Tuesday Bantering: Prospects surge, former Jays falter

Danny Jansen, in his last plate appearance of Monday night’s Buffalo Bisons game, was a double shy of the cycle. Jansen didn’t hit a double. He hit a home run, his second of the game, to start a Buffalo rally, eventually winning the game 6-3 over Pawtucket. The game continued what has been the hottest stretch of Jansen’s professional baseball career.

Through 12 games at the triple-A level, Jansen is hitting an even .500 — 18 for 36 — after batting .291 in 52 games with the Fisher Cats and .369 in 31 games with the Dunedin Blue Jays.

In other words, Jansen has been hot. Last night’s game was Jansen’s first four hit, 2 home run day since.... May 7th of this season.

Elsewhere in Toronto’s system, Anthony Alford hasn’t missed a beat since returning from his injury earlier this season. With the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Alford is currently riding a 13-game hitting streak, tied for the Fisher Cat record. Alford, ranked third overall in Toronto’s system, hit a solo home run last night.

Carlos Ramirez, in triple-A, is also performing above expectations. Through 33.2 innings with the Fisher Cats and Bisons, Ramirez has yet to give up even one earned run, striking out 39.

All in all, it was a good week for the Blue Jays’ system. Three prospects, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kevin Smith and Zach Jackson, made MLB Pipeline’s Team of the Week, and both Reese McGuire and Guerrero were named the Player of the Week in their respective leagues.

Former Blue Jay Melvin Upton Jr. opted out of his contract with the San Francisco Giants on Monday in hopes of joining a contender, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports. Upton, acquired by Toronto at the 2016 trade deadline, was released just prior to the start of the 2017 season.

In 12 games with the Giants’ triple-A team, Upton had 11 hits, four home runs, four walks and 14 strikeouts. His on-base percentage was .306, but his value to a contending team would likely be as a pinch runner.

Other news:

• The Blue Jays sent out yet another survey for (what I assume to be) season ticket holders yesterday, which you can find in full here. Andrew Stoeten for BlueJaysNation had fairly entertaining commentary on the questions.
• David Price resumed throwing yesterday after five days off.

Follow Mark on Twitter @MarkColley.