The 2015 Bluebird Banter Top 40 Prospects: Tom's just missed out list

We've posted our Blue Jays 40-man top prospect list, but we wanted to take a quick look at some guys that didn't make the list, but that we are still kind of interested in. In my case, these aren't players that I think should be on the list (I'm pretty happy with our choices) but are guys that could jump on the list if they have a good year or ones that I'm just interested in.

So in no particular order, here are a handful of minor leaguers that have my attention but missed the list:

Griffin Murphy: Griffin was on some of our previous lists, he was #38 in 2013, number #36 in 2012 and #33 in 2010. He was a second round pick in the 2010 draft, but hasn't shown all that much since. He was put into the bullpen early in his minor league career, which isn't exactly a sign of confidence from the organization. Last year he started the season in Lansing, as the Lugnuts closer, posting a 2.00 ERA in 36 innings, with 16 saves, 8 walks and 47 strikeouts. Moved up to Dunedin, things didn't go as well, he had a 6.00 ERA in 21 innings, walking 15 with 15 strikeouts. He has just turned 24 and really isn't a prospect, but then lefties that can throw mid-90's always have a chance to make it as a LOOGY.

Jesus Tinoco: Tinoco was #37 on our list in 2013. He's a right-handed pitcher that the Jays signed out of Venezuelan, back in 2011. He played in Bluefield last year, with a 4.95 ERA in 13 games, 12 starts. In 56.1 innings, he had 20 walks and 47 strikeouts. He is 19, again throws hard, has to learn to find the strike zone more often, but he's still young and can get to 95 with the fast ball, so, you know a good season could him on the list again.

L.B. Dantzler: Dantzler was 16th on our list last year and fell right off it this year. Why? Well, because in 2013 he had a .502 slugging average, playing for the GCL Jays and Vancouver, this year he had a .361 slugging average. For a guy that really doesn't have a defensive position, he has to slug or he's not prospect. He was drafted in the 14th round of the 2013 draft out of the University of South Carolina, he was older when drafted, so he's already 23, if he's going to show the power we expected/hoped for, he's going to have to do it soon.

Jeremy Gabryszwski: Jeremy was our 2nd round pick in 2011. He was #32 on our list in 2012, #26 in 2013 and #31 in 2014. Woodman663 knighted him 'King Scrabble the Third'. He's a big right-hander (6'4") who can hit mid-90's  and yet he doesn't strike anyone out. We kept thinking that, sooner or later, the strikeouts with come, but they haven't. Last year he struck out 91 in 141 innings at Lansing. He's still only 21 and he doesn't walk many, just 21 (1.3 per 9 innings) in Lansing. Despite the lack of strikeouts, he has a 3.51 ERA in 57 minor league games, 52 starts. He doesn't walk many, just 39, in 279 minor league innings and gets tonnes of ground balls. He's still just 21.

Ryan Schimpf/Jon Berti: Not prospects, Ryan is 26, Jon 25. Ryan hit .270/.370/.616 with 15 home runs, in 50 games, at New Hampshire, before being moved up to Buffalo, where he hit .189/.290/.358 with 9 home runs in 67 games, playing mostly second base, with a few games in the corner outfield spots and at third. 24 home runs is pretty good, especially for a middle infield in 117 games. Jon hit .270/.323/.373 in 136 games as a Fisher Cat. He also stole 40 bases. Jon played mostly second base too, with 30 games in left and 18 at third.  Either one could become a utility infielder/injury fill in and likely not be too terrible.

Casey Lawrence: Not a prospect but he's had a pretty good minor league career for player that went undrafted. He's 27 now. Last year he pitched in 26 games, making 22 starts, for New Hampshire, with a 3.69 ERA. In 151 innings, he walked 29 and struck out 93. I've enjoyed watching him move up our minor league system. I'd like to see him get a spot start in the majors one day.

If you missed any of the posts of our list, here are some links:

2015: 1-5 | 6-10 |11-15 | 16-20 | 21-25 | 26-30 | 31-35 | 36-40

2014: 1-5 | 6-10 | 11-15 | 16-20 | 21-25 | 26-30 | 31-35 | 36-40

And MjwW had a look at some older prospects here.