Toronto Blue Jays: Top 10 Prospects Report: May Edition

From Lansing to Las Vegas, baseball season is under way.

With a month of minor league baseball in the books, I figured that it's about time to check in on how some of the Toronto Blue Jays top prospects have started off their 2012 season and climb up the organizational ladder.

While some of you may not agree with the composition or rankings on this list, I'd like to point out now that I used Baseball America's top 10 prospect list from the preseason and these rankings are not my own opinion.

10. Asher Wojciechowski, RHP

The Blue Jays number 10 prospect coming into this season was big right-hander Asher Wojciechowski.

Standing at 6'4 and weighing 235 pounds, Wojciechowski has the build of a work horse, inning-eating type of starter.

Some believe he's more suited for the bullpen thanks to his delivery and the fact that he only uses three pitches.

For now though, he remains a starter with Class-A advanced Dunedin, where he sports a respectable 3.38 ERA through his first six starts, which have spanned 29.1 innings pitched.

He also seems to have reigned in his command, as he's got a 19:5 K:BB walk ratio.

In fact, over his last five starts he's only allowed a combined five earned runs over 25.1 innings pitched. Other than his first start with Dunedin this year, Wojciechowski has been thoroughly impressive.

2012 Stat Line:

Class-A Advanced Dunedin:

1-0, 6 GS, 29.1 IP, 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 19 K, .257 BAA

9. Drew Hutchison, RHP

Coming in at no. 9 on Baseball America's top 10 Blue Jays prospects is current Jays starter Drew Hutchison.

The 6'2 righty known for his propensity to throw strikes is currently with the big club, albeit going through his share of growing pains.

Before joining the Blue Jays, however, Hutchison was putting together a very nice 2012 season with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

I his three starts before being called up, Hutchison had thrown 16.2 innings, allowing just four earned runs, good for an ERA of just 2.16.

He also showed off his stellar command, striking out 12, while only coughing up three free passes (that's less than one base on balls per five at bats for those keeping track).

Hopefully he can continue to work through his current issues with Toronto's coaching staff and find a way to post those numbers for the Blue Jays, or a trip back to New Hampshire may be on the horizon.

2012 Stat Line:

Double-A: New Hampshire

2-1, 3 GS, 16.2 IP, 2.16 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 12 K, .262 BAA

MLB: Toronto

1-1, 4 GS, 21.2 IP, 6.65 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 17 K, .315 BAA

8. Deck McGuire, RHP

The first month of the 2012 regular season wasn't very kind to Toronto's first selection in the 2010 draft.

After finishing last season with an overall ERA of 3.02 (2.75 with Dunedin and 4.35 with New Hampshire in limited work), Deck McGuire seemed poised to start off 2012 with New Hampshire and hopefully be one of the Fisher Cats best starters.

The results, however, haven't followed that script.

Through his first six starts with New Hampshire, McGuire has posted an ERA of 6.40 through 32.1 innings pitched. That isn't an inflated ERA either. In four of his six starts, McGuire has given up at least three runs.

Seeing as he was viewed as one of many highly touted young pitching prospects, McGuire could find himself being passed on the organizational depth chart if he isn't able to turn things around over the next month or two.

2012 Stat Line:

Double-A New Hampshire:

1-4, 6 GS, 32.1 IP, 6.40 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 22 K, .308 BAA

7. Noah Syndergaard, RHP

Listed as Toronto's no. 7 prospect by Baseball America during the off-season, Noah Syndergaard has come out firing in 2012.

Starting out with Class-A Lansing, Syndergaard is one of three young pitchers in Lansing who is currently baffling Midwest League hitters.

Because of the fact that he's so young, Syndergaard is being used for two to three innings at a time, and in all but one of his appearances, he has shut opposing hitters out. In fact, through 17.2 innings pitched, Syndergaard managed to strike out an astounding 25 batters.

Because Lansing and Dunedin both play full seasons, it may be possible to see Syndergaard move up to the Florida State League by season's end.

For the next few prospect watch updates, however, I suspect he'll still be in Lansing.

2012 Stat Line:

Class-A Lansing:

2-0, 6 G (3GS), 17.2 IP, 1.53 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 25 K, .232 BAA

6. Aaron Sanchez, RHP

Aaron Sanchez is another top tier pitching prospect the Blue Jays currently have developing with the Class-A Lansing Lugnuts.

Sanchez, who was selected 34th overall in the 2010 draft (and just four spots ahead of Lugnuts teammate Noah Syndergaard) has gotten off to a terrific start this season.

Through his first 19.0 innings pitched, Sanchez has yet to surrender a run. His 24 strikeouts prove his stuff certainly lives up to the hype, while his sub-1.00 WHIP showcases his ability to keep runners off base (though his 10 walks are a sign his control could still use some work).

Sanchez is in the same boat as Syndergaard right now. A call-up may be in his future, though it isn't likely to happen anytime soon.

2012 Stat Line:

Class-A Lansing:

3-0, 6 GP (3 GS), 19.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 24 K, .103 BAA

5. Justin Nicolino, LHP

Justin Nicolino is the third part of the dynamic trio of pitching prospects that has led the Lansing Lugnuts to a 21-8 start in the Midwest League in 2012.

Not only are these three the no. 5, no. 6 and no. 7 Blue Jays prospects from Baseball America's off-season ranks, but they are also all 2010 Blue Jays draft picks and are all performing at the same outstanding level.

Just as the previous two prospects on this list, Nicolino has managed to completely fool Midwest League hitters through his first month with the Class-A affiliate.

Through his first 19.0 innings pitched, Nicolino has yet to allow an earned run (sounds familiar). He's also managed to fan 20 batters and allow very few to reach base.

It seems like the Jays have found three excellent pitchers that should fit in well with their future plans.

What they may not have anticipated, was that they would all play at an astonishingly high level, and grow and develop together.

Definitely seems like something special in the making.

2012 Stat Line:

Class-A Lansing:

1-0, 6 GP (3 GS), 19.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 20 K, .188 BAA

4. Daniel Norris, LHP

Unfortunately, there won't be any stats or updates to report right now for the Blue Jays no. 4 prospect Daniel Norris. This is because, he will start his professional career with the Vancouver Canadians, one of the Blue Jays "Low-A" affiliate organizations, and they won't kick off their 2012 campaign until June.

Expect to see an update on the Blue Jays' second selection in the 2011 draft in the July edition of my prospect report.

However, the word on this kid was that he was the top left-handed starter available in the draft and only slipped to the second round because of potential obstacles in signing the youngster (something the Jays managed to pull off with a $2 million USD offer).

His fastball ranges anywhere from 88-95 mph, with his sweet spot coming in the 92-93 mph range (though that may increase by 1-2 mph as he develops).

He also has what can develop into a plus (borderline plus-plus) curve and solid change-up to go with with a slider that is still a work in progress.

All signs point to this guy being a top notch prospect, so it may be worth a few minutes of your time to keep tabs on his progress once his season kicks off.

2012 Stat Line:

Class Low-A Vancouver:

N/A

3. Jake Marisnick, Outfielder

One of the most highly touted prospects of late for the Toronto Blue Jays has been outfielder Jake Marisnick.

After hitting .320 with 14 home runs and 77 runs batted in 462 at bats with Class-A Lansing last season, Marisnick was promoted to Dunedin to start the 2012 season.

So far, though, life hasn't been as hoped for the 20-year-old.

Batting just .256 with 3 home runs and 15 runs batted in through 121 at bats, Marisnick has found himself riding a roller coaster so far in 2012.

His latest streak has seen him go an ice-cold 5-for-34 at the plate over his last eight games (good for an average of just .147) with 0 HRs and 2 RBIs.

While he may not be lighting up Florida State League pitching as of yet, Jays fans just need to remind themselves that Marisnick is only 20 years of age and that growing pains are to be expected as he makes his way up the organizational depth chart.

2012 Stat Line:

Class-A Advanced Dunedin:

.256/.341/.455, 121 AB, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 55 TB, 24 K, 10 BB, 5 SB

2. Anthony Gose, Outfielder

Oh, Anthony Gose.

Once regarded as a top prospect in all of baseball, and a 5-tool kind of player, Gose hasn't quite lived up to the hype.

While he plays solid defensive baseball and can run, Gose has had a tough time at the plate throughout his minor league career.

After getting the call that he would, in fact, start the season with Triple-A Las Vegas, Gose was given the opportunity to show that he can be a top player at the minor league's top level.

Unfortunately for Gose, the same problems seem to be following him from level to level.

After finishing last season with a disappointing .253 average and a whopping 154 strikeouts (in just 509 at bats, that's a strike out percentage of 30.3%), the soon-to-be 22 year old has only been able to post a .232 batting average while striking out 38 times in 125 at bats (that's a strike out percentage of 30.4%). He's also only managed to hit one measly home run and drive in a paltry 14 runs (so much for that power tool).

While it may still be premature to label Gose a bust, he certainly isn't becoming the 5-tool player the Jays had hoped he would be when they dealt for him.

2012 Stat Line:

Triple-A Las Vegas:

.232/.326/.312, 125 AB, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 39 TB, 38 K, 17 BB, 11 SB

1. Travis D'Arnaud, C

Heralded by many as one of the best catching prospects in all of baseball, Travis D'Arnaud has quickly worked his way up the Jays organizational ladder to the Triple-A level.

After a rocky start to his 2012 season, D'Arnaud has simplified his approach, and has been lighting up Pacific Coast League pitching as of late.

While he had his hit streak snapped yesterday, and is only 1-for-8 in his last two contests, D'Arnaud seems to be back on track.

Sporting a .271 average and an improved defensive game behind the plate, he has many believing that he could be challenging J.P. Arencibia for his starters job with the big club either later this season or in 2013.

The one aspect of his game that the Jays would like to see pick up is his ability to hit for power. While his swing-for-the-fences mentality may have been the leading cause of his anemic early season average, it does not mean he should give up on hitting for power for good.

Either way, the story developing around Toronto's two excellent young catchers is sure to pique the interest of baseball fans all across North America.

2012 Stat Line:

Triple-A Las Vegas:

.271/.342/.402, 107 AB, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 43 TB, 19 K, 10 BB, 1 SB

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