Future Blue Jays Newsletter 5/15

Updates… we got ‘em. Let’s get this show on the road, shall we?

Old Friend Update

Many minor leaguers were impacted by the 2020 season lost to Covid, none more so perhaps than those on the fringes of big league jobs. Players not on the 40-man who were invited to train and practice at alt sites were stuck in a form of limbo, a big league job both within their reach and yet miles away at the same time.

The lost year of competition for some was a setback to their careers. Jackson McClelland, Toronto’s 15th round pick from Pepperdine in 2015, was one of those casualties to that lost year. The hard-throwing right-hander had worked his way up to AAA by 2019, and was one of the group of players on standby at Rochester during the truncated 2020 MLB season, waiting for a call that never came.

Jackson was not the same pitcher in 2021, and was released in July. He signed on with the Cubs and pitched for their AAA affiliate for the rest of the season, but when he filed for MiLB free agency after the season, found no takers.

He took the 2022 season off, and signed with Kansas City of the indy American Association in February. This past week, a Royals scout stopped by as the Monarchs prepared for their season opener past weekend. McClelland pitched in a simulated game, and a contract was waiting for him when he stepped off the mound after what was obviously an impressive performance:

According to the Monarchs’ website, Royals scout Terry Wetzel liked what he saw from the big righty. “The life on his fastball, the bite on his slider, it’s all good,” Wetzel said. “He’s an impressive young guy.” McClelland reportedly hit 95 during the simulated game.

We wish all the best to Jackson.

The Bats Wake Up

To say offences throughout the system have been well, on the silent side since the start of the season is a bit of an understatement. Buffalo and Dunedin were among the lowest clubs in their respective leagues in team OPS, while New Hampshire was dead last. Only Vancouver seemed to be having a smattering of offence, although they were middle-of-the-pack.

What a difference a week makes.

Each of the affiliates scored more than 10 runs in a game at least once; Dunedin and New Hampshire had two such games. And Buffalo won 4 games in a row in their last at bat.

What gives?

Certainly, the weather helps, at least for Buffalo and New Hampshire. The ball carries better in the warmer air, and the hands don’t sting as much. Look, baseball can be played outdoors north of the Mason-Dixon Line, but it’s certainly pushing it outside of maybe from the beginning of May to the end of September.

For the Dunedin guys, many of whom are new to pro ball, it’s often a case of hitters finally starting to figure out their own strike zones, and learning to lay off pitches they can’t do a lot with. I spoked with Dunedin hitting coach Matt Young last week, and he pointed out, “it’s a big jump from FCL to full season.” At an average of 20.5 years of age, the D-Jays are the second-youngest club in the Florida State League. “We are super young,” he added, “…and they’re making some great adjustments.”

Then there’s Orelvis. He entered last week’s series at Reading with the Phillies AAA affiliate slashing all of .093/.167/.280. After an 0-4 to start the series, he went 5-12 over the next three games, those five hits, of course, all being home runs. On Sunday, he did go 2-4, with a double - his first non-HR extra-base hit of the season. 9 of his 14 hits have been of the longball variety.

Was this a case of a guy figuring things out, or did the friendly confines of Reading’s home park come into play ? Probably a bit of both. I’ve kind of had one foot off the Orelvis bandwagon since the middle of last season. He finished well, but then had the worst month of his career in April of this year. There is not doubt about his ability to clobber pitches in the heart of the plate; it’s his ability to lay off ones that are nowhere near that bullseye that have caused him trouble. There’s been a mixed bag of developments so far in 2023: he’s striking out less (26% compared to 29% last year), hitting the ball more in the air (55% FB rate), but his 54% pull rate is the highest of his career - and supposedly the organization had him working on going the other way more this season. His defence at SS has not been stellar (one gets the feeling the pitching staff is way more comfortable with Luis De Los Santos manning the position), but he has shown that arm strength to play 3rd.

Maybe this is the week that helps to turn things around for Orelvis. Maybe.

Trenton Wallace

Overlooked in the offensive barrage of the past week was this beauty of an outing from the southpaw, one that won him pitcher of the week honours in the Northwest League:

Wallace has a low arm slot, somewhat crossfire delivery that makes for uncomfortable ABs for hitters on both sides of the plate. He also throws a sweeper that’s among the better ones in the system. The only knock about him might be his age (Wallace turned 24 at the end of March), and it might be time to push him up the ladder and give him more of a challenge. He’s 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA through 5 starts, and might be a guy we see in the bullpen long term. You could make a case for him being Vancouver’s best starter (slight nod over Chad Dallas) so far this season.

Latest BA Mock

For those with a keen interest in the MLB draft, Baseball America has an update behind their paywall.

In their first mock several weeks ago, BA had the Jays taking Maryland SS Matt Shaw, who they gave a profile similar to that of former Jays 1st rounder Logan Warmoth. Shaw’s bat has heated up, seemingly nudging him up in the draft, and so keeping in mind Toronto’s past preference for up-the-middle guys, BA now has PA prep SS Kevin McGonigle going to the Jays. Tabbed as one of the best pure hitters in the draft class, BA also suggests a shift to 3rd will be in his future.

Who’s Hot

Top five hitters in the system (in terms of OPS) over the past week:

1. Orelvis Martinez. (NH). 1.611

2. Michael Turconi (VAN) 1.461

3. Ernie Clement (BUFF) 1.208

4. Roque Salinas (DUN) 1.200

5. Tanner Morris (BUFF) 1.188