Toronto Blue Jays: Top Prospect Travis d'Arnaud Due for Breakout 2012

Travis d'Arnaud, one of the Toronto Blue Jays’ top prospects, has just come off of a highlighted 2011 season.

He will turn 23 years old in a few days and has five solid seasons of experience behind him advancing through the minor leagues.

In 2007 during the first-year player draft, the Philadelphia Phillies selected him with the 37th overall pick.

The Phillies traded him at the end of the 2009 season in a deal that brought Roy Halladay to Philadelphia.

Named the Best Defensive Catcher in the Eastern League for the 2011 season by Baseball America, he has solidified his future, barring any unforeseen injuries.

Despite sustaining an injury last year, tearing ligaments in his thumb, his rehabilitation seems to have been successful, and he claims that he is back to normal after surgery.

d’Arnaud has achieved numerous accomplishments throughout his minor league career.

He is a multi-time All-Star and achieved that status in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

In 2010, he was named Player of the Week in April.

In 2011, not only was he an Eastern League Champion with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, but he was also the MVP.

Showing improvements each season, he has refined his hitting and catching skills, earning him promotions through the farm system.

The 2011 season was his best yet. With a batting average of .311, he had 132 hits, 33 doubles, one triple, 21 home runs and 78 RBI in 424 at-bats.

Coming off of a season like 2011 is sure to boost his confidence level. With more time to gain more experience, he may very well become one of the next big names on the Blue Jays.

2012 is going to be an awesome season for Travis d’Arnaud.

Always competitive with his older brother, Chase d’Arnaud, who plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates, it would be fun to watch brother against brother in the World Series one day.

That would mean that the Pirates would have to win their division. Oh, well.