Toronto Blue Jays: Breaking Down the Top 5 Prospects in the Blue Jays' System

It has been nearly 20 years since the Toronto Blue Jays made the playoffs, and the fans are getting restless. There is plenty of good news coming their way, though.

General manager Alex Anthopoulos has done a remarkable job of rebuilding the farm system through the draft, international signings and trades. Optimism is high in the Great White North, and it won't be long before the Jays are back in contention in the American League East. 

While they still have at least a year to go before they get there, the Blue Jays will be able to compete alongside New York, Boston and Tampa in the division. 

Here is a look at the players who will play a prominent role in their resurgence. 

1. Travis D'Arnaud, C, 22

When the Blue Jays traded Roy Halladay to Philadelphia before the 2010 season, Kyle Drabek was the player everyone talked about as the key to the deal. While it is too soon to give up on the young pitcher, D'Arnaud has blossomed into one of the best catching prospects in the game. He made great strides in 2011 and figures to make his presence felt in Toronto very soon. 

Strengths: D'Arnaud showed improved plate discipline and coverage last season. He hit a career-high 21 home runs and slugged .542 while posting a .371 on-base percentage. His power comes from bat speed and a quick flick of the wrists that allows him to drive the ball. He made great strides defensively, especially receiving the ball. His arm strength has always been good, and he used it to throw out 27 percent of potential basestealers in 2011. 

Weaknesses: There is still work for him to do on defense. While his arm is strong, he often has trouble hitting his targets. He also had 13 passed balls last season. He could be more selective at the plate, though his improved contact rate in 2011 shows that he can hit for a high average. 

Report: The race for the top catching prospect in baseball is between D'Arnaud and Cincinnati's Devin Mesoraco. Right now, D'Arnaud is a better defensive player, and his offensive production won't be far behind what Mesoraco is capable of. He could make his debut later this year and make all-star teams not long after that. 

ETA: Late-2012

2. Anthony Gose, OF, 21

Gose was acquired in an under-the-radar trade with the Houston Astros, who received Brett Wallace in return. While still raw offensively, he displays the ability to be at least a four-tool centerfielder. He is one of the most exciting players in the minors right now. 

Strengths: Gose is an incredible athlete. He is one of the best defensive players in the minors thanks to his ability to cover a lot of ground with incredible speed and a terrific throwing arm. He also has a lot of power in his bat, which he finally showed off last year thanks to some mechanical adjustments that let him make more solid contact than he had in the previous three years. 

Weaknesses: The biggest problem that Gose has faced throughout his career is making contact. He has struck out at least 110 times every year since the start of the 2009 season. An encouraging sign from last season was in his improved plate discipline. He walked a career-best 62 times. The strikeouts will come, but as long as he is taking walks too, he will be fine. 

Report: Gose has the potential to be an all-star centerfielder. His improved plate discipline certainly betters his chances of fulfilling that potential. He won't ever hit for a high average, but if he is hitting for power, taking walks and playing gold glove defense you can live with the strikeouts. 

ETA: 2013

3. Jake Marisnick, OF, 20

Marisnick is pushing Gose to be the top centerfielder in the Blue Jays' system. He is a better all-around prospect than Gose, but the latter has bigger tools in a few areas that put him slightly ahead for me. That could easily change depending on how things play out for both in 2012. 

Strengths: He is a true five-tool star in the making. Unlike Gose, he made the adjustments to his swing in order to make more consistent contact. He has good power potential thanks to his cleaned up mechanics and figures to hit for a high average. His defense is well above-average in center, and he has good speed that allows him to cover a lot of ground. He has also proven to be quite adept at stealing bases, with 37 in 45 attempts last year. 

Weaknesses: His swing is still long and it leads to a lot of strikeouts. He had 91 in 462 at-bats last season. That is not a terrible ratio, but it is something to keep an eye on as he moves up the ladder. 

Report: Marisnick's future is as bright as any player in the system. He has the best all-around set of tools and could turn into a star. He is still two years away from contributing at the big league level, so his margin for error is still relatively high. 

ETA: 2014

4. Aaron Sanchez, RHP, 19

In addition to their high-upside position players, the Blue Jays are stacked with a number of intriguing pitchers that have top-of-the-rotation potential. Sanchez is at the top of that list for me, though he might be further away than any of the other top arms in the system. 

Strengths: Despite being only 19 years old with a slight frame that has a lot of projection left, Sanchez is already throwing a fastball that sits in the low-90s. He has a curveball that looks like a dominant pitch at times, but he is still getting a feel for it. His delivery is clean, with no extra effort put on his shoulder. 

Weaknesses: He is still trying to find command of his pitches. His 5.30 ERA and 1.45 WHIP show just how raw he is. His changeup is still not a good offering for him, though he did show a better feel for it last season.

Report: Sanchez is virtually all projection right now, but he has the stuff and potential to be at least a No. 2 starter. He will have to show progress in 2012 to remain on the list--or move up. 

ETA: 2016

5. Noah Syndergaard, RHP, 19

Syndergaard and Sanchez are coming up together. So far the results have been better for Syndergaard, and he has already made the jump to low Class A. He is on the verge of being one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball if he can continue to build off his success last season. 

Strengths: He has the body of a workhorse pitcher, at 6'5", 200 pounds already. He has a clean delivery and really gets on top of the ball, allowing him to throw his mid-90s fastball on a downhill plane. His curveball is a solid offering, though he needs to continue throwing it to get a feel for it. He has a changeup that is an average offering that will keep hitters honest. 

Weaknesses: He needs to start throwing his offspeed pitches more often to get a better feel for them and make them more consistent. Like Sanchez, he is virtually all projection right now. He has only thrown 72 innings his first two seasons. 

Report: He has the upside of a No. 2 starter, but he has a long way to before we can say for sure he will come close to reaching that level. 

ETA: 2016

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