The week (and a bit) that was in the Blue Jays minor league system.

Buffalo

The Bisons opened their season with a 6-2 win at home over Rochester, but things went downhill from there.

In the lid lifter, Joey Loperfido hit one that got out in a hurry.

Things went south after that almost as quickly as Loperfido’s shot left the ballpark. Buffalo dropped the next two games to the Red Wings, then travelled to Memphis to take on the Cardinals affiliate in the first-ever match up of the two storied franchises, as AAA is trying on some interleague play on for size.

And that size, at least for the Redbirds, was XXL, as they laid a beating on the Bisons in between raindrops. Memphis pounded Buffalo pitching for 28 runs and 42 hits over the first two games. Rain forced cancellation of the Thursday game; Memphis swept the ensuing doubleheader the next day.

Buffalo returns home to take on Durham this week.

New Hampshire

The Fisher Cats opened their season at home with a 3-1 loss to Binghamton. CJ Van Eyk, whose development stalled last season, was on the mound in his repeat year with the Cats. Van Eyk retired the first nine men he faced, but then ran into troubles in the 4th, and was out with two gone in the 5th.

Saturday’s game was postponed by rain. In the series finale, New Hampshire rode the brilliant pitching of Rafael Sanchez and Ryan Watson to a 1-0 win. Sanchez tossed five scoreless innings, allowing only a pair of hits while walking one and fanning eight. Watson, who less than a year ago was pitching in indy ball, threw the final shutout four innings, allowing only one hit, walking none, and striking out five.

The Fisher Cats go on the road to Portland and face a prospect-laden Red Sox affiliate.

Vancoouver

The C’s opened on the road in Pasco, in southeastern Washington, to take on the Dust Devils (and Angels affiliate). Pitching and a dose of Arjun Nimmala helped the Canadians take two out of three.

Grant Rogers, who pitched well at both A ball levels last year, got the ball for the opener, and pitched five solid innings, but the bullpen could not hang onto the lead and the C’s dropped a 5-4 decision.

On Saturday, 5th round pick Jackson Wentworth made his pro debut a memorable one. The UNLV product threw five shutout innings, and the bullpen closed the door en route to a 3-0 Vancouver triumph.

Nimmala recorded his first NWL hit as part of a 3-5 day to lead the C’s to victory.

On Sunday, Juaron Watts-Brown was the story, matching a career high with 10 strikeouts. JWB’s slider was no match for the Dust Devils, and he allowed just 3 hits and a walk before hitting his pitch count with two out in the 5th. Nimmala hit his first Home Run as a C, a no-doubter that contributed to a 10-2 Vancouver rout.

Dunedin

Pitching was definitely the name of the game for two of the three games the D-Jays played at home to open the season.

Making his pro debut, 2nd round pick Khal Stephen was in complete command over five shutout innings.

On Saturday, two up-and-coming right handed pitchers, Daniel Guerra and Gilberto Batista, along with flame-throwing reliever Colby Martin combined to limit the visiting Phillies Clearwater affiliate to one unearned run in a 4-1 D-Jays W. Guerra, a big-bodied hurler who was pointed out to me as one to watch last May, tossed 4 innings, allowing that run. Batista, who came to the organization in the Danny Jansen deal with the Red Sox, gave the most impressive performance of the night, throwing four shutout innings, allowing three hits and no walks while fanning six before Martin came in to close the door.

Tweets of mine from last season after Batista made his Blue Jays debut:

The cutter identified by Statcast was more of a slider, for those charting pitches at home.

On Sunday, another UNLV draftee, 7th rounder Austin Cates, made his pro debut. Pitching mostly to contact, Cates threw five shutout innings before giving way to the bullpen, who unfortunately could not hang onto the lead.

What’s interesting about this weekend of good starting/piggybacking performances is that 1st round pick Trey Yesavage has yet to make his debut.

Of note in the Dunedin dugout - former big leaguer Jonathan Davis, who came up through the Jays system, has retired and re-joined the organization as the D-Jays’ assistant hitting coach.

Finally………

You may have noticed the number of tweets from X I have included here. I still go back there to pick up my mail, but I post and interact over at BlueSky. It’s not so much about politics as it is about civility. X has become far too toxic, and I don’t need that in my life. I just wish the Jays affiliates could make the full migration over there; I know it’s hard to lose all those followers, but I feel like my life is much better since I made the move. I certainly deal with far less Blue Jays farm system experts there.

Lastly…….I prefer to stay away from a subscription-based model, as it gives me time to focus on other writing projects. But I do incur some expenses in putting this newsletter together, and several readers have offered their support. To that end, if you were to make a donation, I’d be most appreciative.

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