Baseball America recently released their Top 20 Gulf Coast League prospects, and after Bo Bichette made the list at number 4 last year (despite missing a month of the short season), no Blue Jays were to be found on the list this time around.
BA’s Ben Badler said that SS Luis De los Santos received consideration, but his pitch recognition needs some work. He also listed P Emerson Jimenez as a sleeper. Jimenez appeared in 9 games, fanning 23 in 15 innings. Originally signed by the Rockies as an infielder, he failed to pass AA, and was released in May. The Blue Jays signed him a month later, and converted him to Pitching.
OF Dom Abbadessa, who won the league batting title, probably received consideration, but repeating the GCL probably did not help his cause in the minds of the BA panel. P Maverik Buffo, who dominated hitters likely was viewed as a bit advanced for that level – the list leans more toward projection than it does being an All-Start team.
Top draft pick C Hagen Danner struggled at the plate, and likely didn’t factor in the list. The 2nd rounder was Toronto’s lone high school draft pick until 1B Patrick Morris was taken in the 14th. The GCL is typically stocked with teenagers, either from the recent MLB draft, or international players getting their first taste of stateside play.
