching side, Alcalde’s name came up many times in off-season discussions I had with Blue Jays staff. Ohashi always seems be to on the verge of a breakthrough, but this will be his third season at this level.

There’s Canadian content with Quebecois Deschamps (say “Day-shaw” - the translation, “the fields” has always seemed appropriate for a ballplayer to me) and Masson.

All in all, this looks like another young squad which may struggle during the first half of the season.

As far as the whole system, there’s not a lot of Top 100-potential, but there is depth. Perhaps Toman and/or Barriera may crack that list one day; beyond that, there are several players who could become solid big leaguers, but not necessarily stars.

New Owners for the C’s

The news out of Vancouver earlier this week of the Canadians being sold to Diamond Holdings, owner of 16 other MiLB franchises, came as a bit of a surprise, but after some thought and digging around, this looks like a good move for the team.

B.C. businessmen Jake Kerr and Jeff Mooney bought the team when it was at a very low ebb in 2007. Canadian minor league baseball, which had a renaissance in the early 80s and 90s, with franchises in Edmonton, Calgary, St Catharines, Ottawa, London, and Welland, was on life support, with the C’s the last franchise standing when Mooney and Kerr took over. Soon after, they hired former Nationals’ executive Andy Dunn to run the team, and negotiated renovations and a 25-year lease with the city for venerable Nat Bailey Stadium.

The C’s joined the Blue Jays organization in 2011, and the fit could not have been better. The team helped with Blue Jays’ marketing efforts in the west, and the franchise became one of the most successful ones in all of minor league baseball.

When MLB revamped their relationship with MiLB several years ago, they loosened the rules on corporate ownership of minor league franchises. Groups like Diamond quickly scooped up franchises. While there’s some concern about an out-of-town entity owing the team, Diamond has the finances to go ahead with more needed updates to The Nat, many of which were dictated by MLB. After two years without the full houses in Vancouver Mooney and Kerr had become used to, there was no baseball at The Nat for two years, and no doubt that put a dent in the pair’s ability to complete these changes.

 Steve Kerr of the Vancouver Province wrote that a revamp of the 1st base side of the stadium is likely the first item on the drawing board, which would include required training, fitness, and nutrition improvements (and a likely clubhouse move to that side by the home team). Other rumoured plans include a right field seating area, and a new BBQ suite down the 1st base line. JJ Cooper of Baseball America wrote (paywalled) earlier this week that Diamond is keen on the idea of a concourse around stadiums, as market research has shown that fans like to move around the park during a game. That might be an improvement that’s down the road.

The bottom line, according to Kerr and Mooney, is that fans won’t notice a difference with the new ownership. Dunn will have a title change, but will remain in charge of the operations. Changes will probably come soon, but all will be for the better. As for the clubhouse renos - as someone who has seen the rather rustic and cramped conditions under the stands that one might expect from a 73 year old stadium, these will be very welcome by the players and coaches.

Mooney and Kerr saved minor league baseball in Vancouver. They even were able to convince the Jays to change their minds about affiliation during the MiLB reorganization. This sale to Diamond should keep the franchise in the city for years to come.

Your correspondent will be in Vancouver next week, and is looking forward to learning more.

Finally….

This marks a decade for yours truly in writing about the Blue Jays farm system - if not for 2020, it would be 11 years, but I’m not going to quibble about that. I’ve gone from Google’s Blogger to a Word Press website and now to this newsletter. While this doesn’t qualify me to become a Hall of Fame voter, it’s an accomplishment just the same. As someone who grew up around the game, I thought I knew a lot, but so many folks at different levels of pro ball have helped add to my knowledge - I feel like I’m working on a Master’s in baseball. There are far too many to thank individually, but thanks to the players, managers, player development staff, and last - but certainly not least - the broadcasters and media relations people at both the MLB and MiLB levels who have helped make this possible. It’s been fun, and I hope that while I continue to work on book projects, I’ll still be able to keep you all up to date on the goings-on in the Blue Jays minor league system. Most of all, thanks go to you readers for your loyalty. I certainly couldn’t have done it without you.

DF