Here’s the latest update on our Blue Jays players and how they’re doing in the various winter leagues around the world!

 

 

On Tuesday, three Blue Jays saw some action with Jon Berti being the only every day player to get into the game. Berti was 1/3 with two walks, scoring a run in the 11-6 win for the Mesa Solar Sox. Blake McFarland went 1 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and a walk but he struck out two and kept the scoresheet clean. Arik Sikula also has a perfect ERA after 1 2/3 innings of one-hit ball himself.

 

Wednesday was a “taxi squad” day for the AFL meaning that Dwight Smith, Jr. got to see some action. Alexis Brudnicki reports that he’s working on playing second base with Mesa manager (and Blue Jays’ roving infield instructor) Mike Mordecai but he played his familiar position of left field, going 2/4 with a run and an RBI.

 

On Thursday, Jon Berti led off, playing left field and was 1/5 while Sean Ochinko was 0/3 behind the plate. There was no sign of Dalton Pompey for three games which leads me to believe that he’s probably picked up an injury in the AFL.

 

Down in Venezuela, Cory Aldridge has three hits (including a home run) in his last three games and has pushed his overall line to .243/.378/.324 with a home run and five RBI. Andy Burns has continued to slump, going 0/8 in his last two games and is hitting .205/.314/.250 over 12 games. Casey Lawrence started last night and was hit hard, giving up six runs (four earned) over four innings and pushing his overall ERA to 3.77 with four walks and four strikeouts over 14 1/3 innings.

 

There is a large Blue Jays contingent in the Dominican Winter League that starts with Jonathan Diaz who recently re-signed with the Blue Jays organization. Diaz was 0/6 in two games since the last update although the stats from last night’s game may be incomplete. Andy Fermin got into another game but didn’t come to the plate and is still hitting 1/4 for the young season. Emilio Guerrero went 0/1 in his only chance to do anything and is 1/2 overall in the season. Matt Hague was 0/7 in his two games since the last update and is hitting .333/.375/.333 in five games. Melky Mesa hasn’t gotten into a game since our last update and is 1/9 in two games. Ricardo Nanita was 0/3 with a walk and a run in his only game since the last update and is 2/9 over three games. Starting pitcher Richard Bleier hasn’t pitched since our last update and is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in five innings with one unearned run allowed. Ryan Tepera pitched 2/3 scoreless innings since the last update, striking out one to give him 1 2/3 scoreless innings in the Dominican.

 

In the Mexican Winter League, Jorge Flores is getting everyday playing time and has four hits including two doubles in his last two games. He’s hitting .324/.425/.382 over 11 games in his home country. Putting together a 5-game hit streak, Ryan Schimpf added a home run over the last few days and is now hitting .311/.360/.578 with three doubles and three home runs in 11 games.

 

Who are these players? Find out in The 2014 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook, now available as an ebook at Smashwords.com for $7.99 US. It’s coming soon to Amazon, Apple iBooks, Kobo and other fine retailers. You can purchase and preview the book at our Smashwords.com page! If you like us here,“like” us on Facebook!

The All-Star Break Supplement to the Minor League Handbook is also available at Smashwords.com for only $2 US! Get an update on how your favourite players have been doing this season as well as a report on the 2014 draft!

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