Blue Jays Prospect Hot Sheet: Aug 19-28

As I mentioned in the last edition, Hypocritical Sports Fan will be running a regular Blue Jays Prospect Hot Sheet. The list is a representation of the hottest 5 or so players in the Blue Jays farm system over a 10 day period, with the player pool consisting of my personal Top 40 prospect list.

This edition will be for the games spanning from (and including) August 19th to August 28th.

1. CF Jacob Anderson, GCL Blue Jays
.500/.551/.692 (1.243 OPS), 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB, 3/4 BB/K

Anderson, the first positional player drafted by Toronto this past June, has seen his professional career get off to a scorching start. As a late signee, Anderson has only played 9 games in the Gulf Coast League so far this year, but is already showing he could be ready for a Bluefield or Vancouver assignment to begin next year. The above stat line was accumulated in only 7 games (6 of which were multi-hit efforts), which makes Anderson taking the #1 spot even more impressive. Jacob Anderson is a big guy at 6'4", and given his age (he won't turn 19 until late November) it's likely he will move to a corner outfield position down the road as he continues to mature physically. Anderson even played some first base for his highschool team because of his size and the fact they were so rich in atheltic outfielders. Regardless, Toronto will likely give him every opportunity to prove he can stay in centerfield as his value is much higher there.

2. RHP Drew Hutchison, Double-A New Hampshire
2-0, 10 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 13 K

Coming into the season I had ranked Hutchison as my #14 prospect in the system and thought myself rather bold in doing so. Since then, Hutch has torn the minor leagues apart, moving all the way from Single-A Lansing up to Double-A New Hampshire. Hutchison made two starts from August 19th to 28th, the first being his last with Dunedin, and the second being his debut with New Hampshire. Unsurprisingly, Hutchison met the challenge and excelled, posting two impressive pitching lines that total the above numbers. Hutch snuck into some midseason Top-50 prospect lists, and given his impressive second half numbers, I expect his name will pepper the top half of Top-100 lists this winter. Drew has established himself as one of Toronto's top-5 prospects entering 2012.

3. CF Jake Marisnick, Single-A Lansing
.378/.439/.595 (1.034 OPS), 5 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 SB, 3/4 BB/K

Perhaps Toronto's most well rounded positional prospect, Jake Marisnick had one of those weeks. In his 9 games, Marisnick had multiple hits 6 times and atleast 1 extra base hit or stolen base 6 times. His best game during this time frame was August 26th, in which he went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, 1 home run, and 2 runs scored. Along with the aformentioned Drew Hutchison, Marisnick has been one of Toronto's biggest stories in the minor leagues this year. Now up to a .323/.396/.500 (.896), 26 2B, 6 3B, 13 HR, 76 RBI, 35 SB, 43/84 BB/K line on the year, the 20 year old Marisnick has established himself as a blue chip prospect and should meet the 2012 challenge of Dunedin with a lot of confidence.

4. RHP Chad Jenkins, Double-A New Hampshire
0-2, 13.2 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 14 K

While the 0-2 record and 3.29 ERA don't seem worthy of a hot sheet, it's Jenkins' other numbers that show how dominant he was in late August. Jenkins held hitters to a sub-.200 batting average and walked no one, good for an impressive 0.59 WHIP. After posting rather mediocre numbers through his first two Double-A months (June and July), Jenkins came on strong in August with a 3.06 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 3.71 K/BB, and 7.24 K/9. While he lacks the upside of many of Toronto's other pitching prospects, Jenkins has gotten hot at the right time, inspiring some confidence from the front office, which should help him achieve his big league dreams at some point in 2012.

5. CF Anthony Gose, Double-A New Hampshire
.250/.386/.528 (.914 OPS), 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 11 SB, 6/10 BB/K

To say that Anthony Gose has been on a base stealing tear would be an understatement. From August 19th to 28th, Gose went 11/11, bringing his cumulative August total to 17/17. What has been equally impressive has been Gose's power development, as his 5 extra base hits during this time period bring him up to 11 for the month (5 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR). His biggest problem this year, which is emphasized nicely in this sample, is strikeouts. Gose struck out 10 times during these 10 games, bringing his season total up to 143 strikeouts in 130 games. Despite hitting only .250 here, Gose made his hits count.

6. LF Christopher Hawkins, Rookie-class Bluefield
.424/.500/.545 (1.045 OPS), 4 2B, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 2 SB, 6/6 BB/K

Toronto's outfield depth shouldn't be questioned any time soon. Hawkins is the 4th outfielder to make this hot sheet, and is the first prospect to appear on consecutive lists. Hawkins made the sheet once again through consistency, as he had at least a hit in 9 of his 10 games. The only game in which he did not record a hit was a pinch hitting appearance, where he walked. Amazingly, in his 9 starts, he reached base two or more times in every game. While he hasn't shown the extra base power that his hot list counterparts have, Hawkins has found continued success this year by taking what he is given and knocking the ball around the park. If "clutch" could be measured, Hawkins' 1.140 OPS with runners on and 1.033 OPS with runners in scoring position might suggest he has a some in him.

Blue Jays Prospect Hot Sheet: August 9-18

Baseball America has been running a weekly prospect hot sheet for as long as I have had an interest in the minor leagues, and I have always enjoyed reading it and the follow up chat with the writer. The hot sheets have become even more enjoyable to read over the last couple of seasons, as unlike in the pre-Anthopolous years, Blue Jays prospects are making regular appearances on the list this year. Three of Toronto's better prospects; Travis d'Arnaud, Jake Marisnick, and Drew Hutchison, have peppered the hot sheet in their breakout 2011 seasons.

To further raise the exposure of some of Toronto's prospects, I have decided to create a Blue Jays Prospect Hot Sheet that will detail the hottest 5 or so prospects over a 10 day period. While Baseball America uses a 7 day window, I feel 10 days gives a better opportunity to pitchers as most of them will make 2 starts in those 10 days, while the hitters will still get their 8-9 games.

The eligble pool of players will be comprised of my Top 40 Blue Jays prospects, so, for example, 27 year old journeymen minor leaguers who smack 4 home runs in the 10 days will not be considered.

The first Blue Jays Prospect Hot Sheet will be for the 10 days spanning from (and including) August 9th to August 18th.

1. RHP Nestor Molina, Double-A New Hampshire
1-0, 11 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 17 K, 0.81 ERA, 0.64 WHIP

The Venezuela native Nestor Molina made two starts for the Fisher Cats this week -- his first two since being promoted after spending the whole year with the Dunedin Blue Jays. Despite not having overpowering stuff, Molina uses an outstanding changeup and his incredible command to carve up hitters in a way that chefs would be envious of. Molina's week was powered by his Thursday start, possibly his best start of the whole season, in which he went 5 innings, allowed only 2 hits, and struck out 9 batters. If not for his strict inning limit, Molina's 9.96 K/9 would put him near the top of the minor league leaderboard in strikeouts. Molina did not rank on my preseason Top 15, but should definitely find a home there after his 2011 season.

2. SS Adeiny Hechavarria, Triple-A Las Vegas
.517/.563/.621 (1.183 OPS), 3 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3/3 BB/K

Many eyebrows were raised when Hechavarria was promoted to Triple-A after posting a .622 OPS in 111 Double-A games this season. Regardless, Hechavarria answered the call, putting together perhaps the best 7 game stretch of his career. Hechavarria had 2 or more hits in each of his first 6 games in Las Vegas, and just to cap his week off, he threw in three walks. Hechavarria has the glove to play Major League shortstop -- his bat has been the only thing holding him back thus far. This week may have been a combination of luck and the PCL effect, but, just maybe, it is the start of something much bigger for the young Cuban.

3. C Travis d'Arnaud, Double-A New Hampshire
.324/.342/.649 (.991 OPS), 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 1/10 BB/K

While this wasn't d'Arnaud's best overall stretch of the season, it's hard to argue with the power production in such a short period of time. His double and three bombs this week bring his season totals to 31 and 18 respectively, and he even tossed in a triple for good measure. The ten strikeouts are certainly a black spot on an otherwise outstanding week, but when you are making such powerful contact as d'Arnaud did here, your tendency may temporarily shift to swing now, take later. With no apparent September callup in sight, d'Arnaud should look to finish the last few weeks of his season with New Hampshire strong, and further solidify himself as one of the Blue Jays top 2 or 3 prospects entering next year.

4. LF Christopher Hawkins, Rookie-class Bluefield
.379/.486/.483 (.969 OPS), 3 2B, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB, 6/6 BB/K

While d'Arnaud displayed how power can generate a strong line, Christopher Hawkins was highly productive by simply taking what pitchers gave him. Despite seeing only 3 of his 11 hits go for extra bases, Hawkins still managed to drive in 10 runs, and when pitchers didn't throw him what he wanted, he happily took the walk. The 2010 3rd round pick has had a strong year overall, and was recently named as one of the better left field prospects in the game in Jason Parks's (Baseball Prospectus) left field positional primer. Hawkins has accomplished all of this despite being drafted as an infielder and making the conversion to the outfield.

5. RF Moises Sierra, Double-A New Hampshire
.367/.441/.600 (1.041 OPS), 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1 SB, 4/5 BB/K

Moises Sierra is the third Fisher Cat to make the list, which shouldn't be too surprising given New Hampshire's 6-4 record in their drive for the post season during this statistical timeframe. While he isn't a top prospect by any means, Sierra is a decent prospect who, despite being only 22 years old, often goes overlooked. Sierra has decent power and a sound approach at the plate, which is picturized nicely in this sample size. Sierra had two 3-hit games in mid-August, which were the meat behind his numbers.

In a bit of a blast from the past, Travis Snider has taken his demotion to Triple-A very seriously. Since arriving in Las Vegas on the 8th, he has hit .378/.439/.568 (1.007 OPS) with a double, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 5 SB, and a 4/9 BB/K ratio in 9 games. The Lunch Box Hero graduated from prospect status years ago, making him ineligible to be ranked on the list, but as long as he keeps putting together stretches like this, his performance will be shared.