This is a summary of the top Blue Jays prospects over the past ten days. It’s a snapshot of performance over that time period, and is not necessarily a re-ranking of the top players in the Blue Jays system.
#1 Nick Podkul, Lansing. .414/514/.655
The 2018 7th rounder brought to mind the name of another Notre Dame 2nd Baseman the Blue Jays drafted in the person of Cavan Biggio. The .711 OPS he posted at Vancouver last year may have tempered those comparisons somewhat, but Podkul’s game has stepped up noticeably of late.
The current owner of a 16 game on-base streak, Podkul has seen time at 2nd and 3rd for Lansing this season. With Alejandro Kirk having moved up to Dunedin, and Jordan Groshans being shut down because of foot soreness, Podkul has taken over the leadership of the Lugnuts on offence, slotting in at the 3rd spot in the batting order.
#2 Jonathan Davis, Buffalo. .379/.526/.690
The Socrates Brito DFA watch marches on, and with every AB, Davis appears to be that much closer to Toronto.
Davis began the season on the DL, and came back to action in late April. He’s made up for lost time in a hurry, banging out 3 Doubles and a pair of Home Runs over his last ten. Toss in 3/4 in steals, and you have a player who looks like he’s ready to come up and fill that 4th OF role.
It would appear that all it will take for Brito’s time in Toronto to come to an end is a few more reps for Davis at AAA. It shouldn’t take many more.
#3 Patrick Murphy, New Hampshire. 2.57 ERA/.163 OppBA/15K
Murphy has had some bumps in his first few starts at AA, but his last two have been gems. On April 28th, he pitched a career high 8 innings, allowing only an earned run, then followed that up with a quality start, and fanned 8 over 6 IP.
Murphy’s breaking ball has lacked some sharpness, and while he’s holding his velo late into games, he has been finding too much of the strike zone. Over his last two starts, those have been minor issues.
#4 Andrew Sopko, New Hampshire. 2.13 ERA/.167 OppBA/6 K
Murphy’s rotation mate tossed 7 scoreless innings in his most recent start, pitching into the 7th for the second time in three starts.
#5 Jackson Rees, Lansing. 0.00 ERA/.000 OppBA/7K
It’s hard for a minor league reliever to make this list. With limits on innings and days between appearances, it’s just as hard not to keep Rees off this list for both his last ten days and whole season bodies of work.
An undrafted free agent, Rees has been all but unhittable at the back of Lansing’s bullpen, having allowed only 7 hits and 1 walks in 14 innings, striking out 25. At 24, the former Hawaii Friday starter might be a little old for Low A, and while his innings are being closely monitored, he should be in High A before long.
