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It’s -20 here, but it will feel warmer tomorrow, Blue Jays pitchers and catchers report (though most of them are already there).
We even have our first player report (unfortunately the words ‘best shape of his life’ don’t appear):
Spoke briefly with #Bluejays starter Aaron Sanchez, who says he's fit and feeling confident. Beyond that, he says his work on the mound will say the rest. Sanchez looked strong in a long toss session on Tuesday.
— Rob Longley (@longleysunsport) February 13, 2019
The Jays play their first game February 23rd. You can check their full schedule here.
Sportsnet is only showing 4 spring games. Games on March 3rd and March 17th, from Dunedin and March 25 and 26th, from Montreal. They might show other games if the other team is broadcasting them. And people who have MLB.tv will likely get more games.
I wish I was going to Dunedin. There is no sign that it is going to warm up here anytime in the near future. Environment Canada isn’t even giving me the +1 at the end of the 7 day forecast. They need to do this for my mental health.
Breaking T is making shirts for pitchers and catchers reporting. You can check them out at http://bit.ly/2tmGl2c
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Baseball America lists the Blue Jays as having the 3rd best system in baseball behind the Padres and Rays. They say:
Notes: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. alone carries enormous value, but the Blue Jays have serious talent at all levels of the system. Several players took significant steps forward last season, which, along with the 2017 and 2018 amateur additions of players like Eric Pardinho, Nate Pearson and Jordan Groshans, adds both high-end upside and depth.
Last year the Jays were 8th and the year before 20th, on BA’s list.
FanGraphs has their top 100 prospect list up.
The Jays are:
#1: Vlad:
Guerrero has a messianic bat, and while he may have to move off of third base quite soon, he’ll probably hit enough to be a superstar anyway.
#9: Bo:
Bichette had a solid 2018 and still has a shot to be a 60 hit/60 power middle infielder.
#47: Danny Jansen:
Jansen’s 2018 was confirmation that his 2017 breakout was real, and he does enough to stay behind the plate. He’s at least a solid everyday catcher, perhaps a bit more.
#63: Nate Pearson:
Pearson touched 104 and threw a 95 mph slider in the fall, but there’s a good chance he ends up in relief.
There is more in the write ups.