LHP Anthony Kay makes his MLB debut tonight for the Blue Jays vs Tampa. One of two arms (Simeon Woods Richardson being the other) obtained from the Mets for Marcus Stroman, Kay is a back of the rotation/potential mulit inning bullpen guy.
Rated as the Blue Jays #4 prospect by MLB Pipeline since coming over from New York, Kay uses all four of his pitches (all ranked in the 50s) to keep hitters off balance. He can locate his fastball, which sits 91-92 but touches 94, to all four quadrants. Coming out of college, his change up was considered his best secondary, but his curve has taken a great leap forward as a pro; one report called it a “shapely pitch, with the look of an effective big league breaker.”
Kay has the high spin rates on his fastball that the Blue Jays love. His athleticism does not draw high marks, but his ability to sequence and his general feel for pitching do. Like most Pitchers with his profile, he lacks a true out pitch, and relies on his mix of offerings to get hitters out.
Kay struck out better than a batter per inning in seven starts with Buffalo totalling 36 innings. He also showed some command problems, walking 29. SWR was probably the centrepiece of the Stroman deal for Toronto, but there is a chance than Kay can refine his pitches as a big leaguer, and settle in as a mid-rotation arm.
