The Bluebird Banter Top 40 Prospects: 5-1

We've finally made it to the top of the list. You can take a look at the rest: 36-40, 31-35 26-30, 21-25, 16-20, 11-15 and 6-10.

The list would look a fair bit different if we considered Anthony Gose, Moises Sierra and Drew Hutchison prospects still. In reality they still are, but we are playing by the rules and not including them.

5. Marcus Stroman: We used the 22nd overall pick, in last year's draft, to get Marcus. He's not the big man that most of our picks have been lately, he's 5'9", 185, but he has a big arm, his fastball can hit 98 MPH, and he has a cut fastball, slider and change to go with it. After signing (for $1.8 million) the Jays started him at Vancouver, where he pitched 11.1 relief innings, before being jumped to New Hampshire, before being suspended for PEDs. He has 42 games left to sit out. When he is back to play, the Jays say he'll start, likely a good idea, so he can get a decent number of innings in. Jays182 has a longer profile of Marcus up here.

4. Sean Nolin: Sean was our 6th round pick in the 2010 draft. He's been putting up great numbers the last couple of years. in 2012 he started in Dunedin, going 9-0, with a 2.19 ERA in 86 innings, 21 walks and 90 strikeouts. He moved up to New Hampshire, for his last 3 starts, 15 innings, 1.20 ERA, 6 walks and 18 strikeouts. A 6'5", 235 lefty, who throws a mid-90's fastball, with the usual curve, slider, change to go with it. He's 23 now, and he should start this year in New Hampshire. Nolin was number 23 on our list last year. Jays182 has a longer profile of Sean up here.

3. D.J. Davis: D.J. was another first round pick from last year's draft, number 17 overall. His bonus came up just a tiny bit short of Marcus', at $1.75 million. He's fast, very fast, Anthony Gose fast. He doesn't have Anthony's arm. The bat, of course, is a work in progress., he's just 17. After signing he started his pro career in the GCL, hitting .233/.339/.374 in 43 games. Moved up to Bluefield for 12 games, and a nice looking .340/.415/.511 line, then 5 games with Vancouver, hitting .167/.348/.167. The 70 strikeouts, in 266 plate appearances, across the 3 levels, doesn't look good, but 27 walks is ok. He hit 5 home runs, so there is a little power there, and likely will be more as he grows. He also stole 25 bases. Jays182 has a longer profile of D.J. up here.

2.Roberto Osuna: I missed out on seeing Roberto pitch in Vancouver, because he had to go home to the Dominican Mexico, for some personal reasons. I really wanted to see him throw. He's just 18, and has a long way to go to get to Toronto. Roberto split last season between Bluefield and Vancouver, putting up a 2.27 ERA, in 43.2 innings, with 15 walks, 49 strikeouts and 2 home runs allowed. The Jays spent $1.5 million on him as an international free agent. He throws mid-90's already, has a very good changeup and is working on a curve. His good season moved him up from number 26 on the list last year. Jays182 has a longer profile of Roberto up here.

1. Aaron Sanchez: Aaron was a first round pick in the 2010 draft, we picked Deck McGuire with our first first round pick, and then picked other first round picks Noah Syndergaard and Asher Wojciechowski after him. Sanchez had a really good 2012 season, going 8-5, with a 2.49 ERA, with 51 walks and 97 strikeouts in 90 innings at Lansing. A few too many walks, which is why Woodman had Osuna in the number one spot and Sanchez at number two. He might be right, Sanchez does have a bit of work to do on his control. He has a lot of movement on his pitches and sometimes they move out of the strike zone. He throws a sinking fastball in the mid-90's, a good curve and a good changeup. He's just 20, so he has time to learn to keep his pitches in the strike zone. We had him at number 10 last year. Jays182 has a longer profile of Aaron up here.