Happy New Year, readers!
With short season play still six months away, it may seem a little early to be projecting rosters, but what the hey.
Forecasting the Blue Jays GCL and DSL rosters is fairly standard, with a good chunk of the DSL team coming from this year’s IFA class, and the GCL comprised of DSL grads and 2020 draftees.
The usual progression is for the IFA signees to start at the DSL, but a glut of middle infielders this season might see one or more of them start in Florida. Blue Jays AGM Andrew Tinnish last month suggested that in addition to the usual physical and emotional maturity considerations, a player’s bat largely dictates if he starts his pro career stateside, or at the Dominican Complex. Rikelvin de Castro, the Jays’ top-ranked signee, may not be ready yet to face GCL pitching, so there’s a good chance he begins on the Island. Playing time for Estevien Machado, who is a year older and maybe more advanced at this point, may see him start in Florida. Reports we’ve seen about 3B Peniel Brito suggest he may be headed there at some point, too.
The Bluefield roster will likely have about 12-15 players who played in the GCL last year, with the rest of the lineup filled in by 2020 draft guys. It’s when we get to the next step at Vancouver that we can start to begin to make some predictions based on past performance. Again, Vancouver will have its share of 2020 draftees, so we’ve left some spots open. But here is what the C’s might look like when they take the field in June:
Pitchers
| Player | Position | 2019 Level(s) |
| Rafael Monsion | LHP | GCL |
| Kendall Williams | RHP | GCL |
| Sem Robberse | RHP | GCL |
| Roither Hernandez | RHP | Appy |
| Sam Ryan | RHP | Appy |
| Elixon Caballero | RHP | GCL/Appy |
| Kyle Huckaby | RHP | Appy/NWL |
Williams and Robberse should skip the Appy, and if they continue to pitch like they did in 2019, may move to Lansing before the season is out.
Caballero had an injury-plagued 2019, and while he came back to pitch in late August, it might make sense to keep him in Extended and give him some time in Vancouver before moving up.
Position Players
| Player | Position | 2019 Level(s) |
| Alberto Rodriguez | RF | GCL |
| Jhon Solarte | CF | GCL |
| Justin Ammons | OF | Appy |
| Steward Berroa | OF | Appy |
| PK Morris | 1B | Appy |
| DJ Daniels | OF | Appy |
| Dasan Brown | OF | GCL |
| Addison Barger | SS/2B | Appy |
| Orelvis Martinez | SS/3B | GCL |
| Andres Guerra | C | Appy |
The name that leaps out, of course, is Martinez, the GCL’s Top Prospect according to Baseball America. In fact, you could make an argument that he starts the season in Lansing with Miguel Hiraldo and Leo Jimenez, who he joined in Bluefield in late August, but while the latter two should easily make the jump to full season ball to start the year, but it’s likely that he gets some reps in the Northwest League before making the leap to Low A. Spencer Horwitz and Ryan Sloniger, day two draft guys who had great seasons at Bluefield, would strengthen the C’s lineup considerably, but they are serious candidates to move to Lansing, Sloniger’s potent bat from the left side likely being a strong factor in his ascent.
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The C’s begin their 2020 season at home against the Cubs’ Eugene affiliate.
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Thanks to all of our readers for a highly successful 2019. If you follow MiLB closely (particularly from a Blue Jays perspective) and would like to write for us, please get in touch with us on Twitter: @futurebluejays.
Looking forward to great stories in 2020.
