The Toronto Blue Jays' Top 10 Prospects

The Blue Jays don’t have a lot to get excited about, especially when you look at all of the prospects the other AL East teams have.

I’ve taken a look through the Jays’ minor league system from Syracuse to the Gulf Coast League and formed a list of their best prospects. I should qualify this before the J.P. Arencibia and Justin Jackson fans out there become enraged.

As much as I like pedigree and tools, I didn’t overlook minor league failures (so that means Arencibia and Jackson rank lower than they do elsewhere). And as much as I like minor league success, I didn’t overrate it (so that rules out John-Ford Griffin and Kevin Barker).

So, without further introduction, here are my top Blue Jays prospects going into the 2008 season: 

10. Matthew Liuzza, C, Born: Feb. 3, 1984 

One of many catchers with upside, Liuzza has more power than any of his fellow backstops in the system. He’s hit 20 HR to go along with 31 2B and four 3B in 503 minor league at bats. Liuzza showed impressive patience last year, boosting his walk rate from 7.6 percent to 13.3 percent in 2007. He’s only reached A ball, but his power should carry him far. Could he become a poor man’s Jason Varitek? 

9. J.P.Arencibia, C, Born: Jan. 5, 1986

Arencibia is a 21-year-old, high-ceiling catcher selected 21st overall in the ’07 draft. He hit 254/309/377 in 228 ABs in low A.

8. Justin Jackson, SS, Born: Dec. 11, 1988

Jackson, selected 45^th overall in the ’07 draft, hit 187/274/241 in rookie ball.

7. Jonathan Diaz, SS, Born: April 10, 1985

Diaz made huge strides last year, though, at 22, he’s never played above A ball. He was bumped a level in 2007 and still managed to raise his average by 47 point, his OBA by 80 points and his SLG by 97 points. He’s struck out exactly 55 times each of the last two years, but in 2007 he walked 82 times as opposed to 30 in 2006. Diaz has little power, but does have good base-running abilities.

6. Seth Overbey, RP, Born: April 30, 1984 

The Jays could have two Overb*ys on the active roster soon. Seth (who is not related to Lyle, of course) was phenomenal at A ball, allowing no runs and only 12 hits in 24.2 innings, striking out 21. He moved up to AA and was decent, but not overly impressive in his stint with the Fisher Cats. Still just 23, he could surface in Toronto in 2008.  

5. John Tolisano

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